There are questions about the health of Peyton Manning no matter what the Denver Broncos say and the run game could be critical to the team's success in 2015. With Gary Kubiak taking over as head coach, he is expected to make the running backs a feature and the Broncos have three players who could all become quality starters. However ,as two rise to the challenge, will the third risk release?
Fantasy football owners take note because the Broncos are starting to set their running back depth chart for the upcoming season. After a breakout 2014 season, CJ Anderson is RB1 for the team. The young back has looked strong in the preseason and continues to pick up on the momentum he created last season. However, there is doubt as to who will be his backup. Anderson excelled last year after injuries hit both Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball hard. Now that both backs are on the field and healthy again, it is Hillman leading the charge behind Anderson.
"He's moved himself up. He's had a really good camp," Kubiak said, per the team's official website. "... He deserves more reps and if he keeps playing like that, he'll continue to get some more."
According to Broncos' beat writer Mike Klis, Hillman is the favored backup over Ball which could force someone to be released in the coming weeks before the season kicks off. Hillman has the speed and elusiveness to put him ahead of the pack. So the question is where that leaves Ball. According to the Denver Post, Ball is on a free fall on the depth chart as he continues to slump in the preseason. The Post reports that fourth-string back Juwan Thompson might actually be favored for the No.3 spot which could leave Ball released from the team.
The Broncos have a lot of position battles taking place before the season begins. The running back position is only one. The tight end spot has a nice battle for the replacement of Julius Thomas. Owen Daniels is in Denver and back with Kubiak after the two worked together in Baltimore, but he is not the favorite to start. Virgil Green has been dominating the offense so far for the Broncos, looking versatile and reliable on the field. Fantasy owners would be wise not to overlook Green.
"I went to the sideline, and I was like, 'This really is a tight-end friendly offense,'" said Green, via the Post. "It just came real easy. But I can do a little better in my route running. I was getting a little excited out there."
