Are the Denver Broncos Overworking RB CJ Anderson?
It’s a simple question really—are the Denver Broncos overworking C.J. Anderson? He has taken over as the team’s starting running back, and the Broncos have turned into the most run-heavy team in the league over the last month.
Anderson is enjoying the changes to his role with the Broncos.
“[I am] just having fun, enjoying myself like I always have and helping my team win any way I can, just trying to make sure I’m on the same page with [QB] Peyton [Manning] so I continue to play fast and play as well as I’ve been playing.”
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Anderson continued, “The whole purpose of all this is continuing to stack weeks and make sure I just try to pick the right spots because the O-Line, they’re doing a heck of a job out there. I’m just trying to pick the right spots and make this thing go no matter whether it’s in the run or in the pass game.”
The Broncos are on a four-game win streak because of the rushing attack and the defense. Anderson is taking on an incredible amount of touches as both a runner and receiver out of the backfield. As they get closer to the playoffs, some Broncos fans are worried about the team overusing their talented starter.
Let’s take a look at his recent workload and determine if the Broncos need to scale things back for the second-year runner.
Running
As a runner, Anderson works like a battering ram against opponents. At 5’8”, 225 pounds, Anderson can impose his will on a defense. He will grind down a defense with his trademark power between the tackles.
| Rush | Yards | Yards/Rush | 1st Downs | |
| 109 | 478 | 4.39 | 24 | |
| 52 | 224 | 4.34 | 11 | **NFL Avg |
Over the last four weeks, Anderson leads the NFL with 109 carries. Prorated over 16 games, Anderson would have more carries in a single season (436) than any back in NFL history. Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson currently holds that record with 416 carries in the 2006 season.
From that perspective it’s easy to see the immense size of the workload Anderson has been taking on as a rusher.
Take this note into account as well. During his two years at Cal, Anderson rushed the ball 126 times (2012) and 72 times (2011). That’s a total of 198 carries, a number he’s rapidly approaching with the Broncos this year. For the entire 2014 season, Anderson has amassed 148 carries.
In Week 12 (27) and Week 13 (32) Anderson had 59 carries total. That’s the most he’s seen in back-to-back games since a 2012 streak of 36 carries over a two-week span. Anderson had 21 carries for 151 yards versus UCLA, and he followed that up with 15 carries for 112 yards at Washington State.
It’s clear to see that Anderson is taking on a workload he hasn’t seen since his days in junior college at Laney or in high school at Bethel.
Receiving
Anderson has proved he can be a reliable receiver out of the backfield. No Broncos fan will forget the 51-yard catch that went for a touchdown in Week 10 against the Oakland Raiders. However, that’s not the only play where Anderson has wowed fans with his receiving ability.
| Routes Run | Targets | Receptions | Yards | YPC | TDs |
| 82 | 9 | 8 | 56 | 7.00 | 1 |
A look at the numbers show that Anderson is an important part of the Broncos passing game. From Week 9 to Week 11, Anderson had 15 receptions during that three-game span. Over the last four games, Anderson has eight receptions.
Sure, they aren’t the same pass-happy team that put up Star Wars numbers last year, but Denver’s efficient passing game includes plenty of targets for Anderson.
If Anderson is bottled up as a runner, he can still be a valuable asset catching passes. Anderson is quick in the open field, and he’s arguably got the fastest 10-yard split of any running back on the roster. He’ll get to top speed quickly, and Anderson is tough to bring down once he builds a head of steam.
Rush Yards Before Contact
The job of the offensive line when run blocking is to open holes for the running back. A great statistic that shows how good an offensive line is doing with this is rush yards before contact.
Anderson has given a ton of credit to the guys up front after every contest.
