C.J. Spiller Named Buffalo Bills Starting RB: Worth a Fantasy Pickup?

When the Buffalo Bills called C.J. Spiller’s name with the ninth pick in the 2010 draft, they believed they had nabbed an every-down back for the future.

They just didn’t anticipate Spiller would become the focal point of the offense in his rookie season.

That idea partially manifested itself when head coach Chan Gailey announced this week that Spiller would be the starting running back heading into Buffalo’s Week 1 showdown with the Miami Dolphins.

Most people thought the starting job would go to Fred Jackson, who led the Bills in rushing last year, followed up by Marshawn Lynch. Spiller would get some touches while being broken in slowly.

But Jackson is still trying to heal a broken hand, and it’s apparent that the Bills have grown tired of waiting on Lynch, a first-round pick in 2007, to have his breakout season.

Lynch will get some carries this Sunday and Jackson will be available if needed, but Spiller is the guy.

“The reason he’s starting is because he has gotten more reps than anybody else in preseason at tailback and he’s done a good job,” Gailey said. “He’s earned the spot, so we’re looking forward to him being out there.”

Spiller had a very productive preseason rushing for 122 and three touchdowns on 26 carries. He also caught three balls for 35 yards.

Spiller’s game-breaking ability was apparent as he starred at Clemson. He had 1,715 total yards and 16 TDs last year.

But the college production didn’t quell doubts heading into the draft. Spiller still has to answer the inevitable size questions.

NFL scouts worried that Spiller, listed at 5’11” 196 pounds, wouldn’t be able to hold up as a featured back at the professional level. They saw him as somewhat of a Reggie Bush clone.

Gailey is aware of those concerns, too.

“I think we have to be really smart with how we handle (Spiller), especially early in the year,” Gailey said. “We (don’t want to) overly work him, but if everyone stays healthy that shouldn’t be an issue with the backs we have." 

Ideally, Spiller would get somewhere between 15-20 touches per game and no more.

But if Spiller’s speed takes over—he ran a 4.37 40-yard dash at the combine—and the offense that ranked 28th in the league in scoring last year stalls, Gailey may have no other choice but to feed his rookie running back the ball.

And that’s what makes Spiller an extremely interesting fantasy option in 2010.

If Spiller makes good on his early opportunities, then Gailey will only expand his role as the season progresses regardless of the status of Jackson and Lynch.

The concern is that the Bills may not have enough other options to occupy an opposing defense, meaning Spiller will attract the most attention.

Currently, there’s no reason for an opposing defense not to stack the box and dare quarterback Trent Edwards to beat them.

Edwards throwing to Lee Evans, Steve Johnson or Jonathan Stupar won’t scare anybody, initially.

“Please do,” defenses may say of that game plan.

But the offensive line should be better than last year, which works highly in Spiller’s favor.

Left tackle Demetrius Bell will be back from ACL surgery, and right guard Eric Wood returns from a broken leg.

There may be skepticism among fantasy owners regarding a guy like Spiller simply because of how other players similar to him have performed recently.

We’ve seen the speedy, elusive back before, and major immediate impact is rare.

Bush just began to come into his own a little bit last season as the New Orleans Saints marched to a Super Bowl.

Dallas still awaits the breakout of Felix Jones. The same goes for Darren McFadden in Oakland.

However, those red flags shouldn’t necessarily be deterrents for taking Spiller.

You probably won’t find Spiller on the waiver wire. If you do, you should check the sanity of your league.

In most drafts, Spiller has been selected in the middle rounds as a third running back option. Many teams with a RB/WR flex spot will plug Spiller in there.

As of today, Spiller is owned by 90 percent of Yahoo! Sports fantasy leagues.

But if you’re light at running back and have some other assets to sell off to your buddies, some sort of trade package that brings Spiller back to your team could benefit you greatly later on.

Spiller is high-risk, high-reward, but the reward in 2010 could be a fantasy league championship.

Follow Teddy Mitrosilis on Twitter. You can reach him at [e-mail].