Week 12 vs. New England
In the win at Chicago last Sunday, the Broncos rushed for 170 yards on 36 carries. Ronnie Hillman led the way with 102 yards, while C.J. Anderson carried the rock 12 times for 59 yards. He also caught two passes for 13 yards. Hillman will remain the starter, but with Brock Osweiler at QB, Denver should continue to get more out of its ground attack, even against a good Patriots run defense. Anderson is a RB3/flex play at home on Sunday night.
Week 11 at Chicago
The Chiefs dominated the Broncos on the scoreboard and in time of possession last Sunday in Denver, with C.J. Anderson finishing with just nine yards on two carries. Ronnie Hillman received 11 rushing attempts, but it was another dismal day for the ground game. The Bears are yielding 118 rushing yards per game and, with Brock Osweiler at QB, the Broncos will be needing a better performance out of the RBs.
Week 10 vs. Kansas City
After a good game against Green Bay two weeks ago, C.J. Anderson and the Broncos ground game struggled again at Indy last Sunday. C.J. and Ronnie Hillman each carried the rock seven times, with Anderson leading the ground game with just 34 yards. The Colts controlled the clock with their rushing attack and Denver played from behind for much of the contest, which limited rushes. In September, Anderson was held to 27 yards on 12 carries by the Chiefs defense and makes for a RB2 play this week.
Week 9 at Indianapolis
Just when you were ready to give up on C.J. Anderson, he had his best game of the season last Sunday. C.J. busted through the Packers for 101 yards on 14 carries and found the end zone for the first time in 2015 with a 28-yard burst. The Broncos success on the ground (Ronnie Hillman ran for 60 yards) opened up the passing attack in the win. While Hillman took over as the starter during the bye week, look for the two RBs to split time. Anderson makes for a low RB2 play at Indy this week, facing the No. 28 defense against the run.
Week 8 vs. Green Bay
For the second time this season, a Broncos running back went over 100 yards in a game at Cleveland two weeks ago. Unfortunately for C.J. Anderson owners, that RB has been Ronnie Hillman both times. While Hillman ran for 111 yards on 20 carries, Anderson struggled again, totaling 41 yards on 13 rushes. He also had four receptions for 25 yards, but it hasn’t been the season C.J. was expecting. Before the bye week, he averaged just 46 total yards per game with no TDs. The Packers are allowing 118 rushing yards per game, but it’s tough to trust Anderson and the Broncos ground attack.
Week 6 at Cleveland
It’s sounding like a broken record – C.J. Anderson and the Broncos rushing attack had trouble getting going. Last Sunday it was in Oakland, where Anderson ran for just 22 yards on 11 carries. At least he out-gained Ronnie Hillman, by a yard. C.J. also caught two passes for 18 yards, but just hasn’t been able to get on track this year. Through five games, he has only 139 rushing yards and no TDs. Cleveland’s defense is allowing the second most yards per game on the ground, so if Anderson is going to bust out, this could likely be the opponent.
Week 5 at Oakland
In the win over Minnesota last week, C.J. Anderson was held to 43 yards on 11 carries, but did register a 27-yard reception. Amazingly, it was C.J.’s most productive game of the season. Ronnie Hillman also received 11 rushing attempts, but busted a 72-yard score. We're four games into the season, and Anderson has just over 100 yards on the ground - definitely not what fantasy owners were expecting. Hillman’s speed allows for him to be a home run threat on any carry, which may lead to him seeing more touches. Playing near his home town last season is where Anderson had his breakout performance, but the Raiders are No. 10 against the run. It's not for a lack of trying, but right now the Broncos ground game just isn’t doing much.
Week 4 vs. Minnesota
Last Sunday night in Detroit, C.J. Anderson took a head-to-head hit in the first half and had to be evaluated for a concussion. He was cleared to come back, but the Broncos ground game is still very much a work in progress. C.J. ran for just 18 yards on eight carries and caught a nine-yard pass. So far in 2015, he has totaled only 93 yards with no TDs. Minnesota has struggled to stop the run, so expect HC Gary Kubiak to keep feeding his RBs, hoping for a change in results.
Week 3 at Detroit
Playing with an injured toe last week at the Chiefs, C.J. Anderson and the Broncos rushing attack had a tough time. C.J. ran for just 27 yards on 12 carries and has only 56 yards on 24 rushes this season. Ronnie Hillman again finished with more yards, while Anderson played on 42 snaps compared to Hillman’s 31. Detroit allowed almost 200 yards on the ground to the Vikings last week, and with a few extra days to prepare, expect C.J. to have a better game on Sunday night.
Week 2 vs. Kansas City
With Peyton Manning and the passing game being shut down by Baltimore last week, C.J. Anderson and the ground attack had a tough time getting going as well. On 12 carries, Anderson ran for only 29 yards. Manning targeted him eight times through the air, leading to four receptions for 19 yards. C.J. battled through a sprained toe injury, splitting carries with Ronnie Hillman. Even with the short turnaround, Anderson will be on the field on Thursday night. In Kansas City last November, he ran through the Chiefs for a career-high 168 yards.
