C.J. Anderson to Replace Le'Veon Bell in 2015 NFL Pro Bowl

Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson will replace injured Pittsburgh Steelers star Le'Veon Bell in the 2015 NFL Pro Bowl.    

ProFootballTalk.com reported the news on Monday:

Josh Moser of 9News Denver provided context for what Anderson's Pro Bowl bid means in Broncos lore:

Anderson was instrumental in keeping Denver's offense afloat down the stretch of the regular season. Aging quarterback Peyton Manning struggled to execute the way he had in the first half of 2014, and the Broncos underwent an identity overhaul in the process.

Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle reported what Anderson had to say ahead of the regular-season finale about how he approaches the game.

"Every day is a work day," said Anderson. "Whether it's a walk-through, practice at your tempo, at your pace and make sure you get the reps. When you get the reps, it's the same reps you are going to get in the games, so practice like you play."

That type of mindset allowed Anderson to ascend from an undrafted free agent out of California in 2013 to make the most of his chances this year.

Prior to the regular-season finale, as Tafur points out, Anderson was averaging the second-most yards from scrimmage (135.7) over the seven-week span that preceded Week 17. Only Bell had posted a better average.

As Manning's career winds down, he will continue to benefit from having someone like Anderson to rely on. That Anderson managed to earn a Pro Bowl nod despite not starting the majority of the 2014 campaign is a testament to how big of an impact he had.

But the Broncos need Anderson to continue producing if they're meant to remain atop their perch in the AFC West for the fifth straight year in 2015. The arrival of new coach Gary Kubiak, per the Broncos' official Twitter account, bodes well for Anderson to maintain his Pro Bowl-caliber form in the seasons to come.

Kubiak's zone-blocking rushing schemes have produced plenty of great runners in the past, and Anderson appears positioned for success even as Denver transitions to a different system.