Week 1 vs. Carolina
The Broncos are expected to be a run-first team in 2016 and it all starts with C.J. Anderson. He will be given most of the carries out of the backfield and will hope to build on the success he had during the second half of last season. In the Super Bowl versus the Panthers, Anderson led the Broncos ground attack with 90 yards on 23 carries and the game-clinching TD. Go ahead and insert him in your opening week lineup, even against the solid Carolina D.
Fantasy Upside
Heading in to the regular season, C.J. Anderson will be the No. 1 RB for a Denver team that will focus on the run, despite its struggles to do so for much of last year. C.J. split time with Ronnie Hillman in ’15, but he should receive plenty of touches, especially after Coach Gary Kubiak has said he believes Anderson has made it clear “he’s a three-down player." Over the past four seasons with Peyton Manning at QB, the Broncos ran between 38.9 percent of the time (2015) and 44.1 percent of the time (2012). However, regardless who the signal caller is in ’16, the ground game and ball-control will be a huge focus for the offense, especially with the inclusion of a FB and the free-agent signing of two tackles. Anderson looks more comfortable in the offense the year and is doing a better job of hitting the holes.
Fantasy Downside
The former Cal Bear has not had a season with at least 180 carries or more than 850 yards. Despite coming in to camp in better shape, conditioning has been a struggle for C.J. at times. Rookie Devontae Booker has looked good so far and will be vying for playing time. Last year he wasn’t completely healthy heading into the season and struggled from the beginning, averaging just 2.69 YPC on 11.4 rushing attempts through the first six weeks.
Bottom Line
Hoping to return to the second-half and playoff success he displayed last season, Anderson should be a top-15 RB. After the Week 7 bye, he averaged 64.5 yards on 11.6 carries (5.57 YPC) and 0.58 TD over his final 12 games, including the playoffs. Over the final five contests, he was definitely the team’s featured RB, receiving 15.6 carries and averaging 13.7 fantasy points in standard formats. Even though he had an overall disappointing fantasy season in ‘15, go ahead and draft him high again this year, as Anderson is primed for a big comeback.
Super Bowl vs. Carolina
In the win over the Patriots two weeks ago, C.J. Anderson led the Denver rushing attack with 72 yards on 16 carries, including a crucial, game-long 30-yard run. He also caught three passes for an additional 18 yards. In the post-season, C.J. has definitely been the better Broncos RB, registering 72 rushing yards in both games. Look for Anderson to again lead Denver in carries and yards, but it’ll be a grind against a Panthers defense that gave up only 88 yards per game on the ground during the regular season.
AFC Championship vs. New England
Against the Steelers last Sunday, C.J. Anderson finished with 72 rushing yards, 11 receiving yards and the Broncos only TD of the contest. Ronnie Hillman received one more carry than C.J., but Anderson had the more productive day, aided by a 34-yard scamper before halftime. Versus the Patriots at the end of November, C.J. ran for 113 yards and two scores, including the game-winner in OT. He and Hillman will again share the backfield load for Denver this week.
Week 19 vs Pittsburgh
Two weeks ago versus San Diego, C.J. Anderson ran for 95 yards on 15 carries and scored his fifth touchdown of the season – four of them have come in the past five games. He also lost a fumble, the second straight game that’s happened. The Broncos rushing attack has been better during the second half of the season, but much of that was with Brock Osweiler at QB. The Steelers held Anderson to only 14 yards on four carries in December.
Week 17 vs. San Diego
While Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson each had nine carries last Monday in the win over Cincinnati, it was Anderson’s 39-yard TD that was the highlight of the night. C.J. lost a fumble with the Broncos driving for a potential game-winning score late in the fourth quarter, but again was the better looking RB. At San Diego four weeks ago, Anderson rushed for 42 yards on seven carries before leaving with an injured ankle. With the inconsistent Broncos ground game, he’s still a shaky fantasy start.
Week 16 vs. Cincinnati
Still bothered by a sore ankle last week at Pittsburgh, C.J. Anderson finished with 14 rushing and six receiving yards. The Broncos ground game has been back to first gear the past couple games and things won’t be any easier on Monday night against the No. 8 running defense. Anderson should be considered at best a RB3/flex play.
Week 15 at Pittsburgh
Although he was active last week in the loss to the Raiders, C.J. Anderson was considered an emergency RB if Ronnie Hillman and Juwan Thompson went down. The Broncos ground attack was halted by Oakland, as Denver’s offensive line couldn’t get any penetration. If the Broncos are going to win at Pittsburgh, Anderson and the rushing game needs to be better, but they’ll be facing a solid Steelers defense against the run on the road. C.J. is no more better than an RB2 start on Sunday.
Week 14 vs. Oakland
C.J. Anderson left last Sunday's contest against the Chargers with a sore ankle. It appeared the ankle injury wasn’t that bad and he was held out for precautionary reasons, but he's missed practice this week. Before departing, C.J. had 42 yards on seven carries. With Peyton Manning at QB, the Raiders limited Anderson to 22 yards on 11 rushes in October. If he's able to play at home in the rematch, expect him to have a better game against the No. 16 run defense.
Week 13 at San Diego
With the field in less than ideal conditions last Sunday night against New England, C.J. Anderson appeared to be unaffected as he ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winning 48-yard scamper. He also caught four passes for an additional 40 yards. It was his best outing of the season and he may have reclaimed the Denver starting RB position. Both C.J. and Ronnie Hillman have looked good the past two contests with Brock Osweiler under center. Anderson makes for a RB2 play on Sunday versus the Chargers, who allow a lot of yards on the ground.
