Peyton Hillis

Hillis will battle for a backup RB role with the Bucs in 2013.

After being one of the best waiver wire adds in recent memory in 2010, Hillis followed it up with a disastrous 2011, as he finished with 937 fewer yards and 10 fewer touchdowns. Injuries were part of the problem, as he played in just 10 games, but there was also an ugly contract dispute, and his YPC dropped all the way down to 3.6. The power back also went just 2-of-12 from the goal line. As a result, Hillis had to settle on a modest one-year contract with Kansas City, where he’ll reunite with Brian Daboll, who was his offensive coordinator with Cleveland when he had his big 2010 season. He will be the “thunder” to Jamaal Charles’ “lightning” and could see the bulk of the goal-line carries, but assuming Charles comes back from his ACL injury at 100 percent, Hillis will be on the wrong end of the timeshare.

What looked like a throw-in as part of the Brady Quinn trade wound up being the centerpiece of the Browns’ offense last year. Hillis took over Cleveland’s backfield after injuries struck last season, and despite not starting until Week 3, racked up 1,654 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns. Hillis was fantastic in all aspects besides ball security (his eight fumbles were the most in the NFL) last season, but he wore down badly over the year’s second half as his YPC fell from 4.8 to 3.9, likely due to his bruising, physical style. Maybe he’ll be better prepared to be a lead back in the NFL in 2011, but his fade came on a modest 270 rushing attempts, so it makes sense that Cleveland is planning on a committee in the backfield this year. Montario Hardesty is going to be a big part of the Browns’ rushing attack, and even if he were to get hurt again, Brandon Jackson will be brought in to split the work.

Hillis will line up at fullback for the Browns, who suddenly have a deep offensive backfield.

Hillis began the 2008 season as the Broncos' starting fullback and eventually had to take over as the team's running back due to a rash of injuries that took out five other backs. Hillis performed so well that he ended up leading the Broncos in rushing for the season. However, with the additions of Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter and LaMont Jordan, Hillis seems less likely to get as many carries as he did before he also landed on the IR in 2008. Nevertheless, he is a very capable receiver out of the backfield and head coach Josh McDaniels has always favored players of this kind (see Kevin Faulk in New England).

Hillis will be the third fullback on the depth chart, but may see some receptions out of the backfield. He blocked for two 1,000 yard rushers in college, Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.