1. C.J. Anderson
Next season, C.J. Anderson will be the third highest-paid running back in the NFL. Let that sink in …
I mean, good for him, but that’s a lot to live up to.
And I have full confidence that C.J. can earn that money. I think he’s a special back at times, but that’s the big caveat: At times. There’s no denying that C.J. wasn’t prepared for the start of last season; he admitted as much. And the coaching staff took notice, too. There’s a reason why he lost his starting job and didn’t regain it until the Super Bowl, despite leading the NFL in yards per carry in the second half of the season.
There’s also a reason why C.J. didn’t get more than 15 carries all year until the AFC Championship (when he got 16) and the Super Bowl (when he got 23); they didn’t see him as an every-down, bell-cow running back.
So what’s changed?
I’m not sure. You’d have to ask John Elway and Gary Kubiak that. From my perspective, though, Anderson has always been capable, and now he’s being given the opportunity. With that kind of money on the books, he needs to be getting 15-20 carries every single game, especially with the state of the Broncos’ quarterback situation.
If Denver is to have an offensive resurgence next year, it’ll be because Anderson earns that top-three quarterback money.
