Los Angeles Rams: C.J. Anderson deserves a role in playoffs

The Los Angeles Rams brought in C.J. Anderson in the last two games of the season as Todd Gurley rested with knee inflammation.

With the first seed out of question and two relatively easy opponents to end the season, the Los Angeles Rams opted to play it safe and let Todd Gurley fully recover from the inflammation that was bothering his left knee.

If the Los Angeles Rams were in the midst of a tight playoff race, chances are the team would have had Gurley on the sideline with a close eye. Instead, the team opted to rest the star running back and bring in former Denver Broncos standout, C.J. Anderson.

Not having Gurley was fine for the Rams, who finished the year with two wins and a combined 79 points. Not only were the Rams just fine, but the team also thrived on the ground with Anderson, who emerged with two great performances after being virtually nonexistent for the Carolina Panthers earlier in the season.

Anderson carried the ball a total of 43 times in the two contests, combining for 299 yards and two rushing touchdowns. It is easy to get ahead of ourselves, especially considering who the Rams were playing, but this is more than a promising outing; this was two elite games.

Now, Anderson has made his case to keep a role in the postseason, even though Gurley is expected to return. While Anderson obviously won’t be the featured back, he does add a new dynamic to the offense that can help the Rams overcome old foes from the regular season in the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears.

The Los Angeles Rams traditionally run a formation consisting of one back, one tight end and three receivers and change and tweak that to suit the offense.

With a viable second back in Anderson, the Rams can open the playbook and begin to run two-back formations more frequently.

Todd Gurley is the better pass catcher of the two and could motion out of the backfield to open the running lanes for Anderson or can serve as the check-down option with Anderson being the great pass-blocking back that he is.

Anderson probably helps the passing game more than the running game with the reemergence of Gurley but he also serves as a comforting safety blanket just in case Gurley’s knee is reaggravated or something else happens to the back.

Anderson has already proven that he can run in this system and thrives behind this offensive line, it would be foolish to keep him on the sideline during the postseason.

While his role is undoubtedly going to be reduced, Anderson could be the small spoke on the wheel that helps the Los Angeles Rams turn smoothly in the postseason.