C.J. Anderson

Anderson's reward for turning a career-high 245 carries into his first 1,000-yard season in 2017 was to be an offseason cap casualty for the Broncos, but such is life in the NFL. The 27-year-old landed on his feet quickly, signing with the Panthers as their early-down replacement for Jonathan Stewart alongside Christian McCaffrey. A stocky power back at 5-8, 224, Anderson ranked in the league's top 10 last season for both carries and evaded tackles, mostly avoiding the nagging injuries that often have accompanied his bulldog running style. He may not see the same workload in Carolina as the team tries to get the most out of McCaffrey, but given the difficulty Anderson's had staying healthy in the past, that could be for the best. Assuming he doesn't completely flop in a new offensive scheme, the sixth-year back should play a significant part in Norv Turner's weekly game plans.

The Broncos' running game was a mess last season, and Anderson's disappointing numbers were Exhibit A. While his season ended early after a Week 7 knee injury, his 4.0 YPC to that point was by far a career worst, as he was having difficulty finding room behind a makeshift offensive line against defenses that showed zero respect for Denver's passing game. When healthy, the 5-8, 224-pound back has the low center of gravity, pad level and burst to break through arm tackles and stay on his feet after contact, and while Anderson has yet to prove he can hold up as a workhorse in the NFL, he can be effective as the main guy in a committee. The Broncos brought back Mike McCoy to run the offense and spent both draft capital and free agent dollars to improve their O-line, which should help improve the team's rushing attack, but a lot will still depend on Denver finding a QB who can stretch the field. Without any kind of vertical element to the offense, Anderson could once again find himself running into the teeth of too many stacked fronts. The biggest threat to Anderson's value, though, could come from former Chiefs star Jamaal Charles, who's attempting a comeback after playing just eight games over the last two years.

How do the Broncos really feel about Anderson? They keep giving us mixed signals. Denver gave him the minimum tender prior to free agency, though it did match Miami's four-year offer. Nonetheless, the Broncos also re-signed Ronnie Hillman and selected Devontae Booker in the draft. (What there won't be is Peyton Manning to audible and hand off, but maybe that's a good thing.) Anderson's been a late-arriving story in each of the last two seasons — he went ballistic in the second half of 2014 (1,057 total yards, 10 touchdowns) and had an efficiency spike last year (6.3 YPC after Week 8). He was good, not great, in Denver's Super Bowl run (405 total yards, 4.4 YPC). What's missing here is the first two months of 2015, when fantasy owners desperately needed Anderson — a high draft choice — to produce. He stumbled to an 88-315-1 start on the ground (just one score) through eight games, in part because the Broncos' offense was a mess from A to Z (makeshift line; diminished quarterback; erratic receivers; uncertain backfield; etc). Looking forward, there's a solid chance to succeed. Anderson enters the season as the lead back in a Gary Kubiak offense. Say whatever you want about Kubiak, but he generally has strong running games. Anderson's fantasy outlook is probably clearer than it initially seems.

After spending 2012 on the Broncos' practice squad and then seeing little action in 2013 once he recovered from a preseason knee injury, Anderson got just 17 carries through the first eight games last year, and it seemed like he might never get a chance to show what he could do. His fortunes changed dramatically in Week 10, however, as a 51-yard TD reception thrust him into the spotlight and he seized his chance. A short, thick power back, Anderson's game is built around his exceptional burst, balance and vision, allowing him to attack a hole and pick his way through traffic until he gets to the second level. While he doesn't run with tremendous power or speed, his low pad level allows him to grind out plenty of extra yards, and he ranked among the league leaders in missed or broken tackles with 59, which is all the more impressive considering his production all came in essentially half a season. Anderson excels both as a receiver and pass blocker, and his overall skill set should make him a great fit in new coach Gary Kubiak's offense. Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball remain in the picture, but Anderson is finally the clear top back in Denver and seems poised for a big season.

Anderson suffered a preseason knee injury that knocked him out for the first seven weeks of last season and barely saw the field even when healthy. However, he managed to make an impression with his seven regular-season carries and even got three touches in the Super Bowl. With Knowshon Moreno having departed for Miami, Anderson's slated to compete with Montee Ball for No. 1 duties this year in Denver. Ball's the odds-on favorite to come away with that job, but it's worth noting that the Broncos clearly consider the undrafted Anderson to be worthier competition for starter's reps than Ronnie Hillman, who appears pigeonholed into third-down duty.

Will likely spend the season on the practice squad, as there are simply too many running backs ahead of him on the depth chart.