Bye: If Broncos move on from C.J. Anderson, they’d better upgrade at RB

Last season, Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson rushed 1,007 yards on 245 attempts, good enough for ninth among all rushers and the first time in his five year NFL career he ran for more than 1,000 yards in a season.

Anderson’s 4.1 yards per carry topped the likes of All-Pro Le’Veon Bell (4.0); Pro Bowler LeSean McCoy (4.0); and other star runners like Tevin Coleman, Melvin Gordon, Leonard Fournette (all at 3.9).

With seven runs of 20 yards or more, Anderson ranked sixth in the NFL, more than Ezekiel Elliott, Jordan Howard, Devonta Freeman, Alvin Kamara, Coleman, and Gordon.

Yet Anderson, who’s due to make $4.5 million in both 2018 and 2019, seems to be on shaky ground when it comes to his future with the Broncos.

Earlier this week when asked if Anderson would be back with the team, general manager John Elway told 9News’ Mike Klis, “He may or may not. Who knows?”

Elway on if CJ Anderson back: “He may or may not. Who knows? We’re going to continue to massage this thing, figure out what’s best. CJ obviously had a great year for us. We’ll see where it takes us. There’s a lot of moving parts when you talk about cap and type things.” #9sports

— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) March 25, 2018

On Tuesday, “Stokley and Zach” co-host Zach Bye said weight production versus price is “a part of the conversation” in the NFL, but cautioned that if Denver should part with Anderson they better have a plan.

“If you’re going to move on from C.J., you’d better have something better than C.J.,” Bye said. “It’s got to be an upgrade.”

Yahoo Sports NFL writer Frank Schwab, who filled in with Bye on Tuesday, agreed, saying Anderson’s “not the problem with the Broncos.”

“Cutting C.J. Anderson or moving on or drafting a guy in the third round that you think is going to be a starter, I don’t see how that makes your football team a lot better because C.J. Anderson wasn’t the issue,” Schwab said.

Bye argued that Denver media, himself included, may be overly critical of Anderson compared to other top-tier running backs because of his proximity.

“It’s like a hotel mirror. You see every little blemish in a hotel mirror, and that’s the case, I think, because of our proximity to C.J. and how much we analyze these football games,” Bye said. “That we are not valuing him, I don’t think, the way that we should.”

And perhaps, Bye said, perhaps Denver’s not yet “seen the best” of Anderson.

“He doesn’t have so many miles on him that you’re like, well, it’s over for C.J. Anderson,” Schwab said. “I still think he has very good football left in him.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.