For the first year and a half of his NFL career, Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller was used mostly as a third-down back. The team would split him out wide and try to use his speed as a receiver. He hadn't shown the ability to carry an offense. That was until Fred Jackson broke his leg in week 11 at Miami. From there on, Spiller averaged 18 touches and 105 yards per game. So it's no surprise that Bills general manager Buddy Nix said Monday that he thinks Spiller can be a workhorse back.
"Everyone's been surprised, I guess, about C.J. except us," Nix said. "We always knew what we had. The opportunity is what he needed, and he got it when Fred got hurt. I'm one of the few who thinks C.J. can run inside and be a workhorse kind of back. I think he can run inside the tackles. He's stronger than you think he is."

Fantasy Analysis:

Jackson should be at full strength for OTAs, he's under contract through 2012, and Nix said Monday that he would like to work out a long-term extension with Jackson before the start of next season. Spiller became an every-week start for fantasy owners in the second half of the 2011 season, but until Jackson either suffers another major injury or departs Buffalo, we're probably looking at a 50-50 split, at best, for Spiller. C.J. was fantastic at the end of the season, but the Bills aren't going to forget how well Jackson played in the first nine games.