James Conner wins AFC Player of the Month honors for October

As the recipient of yet another award on Thursday, it would appear that it is not just yards that James Conner is racking up recently. Just a day after he was announced as the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 8, Conner was awarded AFC Offensive Player of the Month honors for October.

While winning the first player of the month award of his career is impressive enough in its own right for a running back who has only just started his seventh ever NFL game, the fact that he won the award in a month in which the Pittsburgh Steelers had a bye-week is remarkable.

Conner carried the ball 64 times for 367 yards in just three games in October, posting an eye-popping 5.7 yard per carry average and scoring six touchdowns. Another 159 yards from 13 receptions brought his total yards from scrimmage to 526 yards for the month.

When speaking to reporters on Wednesday in the wake of his weekly award, Conner was keen to point out the efforts of the offensive line and it can only be imagined how much he will be singing their praises after this latest accolade.

According to the NFL’s media research department, Conner is the first Steeler since 1950 to have two rushing touchdowns in three straight games. Should he be able score twice on the ground again in Week 9, he will match a feat not achieved in the NFL since LaDainian Tomlinson scored two or more touchdowns during an eight game span in 2006.

The last Pittsburgh player to win player of the month honors was the man Conner has replaced this season. Le’Veon Bell won the award in December of 2017 for a run of four games where he record 310 yards from 69 carries and four touchdowns, along with 24 receptions for 259 yards and two touchdowns.