RADIO
Not the most household of halfback names, huh? Well, to be completely honest, if the Denver Broncos’ offense keeps improving like it has in recent weeks under Coach Gary Kubiak and quarterback Brock Osweiler, both C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman could be two of the most productive running backs in the league.
Seeing as how the Broncos are headed to San Diego this weekend to take on the lowly Chargers, fantasy owners should be excited about what this dynamic duo from the Mile-High City can accomplish out on the open field. Simply put, Kubiak’s offense runs better under Osweiler than it ever did under Peyton Manning. And, as a direct byproduct, certain players have seen a sudden spike in productivity.
This is most certainly the case for Anderson and Hillman. In fact, the Broncos have had their two best ground games the past two weeks with Osweiler, gaining 170 yards against the Bears and 179 against the Patriots in the snow. Because of this, both Anderson and Hillman should be starting this fantasy week in a plus matchup. Still not convinced? No worries—if it’s a closer look at each player you’re wanting, it’s time to dive in.
Last week, Anderson had his best game of the season, nabbing 15 carries for 113 yards and four catches for 40 yards against Bill Belichick and his defense. Sure, Anderson has been a bit of a fantasy bust this season with only two games with more than six fantasy points—a very harsh reality for him—but since Osweiler took over, he’s averaged 6.4 yards per carry. Now there’s an upward trend that can’t be ignored.
Honestly, the same goes for Hillman. Well, kind of. In Hillman’s case, the biggest difference is that he was already playing well before Peyton Manning went out. He has double-digit fantasy points in his past three games and has either run for 100 yards or scored in seven of his last nine games.
That said, Hillman’s stats have also improved during Osweiler’s reign as starting quarterback. Just like Anderson, Hillman averaged 4.6 yards per carry against Chicago and New England and looks to continue to do so come Sunday when the Broncos travel to Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to take on the Chargers.
So, need some halfback help? Look no further than the Broncos’ backfield to get things done.