“I think they’re just starting to understand me and I’m starting to understand them. We’re starting to read each other out and ask a bunch of questions on the sideline. I watch tape from all three levels. They kind of watch tape from the first level, maybe the backers and most of the line.” Anderson emphasized, “I think that just makes it that much better with our communication.”
| Player | Team | YBC | YBC/Rush |
| Justin Forsett | Baltimore Ravens | 286 | 3.81 |
| DeMarco Murray | Dallas Cowboys | 281 | 2.63 |
| C.J. Anderson | Denver Broncos | 273 | 2.5 |
| **NFL Average | 131 | 2.53 |
Looking at the numbers, Anderson is doing well before he’s contacted. This helps him get to full speed at the point of attack.
Rush Yards After Contact
Once contact is initiated, Anderson does a great job of pushing for extra yardage. He has a strong lower body, and Anderson gets his shoulder pads low when running through trash at the line of scrimmage. Once in the second level of the defense, Anderson often requires more than one defender to bring him down.
| Player | Team | YAC | YAC/Rush |
| Marshawn Lynch | Seattle Seahawks | 206 | 2.61 |
| C.J. Anderson | Denver Broncos | 205 | 1.88 |
| DeMarco Murray | Dallas Cowboys | 173 | 1.62 |
| **NFL Average | 94 | 1.81 |
Anderson knows he has a role with this team, and he’s working hard every week to fulfill his duties.
“I’m doing what they asked me to do. I’m trying to make plays when I can. We got the win and that’s all that matters. We are executing up front. You have to give it to the big boys. That is what we are trying to do. We are trying to execute, put ourselves out there and try and win any way we can.”
Minor Injury
Anderson has gotten a little banged up over the last month. Late in the game against the Chiefs, Anderson injured his ankle. He’s been dealing with that ever since.
The second-year pro knows that he’s not the only player dealing with being banged up.
“When you’re in December, no one is 100 percent. You’ve just got to go out there, and like I said, part of being a professional is putting yourself in the right position and you might not get the reps on the field but you better make sure you’re ready for Sunday because they’re counting on you and you want to make sure that your teammates can be accountable for you.”
His ankle is a minor problem, and Anderson has faith in the trainers to prepare him for each week.
“My trainers do a great job and I do a great job getting there and make sure I get everything right. They just make sure that everything is functioning the way it needs to function so I can go out there and play the best way I can play.”
Explosive Fourth-Quarter Plays
In this section, let’s take a look at Anderson’s explosive plays in the final quarter of each of the last four games. An explosive play is a rush or reception of 10 yards or more.
Anderson beats up opponents as the game goes on, but he himself stays strong throughout the entire game. This is a testament to his stamina, power and running style.
| Opponent | Down/Distance | Yardline | Play Result |
| Miami Dolphins | 2nd-and-6 | Opp 10 | 10-yd TD run |
| Miami Dolphins | 2nd-and-8 | Opp 42 | 26-yd run |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1st-and-10 | Own 16 | 16-yd run |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1st-and-10 | Opp 42 | 20-yd run |
| Buffalo Bills | 1st-and-20 | Own 25 | 10-yd run |
The San Diego Chargers did their best to contain Anderson in Week 15. He once again saw a hefty workload for the Broncos, but this was his first contest over the last six games where Anderson didn’t have a play (rushing or receiving) that went over 10 yards. Anderson did have an 18-yard run called back by a holding penalty (Will Montgomery) in the fourth quarter.
Summary
The Broncos are certainly giving Anderson a huge workload, but he’s built for this type of payload. Anderson stays humble when asked if he’s one of the best running backs in the game today.
“No, not at all. Every back has his own special ability and I just feel like I’m using my special ability to the best of my ability. I don’t think ‘I should be this’ or ‘I should be that.’ I let you all do that. At the end of the day, I’m just going to go out there and do what I love to do, which is play football.”
Broncos fans know that Anderson should give himself more credit. He’s been an incredible find as an undrafted diamond the team found after the 2013 NFL draft. There were 22 running backs selected in that draft, and only a small handful are as good as Anderson.
The Broncos' No. 22 is a rising star in the league, and he’s proved capable of carrying a large workload in 2014.
All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via email from the Denver Broncos unless otherwise noted. Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by ProSportsTransactions.com.
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