Montee Ball Is Too Risky to Start in Fantasy Lineups in Week 11

I'm not sold on Montee Ball as a viable fantasy starter. 

Like many folks, I had high hopes for Ball heading into the season. After watching Knowshon Moreno post huge numbers as the Denver Broncos' starting running back last season, I envisioned the former Wisconsin star picking up where Moreno left off. 

Surely, on that offense, Ball would at the very least be a solid RB2. 

But that never quite materialized. Before his injury in Week 5, Ball never rushed for more than 67 yards and scored just one touchdown. Initially, that didn't seem like a huge deal. After all, with Peyton Manning and a slew of options in the passing game, the Broncos were always going to be a pass-first offense anyway. Ball would have his big games here and there, but the expectation was always that he would be an RB2. 

But with Ball sidelined, Ronnie Hillman stepped into the starting role and thrived. His shiftiness and ability to make people miss in space seemed far better suited for Denver's offense than Ball's more downfield running style. Fantasy owners preferred Hillman too—starting in Week 6, he posted four straight games with double-digit fantasy points. 

It appeared as though Ball had lost his starting gig. And then Hillman went down to an injury last week, perhaps opening the door for Ball to regain his place in the starting 11. Except that C.J. Anderson stepped in and tallied 163 yards from scrimmage and scored one of the best touchdowns on the year, making nearly every Oakland Raider on the field miss him. 

And so Ball returns more than likely to a committee in Denver. Even if Hillman can't play this week, Anderson surely earned himself more touches in this offense with his performance last week. And when Hillman does return, he played well enough to keep the starting gig. 

Plus, this week's matchup isn't terribly favorable. The St. Louis Rams have allowed opposing running backs to rush for over 100 yards just once in the past five games and have only given up 10 or more fantasy points to the position four times this season. 

Ball should obviously be rostered across the board. And if he lights up the Rams, perhaps the Broncos will take the hot-hand approach at running back going forward. After all, as he told Jeff Legwold of ESPN, he feels “faster, quicker to the hole" since returning from his injury and added, "I think people will see a difference."

Perhaps. But given what we've actually seen thus far on the field, I'd imagine Hillman will remain the starter when he's healthy and Ball will be relegated to short-yardage and goal-line duty. 

Yes, he's gone from being an RB2 prospect to a potential touchdown vulture. That's just the way the Ball bounces, folks.

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