The Broncos have released C.J. Anderson, and like the Dez Bryant release, you wonder a little bit why the team couldn't have done the player a favor by cutting him sooner. Anderson can still play, and might have had more of a market earlier in the free agency period.
The Dolphins, for example, had interest in Anderson when he was a restricted free agent, signing him to a deal that the Broncos eventually matched. Miami recently signed Frank Gore, and you have to think they might have preferred Anderson.
Anderson recently turned 27 years old and rather quietly rushed for over 1,000 yards last year. Of the 83 players with at least 50 attempts last year, only five had more runs of 20-plus yards in 2017 than he did. Doesn't look like a guy that's washed up.
| 20-PLUS YARD RUNS, 2017 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Att | Yds | Avg | Lg | TDs | 20+ | Pct |
| Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 272 | 1,327 | 4.9 | 69t | 8 | 12 | 4.4% |
| LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 287 | 1,138 | 4.0 | 48t | 6 | 12 | 4.2% |
| Mark Ingram, N.O. | 230 | 1,124 | 4.9 | 72 | 12 | 11 | 4.8% |
| Bilal Powell, NYJ | 178 | 772 | 4.3 | 75t | 5 | 9 | 5.1% |
| Todd Gurley, LAR | 279 | 1,305 | 4.7 | 57t | 13 | 8 | 2.9% |
| Kenyan Drake, Mia. | 133 | 644 | 4.8 | 66t | 3 | 7 | 5.3% |
| LeGarrette Blount, Phil. | 173 | 766 | 4.4 | 68 | 2 | 7 | 4.0% |
| Dion Lewis, N.E. | 180 | 896 | 5.0 | 44 | 6 | 7 | 3.9% |
| Latavius Murray, Minn. | 216 | 842 | 3.9 | 46 | 8 | 7 | 3.2% |
| C.J. Anderson, Den. | 245 | 1,007 | 4.1 | 40 | 3 | 7 | 2.9% |
| Aaron Jones, G.B. | 81 | 448 | 5.5 | 46t | 4 | 6 | 7.4% |
| Marlon Mack, Ind. | 93 | 358 | 3.8 | 35 | 3 | 6 | 6.5% |
| Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 156 | 628 | 4.0 | 52 | 5 | 6 | 3.8% |
| Orleans Darkwa, NYG | 171 | 751 | 4.4 | 75t | 5 | 6 | 3.5% |
| Jay Ajayi, Mia.-Phil. | 208 | 876 | 4.2 | 71 | 1 | 6 | 2.9% |
| Alex Collins, Balt. | 212 | 973 | 4.6 | 50 | 6 | 6 | 2.8% |
| Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 240 | 938 | 3.9 | 61 | 8 | 6 | 2.5% |
| Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 105 | 458 | 4.4 | 25 | 2 | 5 | 4.8% |
| Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 120 | 728 | 6.1 | 74t | 8 | 5 | 4.2% |
| • Cam Newton, Car. | 139 | 754 | 5.4 | 69 | 6 | 5 | 3.6% |
| Ameer Abdullah, Det. | 165 | 552 | 3.3 | 34 | 4 | 5 | 3.0% |
| Derrick Henry, Tenn. | 176 | 744 | 4.2 | 75t | 5 | 5 | 2.8% |
| Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 196 | 865 | 4.4 | 44 | 7 | 5 | 2.6% |
| Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 206 | 853 | 4.1 | 59 | 2 | 5 | 2.4% |
| Marshawn Lynch, Oak. | 207 | 891 | 4.3 | 51t | 7 | 5 | 2.4% |
| Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 242 | 983 | 4.1 | 30 | 7 | 5 | 2.1% |
| Jordan Howard, Chi. | 276 | 1,122 | 4.1 | 53 | 9 | 5 | 1.8% |
| Melvin Gordon, LAC | 284 | 1,105 | 3.9 | 87t | 8 | 5 | 1.8% |
| Dalvin Cook, Minn. | 74 | 354 | 4.8 | 33 | 2 | 4 | 5.4% |
| Tarik Cohen, Chi. | 87 | 370 | 4.3 | 46 | 2 | 4 | 4.6% |
| • Russell Wilson, Sea. | 95 | 586 | 6.2 | 31 | 3 | 4 | 4.2% |
| Alfred Morris, Dall. | 115 | 547 | 4.8 | 70 | 1 | 4 | 3.5% |
| Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 268 | 1,040 | 3.9 | 90t | 9 | 4 | 1.5% |
| • Blake Bortles, Jac. | 57 | 322 | 5.6 | 28 | 2 | 3 | 5.3% |
| • Carson Wentz, Phil. | 64 | 299 | 4.7 | 24 | 0 | 3 | 4.7% |
| Mike Davis, Sea. | 68 | 240 | 3.5 | 33 | 0 | 3 | 4.4% |
| D'Onta Foreman, Hou. | 78 | 327 | 4.2 | 39 | 2 | 3 | 3.8% |
| DeMarco Murray, Tenn. | 184 | 659 | 3.6 | 75t | 6 | 3 | 1.6% |
| LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 321 | 1,291 | 4.0 | 27 | 9 | 3 | 0.9% |
| Jalen Richard, Oak. | 56 | 275 | 4.9 | 52t | 1 | 2 | 3.6% |
| • Tavon Austin, LAR | 59 | 270 | 4.6 | 27t | 1 | 2 | 3.4% |
