C.J.

Anderson

Anderson, 29, an undrafted free agent, had one 1,000 rushing season in his career -- 2017 in Denver. He become a fantasy football hero in 2018 when he started two late-season games for the Rams, rushing for 299 total yards and two touchdowns. Anderson is expected to pursue a career in coaching.

With Doug Martin’s health no longer a question mark, Anderson has been cut loose after one week in Oakland. With Spencer Ware’s (shoulder) health in doubt, perhaps the Chiefs will consider a waiver claim after they worked out Anderson last week.

Anderson was released by the Panthers in mid-November after failing to carve out a role behind Christian McCaffrey. Luckily for Anderson, there isn’t anyone in Oakland’s backfield like CMC but that doesn’t mean he’s going to see a lot of work. Anderson will join Gruden’s committee of Doug Martin and Jalen Richard when he eventually makes his Raiders debut. This is a coming home signing for the Bay Area native.

Signed on Tuesday, Anderson apparently did not learn enough of the offense to be active. Doug Martin (knee) will keep his early-down role for at least another week. The Raiders also declared LG Kelechi Osemele (toe), DT Maurice Hurst (ankle), LB Kyle Wilber (hamstring), WR Keon Hatcher, CB Montrel Meander, and OT Justin Murray inactive for Week 14.

It’s unclear what role CJA could have in the Raiders offense. The last thing Josh Jacobs needs is another RB to take away his stranglehold on early-down work. Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington each offer theoretical three-down ability as backup RBs.

The Texans have quickly written off Duke Johnson as an early-down option, and Carlos Hyde came back down to earth in Week 3. 28-year-old CJA still had plenty of juice left in his legs down the stretch for the Rams last season. If not the Texans, he figures to sign somewhere soon.

Anderson was de-emphasized in the Lions’ Week 2 game plan, seeing both his snaps and touches halved. We would like to think it’s good news for Kerryon Johnson, though the corresponding move to Anderson’s release was claiming Paul Perkins off waivers. Johnson actually saw his snap percentage decline in Week 2 from Week 1. As CJA showed last postseason, there is still some juice in his 28-year-old legs. He should resurface shortly.

Anderson was not targeted in the passing game. It was a Blount-ian performance if there ever was one. Anderson is going to vulture touchdowns, but his main fantasy impact will be in the points he steals from Kerryon Johnson rather than the ones he posts himself.

He didn’t play a single down in Detroit’s first series as Kerryon Johnson got all the run. Anderson sprinkled in afterwards, however, even getting red zone and goal line reps. Anderson’s value in fantasy depends entirely on whether or not OC Darrell Bevell and the rest of Detroit’s staff unleash Johnson in the regular season. For the time being, Anderson is strictly a late-round flier/handcuff with a possible path to goal-line work.

The Lions have their LeGarrette Blount replacement to pair with sophomore Kerryon Johnson. Detroit has talked all offseason how it wants to limit Johnson’s touches and not rely on him as a workhorse. Anderson obviously had a huge Weeks 16-21 with the Rams to end last season, compiling an 89-488-4 rushing line in five contests, including three 100-yard games. Anderson, however, was running behind arguably the league’s best run-blocking offensive line in a very favorable offense. That won’t be the case in Detroit, as the Lions were 19th in adjusted line yards in the run game. Anderson turned 28 in February. Consider him an RB3 for the time being. Theo Riddick will still have a role on pass downs as well.