C.J. Anderson

C.J. Anderson

33-Year-Old Running BackRB
 Free Agent  
2023 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for C.J. Anderson in 2023. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Released by the Lions in September of 2019.
Hanging up his cleats
RBFree Agent
September 18, 2020
Anderson is retiring from the NFL, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The 29-year-old Anderson wraps up a career in which he rushed for 3,497 yards and 22 touchdowns while adding 900 yards and five touchdowns as a receiver over 71 appearances after breaking into the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2013. Per Schefter, the next step on Anderson's path is a career in coaching in the college ranks.
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
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2019
2018
2017
2016
2019 NFL Game Log
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2018 NFL Game Log
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2017 NFL Game Log
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2016 NFL Game Log
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where C.J. Anderson lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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2023 C.J. Anderson Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do C.J. Anderson's measurables compare to other running backs?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
5' 8"
 
Weight
225 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.60 sec
 
Shuttle Time
4.12 sec
 
Cone Drill
7.15 sec
 
Vertical Jump
32.0 in
 
Broad Jump
119 in
 
Bench Press
17 reps
 
Hand Length
9.00 in
 
Arm Length
30.00 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring C.J. Anderson See More
Job Battles: Rams Running Backs
July 22, 2020
Darrell Henderson was disappointing as a rookie, but the 2019 third-round pick still offers unique explosiveness after playing ahead of Tony Pollard and Antonio Gibson at Memphis.
2020 NFL Breakout Watch: Reassessing After Free Agency
April 13, 2020
T.J Hockenson has emerged as one of the best values in early fantasy drafts, often lasting until the 10th or 11th round despite having all the tools for a second-year breakout.
NFL Reactions: Week 8
NFL Reactions: Week 8
October 27, 2019
October 27, 2019
Jared Goff had another strong fantasy showing Sunday, but he's completed just 57.4 percent of his passes the last two weeks and hasn't completed 60 percent in a game in a month.
Exploiting the Matchups: Week 4 Start/Sit
September 26, 2019
Jerry Donabedian isn't downplaying the concern about James Conner's slow start, but the the panic can be put on hold for at least one week with the Steelers hosting the Bengals on Monday.
Weekly Rankings: Week 4 Value Meter
September 24, 2019
Cooper Kupp is coming off a huge game Sunday night and now gets to face a Bucs secondary torn apart by Daniel Jones last week.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
Roller coaster doesn't begin to describe Anderson's odyssey through the NFL in 2018. He nearly got traded to the Dolphins in March, then got cut by the Broncos in April. He wound up in Carolina, seemingly poised to fill a significant role as the thunder to Christian McCaffrey's lightning, but instead, CJA barely saw the field as McCaffrey proved he could handle a bell-cow workload. Anderson got waived again, spent a few weeks in Oakland before the Raiders sent him packing too, and then finally wound up on the Rams as insurance for Todd Gurley's balky knee. At that point, Anderson exploded for 299 rushing yards and two TDs in the season's final two weeks before running all over the Cowboys in the playoffs. The veteran is a pure power runner at 5-8, 225, gaining extra yards after contact as much through stubbornness as strength, and his late-season heroics earned him another chance (this time with the Lions) when it looked like his career might be done last Thanksgiving. Coach Matt Patricia's preference for a backfield committee should ensure a steady assignment for Anderson behind Kerryon Johnson, but it would take another injury to push the 28-year-old into a lead role.
Anderson's reward for turning a career-high 245 carries into his first 1,000-yard season in 2017 was to be an offseason cap casualty for the Broncos, but such is life in the NFL. The 27-year-old landed on his feet quickly, signing with the Panthers as their early-down replacement for Jonathan Stewart alongside Christian McCaffrey. A stocky power back at 5-8, 224, Anderson ranked in the league's top 10 last season for both carries and evaded tackles, mostly avoiding the nagging injuries that often have accompanied his bulldog running style. He may not see the same workload in Carolina as the team tries to get the most out of McCaffrey, but given the difficulty Anderson's had staying healthy in the past, that could be for the best. Assuming he doesn't completely flop in a new offensive scheme, the sixth-year back should play a significant part in Norv Turner's weekly game plans.
