5 Reasons Why the Broncos Will Win Super Bowl 50

C.J. Anderson

Yes, that C.J. Anderson. One of the most polarizing figures in fantasy football today, Anderson notably stumbled out of the gate and sent fantasy owners into a vicious cycle of self-loathing and regret. Since then, Anderson has quietly put up a decent second half.

After averaging only 2.69 yards per carry and a horrifying Rushing NEP of -21.25 through his first six games, Anderson has averaged 5.90 yards per carry and a Rushing NEP of 12.61 over his final 13 games. For context, 12.61 would have been the second highest Rushing NEP (behind DeAngelo Williams) in the league among running backs with at least 150 carries.

An impressive turnaround, to say the least.

Our metrics peg Carolina as the 12th best team in defending against the run, so this is the matchup that Denver should look to exploit early and often.

Getting the running game going early has a significant domino effect for Denver. It will allow the Broncos to control the clock and keep Carolina’s offense on the sideline. It will force the defense to play honest and keep the pass rush at bay. It will allow Manning to use play action passes effectively.

While anything can happen in any game, it’s fair to expect that the outcome of this specific matchup will have a heavy impact on the final score of the game.