5 Reasons to Draft Peyton Hillis in Your Fantasy Football League

For the better part of the last two years, the Kansas City Chiefs have relied on Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones to lead one of the NFL's better running games.

In 2012, the Chiefs will replace Jones with free-agent acquisition and former Madden cover boy Peyton Hillis. 

A 1,000-yard rusher in 2010 with the Cleveland Browns, Hillis fell off the map last season and only received a one-year deal with the Chiefs. 

Is Hillis now worth a spot on your fantasy roster for the 2012 season? 

In the following slides, we'll give you five legitimate reasons to consider adding Hillis to your fantasy football team this season. 

Hillis Comes to Camp in Shape

The 2011 season was a year to forget for Hillis, but he appears ready to get back to 2010 form early in Chiefs camp. 

According to Bucky Brooks of NFL.com, Hillis is in great shape, and he could be a key contributor for Kansas City in 2012. 

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He reported to camp in outstanding shape and is running the rock with the urgency and physicality that made him a feared runner in Cleveland. With Hillis also displaying soft hands and superb receiving skills in practice, it wouldn't surprise me to see the Chiefs use him as a feature back in a variety of sub packages to take advantage of his versatility.

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If anything, reporting to camp is such good shape is a sign Hillis is taking this year seriously. After the disaster that was 2011, that can only be an encouraging sign fantasy-wise.

He's Healthy...and Content

Between hamstring, hip and throat problems, Hillis simply couldn't stay on the field last season. He played in just 10 games during 2011. 

There was also an ugly contract dispute between Hillis and the Browns that seemed to sap the bruising back of any motivation to get back on the field. 

Those issues appear to be a part of the past now. He is clearly healthy, and despite the non-existant security of a one-year deal, Hillis seems content playing one year on a "prove-it" deal. 

A healthy and motivated Hillis is a good combo package, especially for fantasy owners thinking about taking him in their drafts. 

There's a Perfect Role Waiting for Him in KC

Like any running back, Hillis likely wanted to be a starter somewhere in the NFL. However, that opportunity was never going to be an option after the disappointment of 2011. 

Instead, Hillis landed in the perfect role in Kansas City.

With Thomas Jones in rapid decline, Hillis is expected to take over his role as Kansas City's primary backup. Keep in mind, when the Chiefs were at the height of their running prowess (2010), Jones accumulated over 1,000 total yards and six touchdowns as a backup. 

Overall, I'm not sure Hillis could have asked for a better opportunity than the one he's in now in Kansas City.

Considering the back ahead of him is still getting back to 100 percent (we'll touch on this next), Hillis should see plenty of touches in the Chiefs' run-heavy offense. Behind that offensive line—one of the best in football—Hillis should thrive. 

Jamaal Charles Should Get Eased Back

Jamaal Charles (ACL) has been cleared for camp and is taking first-team reps, but the reality is that the Chiefs are likely to ease him back into the fold. The year after ACL surgery is usually the toughest for backs, and there's a capable backup in Hillis in the fold to make the transition easier for Charles. 

With that in mind, it's conceivable for Hillis to approach 250 total touches this season. Jones had 259 (245 rushes, 14 catches) as a backup to Charles in 2010, so 250 is perfectly in range for Hillis. 

The last time Hillis had that many touches (270 in 2010), he went over 1,000 yards with 11 touchdowns. We're not expecting those numbers, but there's no reason to think he can't be an effective flex option back even as the Chiefs' No. 2. 

His ADP Is Safe

If you decide to take Hillis, you won't have to stretch a high pick to do it.

As it stands currently, Hillis' average draft position is at 94.1 in ESPN leagues. He's sandwiched between names like Michael Bush, C.J. Spiller, James Starks and Toby Gerhart. I'd argue Hillis has as much fantasy upside as any of those four listed backs. 

The point here is that if you wait on the running back position until later in the draft, Hillis is a guy that's going to be around. 

And one last thing. Does Hillis not look like the football version of Bane, the villain from Dark Knight Rises? I say yes.