Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
C.J. Spiller emerged from the Buffalo Bills‘ bye week surrounded by a cloud of mystery. The dynamic running back cost fantasy owners a pretty penny on draft day likely a first-round pick, and he has been nothing but a disappointment so far.
Spiller had only three games of double-digit fantasy points entering Week 13 while failing to reach five fantasy points in five separate games. He has been battling a dreadful high ankle sprain all season long but on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, it was clear that the ankle is no longer bothering him. HE looked absolutely electric on a 77-yard run in the first quarter against the Falcons and followed it up with a classic Spiller-esque 36-yard touchdown run in the fourth.
He finished the day averaging 9.9 yards on 15 carries, had five runs of at least six yards and most importantly, he looked exactly like the guy you thought you were spending a first-round pick on back in the summer.
Owners of a healthy, spry, electric Spiller should also benefit from the Bills’ schedule during the fantasy playoffs. Next week, the Bills play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs.
After the Bucs, however, they close out the season with games against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots. The Dolphins and Jags have given up the seventh- and eighth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs, and the Patriots (who have allowed the 12th-most fantasy points) were absolutely shredded by Ben Tate this weekend.
There are probably many Spiller owners who are justifiably blaming their disappointing seasons on their disappointing running back, but if you’ve been able to weather the storm so far, your first-round pick is about to pay off in a big way. C.J. Spiller is back to being a must-start running back going forward.
Billy Moy is a Fantasy Sports writer at www.RantSports.com. You can follow him on Twitter @william_moy6, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