The Broncos' running game was a mess last season, and Anderson's disappointing numbers were Exhibit A. While his season ended early after a Week 7 knee injury, his 4.0 YPC to that point was by far a career worst, as he was having difficulty finding room behind a makeshift offensive line against defenses that showed zero respect for Denver's passing game. When healthy, the 5-8, 224-pound back has the low center of gravity, pad level and burst to break through arm tackles and stay on his feet after contact, and while Anderson has yet to prove he can hold up as a workhorse in the NFL, he can be effective as the main guy in a committee. The Broncos brought back Mike McCoy to run the offense and spent both draft capital and free agent dollars to improve their O-line, which should help improve the team's rushing attack, but a lot will still depend on Denver finding a QB who can stretch the field. Without any kind of vertical element to the offense, Anderson could once again find himself running into the teeth of too many stacked fronts. The biggest threat to Anderson's value, though, could come from former Chiefs star Jamaal Charles, who's attempting a comeback after playing just eight games over the last two years.
How do the Broncos really feel about Anderson? They keep giving us mixed signals. Denver gave him the minimum tender prior to free agency, though it did match Miami's four-year offer. Nonetheless, the Broncos also re-signed Ronnie Hillman and selected Devontae Booker in the draft. (What there won't be is Peyton Manning to audible and hand off, but maybe that's a good thing.) Anderson's been a late-arriving story in each of the last two seasons — he went ballistic in the second half of 2014 (1,057 total yards, 10 touchdowns) and had an efficiency spike last year (6.3 YPC after Week 8). He was good, not great, in Denver's Super Bowl run (405 total yards, 4.4 YPC). What's missing here is the first two months of 2015, when fantasy owners desperately needed Anderson — a high draft choice — to produce. He stumbled to an 88-315-1 start on the ground (just one score) through eight games, in part because the Broncos' offense was a mess from A to Z (makeshift line; diminished quarterback; erratic receivers; uncertain backfield; etc). Looking forward, there's a solid chance to succeed. Anderson enters the season as the lead back in a Gary Kubiak offense. Say whatever you want about Kubiak, but he generally has strong running games. Anderson's fantasy outlook is probably clearer than it initially seems.
After spending 2012 on the Broncos' practice squad and then seeing little action in 2013 once he recovered from a preseason knee injury, Anderson got just 17 carries through the first eight games last year, and it seemed like he might never get a chance to show what he could do. His fortunes changed dramatically in Week 10, however, as a 51-yard TD reception thrust him into the spotlight and he seized his chance. A short, thick power back, Anderson's game is built around his exceptional burst, balance and vision, allowing him to attack a hole and pick his way through traffic until he gets to the second level. While he doesn't run with tremendous power or speed, his low pad level allows him to grind out plenty of extra yards, and he ranked among the league leaders in missed or broken tackles with 59, which is all the more impressive considering his production all came in essentially half a season. Anderson excels both as a receiver and pass blocker, and his overall skill set should make him a great fit in new coach Gary Kubiak's offense. Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball remain in the picture, but Anderson is finally the clear top back in Denver and seems poised for a big season.
Anderson suffered a preseason knee injury that knocked him out for the first seven weeks of last season and barely saw the field even when healthy. However, he managed to make an impression with his seven regular-season carries and even got three touches in the Super Bowl. With Knowshon Moreno having departed for Miami, Anderson's slated to compete with Montee Ball for No. 1 duties this year in Denver. Ball's the odds-on favorite to come away with that job, but it's worth noting that the Broncos clearly consider the undrafted Anderson to be worthier competition for starter's reps than Ronnie Hillman, who appears pigeonholed into third-down duty.
Will likely spend the season on the practice squad, as there are simply too many running backs ahead of him on the depth chart.
More Fantasy News
Works out in Seattle
RBFree Agent
December 23, 2019
Anderson had a workout with the Seahawks on Monday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
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Working out in Oakland
RBFree Agent
October 21, 2019
Anderson had a workout with the Raiders on Monday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.
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Working out for Texans
RBFree Agent
September 24, 2019
Anderson is working out for the Texans on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
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Cut by Lions
RBFree Agent
September 17, 2019
The Lions released Anderson on Wednesday, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
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Downturn in playing time
RBDetroit Lions
September 16, 2019
Anderson rushed five times for eight yards during Sunday's 13-10 victory over the Chargers.
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