Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson had a frustrating Week 1 performance, rushing for just 29 yards on 12 carries against the Baltimore Ravens. After the game, Anderson revealed that he was playing with a sprained toe. On Monday, head coach Gary Kubiak said that he’s “fine” and expects him to be ready for Thursday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
C.J. Anderson’s toe is ‘fine,’ but fantasy owners should worry about production
C.J. Anderson played through an injured toe Sunday, but it’s not expected to be a serious injury. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Anderson exploded down the stretch last season, recording 849 rushing yards and eight touchdowns while taking over as the starter midseason. His 2015 debut was not what fantasy owners were hoping for when they drafted him in the first round.
Fantasy impact: Anderson’s Week 2 status is not in doubt -- the real concern is a possible timeshare with Ronnie Hillman. The two backs split carries evenly on Sunday with 12 each, and while Anderson played 57 offensive snaps compared to Hillman’s 17, Hillman looked far more effective on his carries. Complicating matters further was the decaying arm strength of Peyton Manning, which allowed Baltimore to stack the box with impunity.
We’re not ready to bury Anderson after just one week, but he has a gimpy toe and an unfriendly matchup with the Chiefs defense on just three days’ rest. Anderson is more of a RB2 in Week 2 than the rock-solid RB1 many fantasy owners were hoping for.
