Week 1 vs. Baltimore
After winning the Broncos starting RB job last season, C. J. Anderson had a solid offseason and will continue to receive the bulk of the carries. He is a perfect fit for HC Gary Kubiak's one-cut scheme. Ronnie Hillman is now No. 2 on the depth chart and will be used as a change-of-pace back. However, Kubiak has been known to feed the top back in his systems, which means Anderson will get plenty of touches. He was likely a top pick on your roster and should definitely be part of your starting lineup this week.
Fantasy Upside
After not seeing much playing time during the first seven games of his second year in the NFL, C.J. Anderson burst on the scene for the Broncos in Week 9 last season, cementing himself as the starter down the stretch. On a sunny, November afternoon in Oakland, Anderson totaled 163 yards on 17 touches after taking over for an injured Ronnie Hillman, and a star was born. As the No. 1 back for Denver over the final eight contests, C.J. averaged 24 touches for 132 yards and scored 10 times. He also is a weapon in the passing game, with 34 total receptions last season, including two games in which he finished with eight grabs. New HC and play caller Gary Kubiak likes to feature one RB, with his starting running backs averaging 64.2% of the touches.
Fantasy Downside
The 24-year-old has just the half season of true experience, which is a relatively small sample size. Since ‘06, with Kubiak calling the plays, he’s maybe used a workhorse approach too often, as he’s had a RB start 13 or more games just 5 times. Second-round pick Montee Ball has recovered from an injury-plagued season and could take away some short-yardage and end zone carries.
Bottom Line
Recently Peyton Manning said of his starting RB: "C.J. of course, if you talk to him you think he's about a 12-year veteran starter and he's only started six games. I'm getting a ton of reps with him, and the sky is the limit for him, I will say that." At 5’8”, 224 pounds, C.J. could be an every-down back for the Broncos. His ability in the passing game, both in protection and as a receiver, has been solid. As the Ravens OC last year, Kubiak revived Justin Forsett’s career. During his tenure as a play caller, RBs have averaged 31.5 touches, which would’ve ranked third in the league last year. Denver still has one of the best QBs in the game, but Anderson will continue to receive plenty of touches. He is 4for4.com’s No. 8 RB and will likely be off the board by the end of the second round.
Divisional Round – C.J. Anderson vs. Indianapolis Colts
In the final eight games of the regular season, C.J. Anderson averaged 132 total yards per game and scored 10 times. While he hasn’t rushed for over 100 yards since Week 13, C.J. has been the workhorse for the Broncos. Now that Ronnie Hillman is back, the two will share time, but expect Anderson to have more carries and continue to receive the short-yardage and goal line attempts.
Week 17 – C.J. Anderson vs. Oakland Raiders
Even with the Broncos behind for much of the game last Monday versus the Bengals, C.J. Anderson had a productive game – running for 83 yards and a score on 18 carries and also catching eight passes for 55 yards. He had all but one of the team’s rushing attempts. Anderson’s breakout game came in Week 10 at Oakland, as he totaled 163 yards and a TD. He should definitely be started on Sunday in a game Denver needs to secure the No. 2 seed.
Week 16 – C.J. Anderson vs. Cincinnati Bengals
C.J. Anderson continues to receive the bulk of the carries, as he ran for 85 yards on 29 attempts last week in the win over the Chargers. In the past four contests, C.J. is averaging 120 yards per game with four scores during that span. Ronnie Hillman could be back this week, but Anderson will remain the starter and be given the bulk of the touches. Cincinnati is 24th against the run, so keep on starting the Denver RB for your championship run.
Week 15 – C.J. Anderson vs. San Diego Chargers
After running for over 160 yards the previous two contests, C.J. Anderson was limited to 58 yards by the Bills defense last week. However, he led the Broncos ground attack with 21 carries and scored three times. Juwan Thompson had the long run of 47 yards on the day, but C.J. will continue to see the bulk of the rushing attempts, despite being hobbled by a sore ankle this week. Ronnie Hillman ran for over 100 yards in the October win over San Diego, so keep riding the hot Anderson.
Week 14 – C.J. Anderson vs. Buffalo Bills
Another game and another 160-plus yard rushing effort from C.J. Anderson last Sunday at Kansas City. After running for 167 yards against the Dolphins two weeks ago, C.J. followed up that performance with 168 yards on 32 carries. He also caught two passes for 17 yards and a TD. With Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman still out, Anderson will again be called on to lead the ground game. The Bills allow under 100 rushing yards per game, but look for the Broncos to keep feeding the run game. Go ahead and start the team’s latest, and most productive, RB.
Week 13 – C.J. Anderson vs. Kansas City Chiefs
What a performance C.J. Anderson put on against a good Miami defense last week. In the comeback win, the Broncos RB carried the ball 27 times for 167 yards with a TD and also caught four passes for 28 additional yards. C.J. is a hard runner who tends to fall forward after contact. After rushing the ball only nine times the previous week in St. Louis, the Broncos said they were going to run the ball more against the Dolphins and they certainly did. With Montee Ball the featured back in Week 2 versus the Chiefs, Denver ran for just 88 yards. It will be Anderson’s show on Sunday night, however, and look for him to have another strong outing.
Week 12 – C.J. Anderson vs. Miami Dolphins
Even though the Broncos were still in last week’s game against the Rams, they ran the ball just nine times – with C.J. Anderson getting all of the carries. While he ran for only 29 yards, C.J. contributed in the passing attack with a team-high eight receptions for 86 yards. Montee Ball re-aggravated his groin and Ronnie Hillman is out at least one more week with a foot injury, so it will be up to Anderson to carry the load against the Dolphins. Miami has allowed less than 95 yards per game on the ground, so C.J.’s biggest contribution may be as a receiver again.
Week 11 – C.J. Anderson vs. St. Louis Rams
Playing near his home town last week in Oakland, C.J. Anderson had his best day as a pro, running for 90 yards on 13 carries and catching four passes for 73 yards. His 51-yard catch-and-run TD in the second quarter put the Broncos ahead to stay and pretty much woke up the offense. Prior to the big outing, C.J. had not had more than five rushing attempts in a game this season. Montee Ball should be back on Sunday, but now Ronnie Hillman is out with a foot injury. It looks like it’ll be Anderson receiving the starting nod against a poor St. Louis run defense. So, if you were fortunate enough to pick him up on the waiver wire this week, insert him into your starting lineup.
