C.J. Spiller: Buffalo Bills RB Will Finally Emerge as Fantasy Stud in 2012

It took an injury to Fred Jackson early in the Bills blowout loss to the New York Jets on Sunday, but C.J. Spiller is going to get yet another chance to prove his worth to the team and fantasy owners. 

According to a report from ESPN.com, Jackson will be out for a month with a knee injury, which opens the door for Spiller to be the feature back in Buffalo, at least for the time being. 

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An MRI exam completed on Jackson's right knee Monday revealed nothing conclusive, a source familiar with result told Schefter. It likely will be 7-10 days before a timeline is established for his return but a source estimated that the running back will miss at least a month.

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Spiller took full advantage of his opportunity on Sunday, with 169 rushing yards, 25 receiving yards and a touchdown. It was the perfect welcome back moment for the third-year back who was taken with the No. 9 pick in the 2010 Draft. 

As fantasy owners scrambled to their computers to pluck Spiller off the waiver wire, there had to be some trepidation about what he was going to do just because we have seen this before. 

Well, maybe not this, but there have been moments where he looked like he could be special only to have it taken away because the team didn't want to go with him as the feature back. 

As James Walker of ESPN.com wrote, now is Spiller's best chance to show what he can offer this team. 

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He's always had the talent but not the opportunity. That changed last season when Jackson went down with a knee injury and Spiller did a nice job to prove he's ready for a starting role. 

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All it takes for a player in the NFL is opportunity. Spiller has never had a long, sustained look as a starter since coming into the league. He finally has that chance, even if it is only for four weeks. 

Fantasy owners who saw what the Bills did on Sunday have to be salivating at the opportunity to get Spiller. Not only did he have incredible success in only two quarters of football, but Ryan Fitzpatrick continues to be his own worst enemy. 

The Bills are going to have no choice but to establish the run early and often in order to create opportunities for Fitzpatrick to throw the ball. That all but guarantees Spiller is going to get 20-25 carries per game. 

After years of waiting for him to fulfill his promise, or at least get the opportunity to, Spiller is going to reward that patience with a huge season. It also helps that the team's next three games are against Kansas City, Cleveland and New England, none of which is a defensive dynamo. 

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