| • Alex Smith, K.C. | 60 | 355 | 5.9 | 70 | 1 | 2 | 3.3% |
| • Marcus Mariota, Tenn. | 60 | 312 | 5.2 | 34t | 5 | 2 | 3.3% |
| Rex Burkhead, N.E. | 64 | 264 | 4.1 | 31 | 5 | 2 | 3.1% |
| Corey Clement, Phil. | 74 | 321 | 4.3 | 28 | 4 | 2 | 2.7% |
| • DeShone Kizer, Clev. | 77 | 419 | 5.4 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 2.6% |
| • Tyrod Taylor, Buff. | 84 | 427 | 5.1 | 32 | 4 | 2 | 2.4% |
| Matt Breida, S.F. | 105 | 465 | 4.4 | 33t | 2 | 2 | 1.9% |
| Wayne Gallman, NYG | 111 | 476 | 4.3 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 1.8% |
| Kerwynn Williams, Ariz. | 120 | 426 | 3.6 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 1.7% |
| Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | 150 | 570 | 3.8 | 58t | 3 | 2 | 1.3% |
| Adrian Peterson, N.O.-Az. | 156 | 529 | 3.4 | 27t | 2 | 2 | 1.3% |
| Joe Mixon, Cin. | 178 | 626 | 3.5 | 25 | 4 | 2 | 1.1% |
| Rod Smith, Dall. | 55 | 232 | 4.2 | 45 | 4 | 1 | 1.8% |
| • Dak Prescott, Dall. | 57 | 357 | 6.3 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 1.8% |
| Thomas Rawls, Sea. | 58 | 157 | 2.7 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 1.7% |
| Rob Kelley, Wash. | 62 | 194 | 3.1 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 1.6% |
| • Jacoby Brissett, Ind. | 63 | 260 | 4.1 | 25 | 4 | 1 | 1.6% |
| Malcolm Brown, LAR | 63 | 246 | 3.9 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 1.6% |
| Chris Thompson, Wash. | 64 | 294 | 4.6 | 61t | 2 | 1 | 1.6% |
| Jacquizz Rodgers, T.B. | 64 | 244 | 3.8 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 1.6% |
| Mike Tolbert, Buff. | 66 | 247 | 3.7 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 1.5% |
| Alfred Blue, Hou. | 71 | 262 | 3.7 | 48 | 1 | 1 | 1.4% |
| Ty Montgomery, G.B. | 71 | 273 | 3.8 | 37t | 3 | 1 | 1.4% |
| Devontae Booker, Den. | 79 | 299 | 3.8 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 1.3% |
| Theo Riddick, Det. | 84 | 286 | 3.4 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 1.2% |
| Elijah McGuire, NYJ | 88 | 315 | 3.6 | 69t | 1 | 1 | 1.1% |
| Matt Forte, NYJ | 103 | 381 | 3.7 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 1.0% |
| Peyton Barber, T.B. | 108 | 423 | 3.9 | 34 | 3 | 1 | 0.9% |
| Chris Ivory, Jac. | 112 | 382 | 3.4 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0.9% |
| Christian McCaffrey, Car. | 117 | 435 | 3.7 | 40 | 2 | 1 | 0.9% |
| Doug Martin, T.B. | 138 | 406 | 2.9 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 0.7% |
| Jamaal Williams, G.B. | 153 | 556 | 3.6 | 25 | 4 | 1 | 0.7% |
| Javorius Allen, Balt. | 153 | 591 | 3.9 | 37 | 4 | 1 | 0.7% |
| Samaje Perine, Wash. | 175 | 603 | 3.4 | 30 | 1 | 1 | 0.6% |
| Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 198 | 680 | 3.4 | 60t | 6 | 1 | 0.5% |
| Lamar Miller, Hou. | 238 | 888 | 3.7 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 0.4% |
| Frank Gore, Ind. | 261 | 961 | 3.7 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 0.4% |
| Mike Gillislee, N.E. | 104 | 383 | 3.7 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Duke Johnson, Clev. | 82 | 348 | 4.2 | 19t | 4 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Eddie Lacy, Sea. | 69 | 179 | 2.6 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Jamaal Charles, Den. | 69 | 296 | 4.3 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
| DeAndre Washington, Oak. | 57 | 153 | 2.7 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0.0% |
Non-running backs are flagged with a bullet. Note new Dolphins back Frank Gore way down at the bottom of the list. Nominal starter Devontae Booker also shows up very low on the list. Denver should be looking to add a running back early in the draft -- maybe Saquon Barkley, if he's available when they pick at No. 5.
--Andy Richardson