Denver Broncos Fantasy Preview: C.J. Anderson's not-so-shocking meteoric rise

Now that we’ve moved past the midway point of the preseason, it means your fantasy draft is right around the corner and BSN Denver has you covered on the local front with a series of in-depth looks at the Denver Broncos’ top prospects. Last week, we examined the fantasy outlook for 39-year-old – and still stud – quarterback Peyton Manning. Now, it’s time to examine the running backs …

According to the consensus rankings of nationally regarded experts, one Cortrelle Javon Anderson is the sixth-best running back and ninth-best overall player available in fantasy drafts.

If that seems a bit shocking for a player who owns seven career NFL starts and a total of 887 career rushing yards, consider there’s been more than one national fantasy article written this summer making the case for C.J. Anderson as the No. 1 pick. Not a No. 1 pick, mind you, but the No. 1 pick.

An insane-sounding reversal of fortune to be sure as a year ago at this time Anderson was a second-year back with 38 career yards simply fighting for a spot on the Denver Broncos’ 53-man roster.

Yet, that’s what happens when you lead the league in rushing (648 yards) and total touchdowns (nine) over the final five weeks of the previous season and your new head coach boasts perhaps the league’s most impressive ground-game resumes of the last two decades.

Doubt that latter statement concerning Gary Kubiak?

Go Google the Broncos’ rushing stats from 1995-2005. Or Arian Foster’s run in Houston from 2010-13. Or Justin Forsett’s straight-outta-nowhere career year under a certain offensive coordinator last season in Baltimore.

Throw in an offensive line once thought to be a glaring weakness but suddenly now boasts a pair of Pro Bowl guards with this week’s signing of Evan Mathis, and you have a no-doubt top-tier fantasy pick with Anderson joining the likes of perennial studs Adrian Peterson, Le’Veon Bell, Jamaal Charles, Eddie Lacy and Marshawn Lynch.

But does Anderson come with some risk?

Most definitely.

The 24-year-old’s NFL track record consists of his brief but brilliant seven-game run late last season, but he’s never had more than 186 carries in any one major college or pro season, dating back through his days at Cal where he carried the ball 198 times, total, in his two years in the Pac-12.

So can the 5-foot-8, 224-pound back shoulder a full-season load?

That’s a question fantasy general managers must weigh when their pick comes up in the mid-to-late first round.

In short, handcuffing Anderson to his backup is as important as it is for any No. 1 fantasy running back, and in this case, that backup looks as if it’s going to be fourth-year pro Ronnie Hillman, who’s compiled a league-most 120 rushing yards — and is averaging a robust 7.5 yards per carry – halfway through the preseason.

Hillman has quickly raced past 2013 second-round pick (and 2014 fantasy bust) Montee Ball and into the Broncos’ No. 2 RB slot and has been so impressive that there now are whispers that he may just steal some touches from Anderson himself.

Still, Anderson remains a definite RB1 candidate – he’s being drafted 13^th overall and eighth among RBs – and if all the variables align correctly, he could wind up leading the league in rushing.

And, no, that would hardly qualify as a shocking development.