2. C.J. Anderson

Anderson and the Broncos lack of a running game has been well documented in the short season thus far. The team that desperately wants to run the ball and create balance on offense, has only averaged 57 rush yards per game. It is a point of emphasis that Kubiak has commented on several times and Sunday it will start with Anderson.

“I’ve talked to C.J. When you’re evaluating the running game, we’re talking about being better up front, getting more creases, doing that. That’s a coaches’ thing. We’ve got to create some space for these guys. Then you go to the backs and you say, ‘Sometimes you’ve got to create your own space.’ He’s worked really hard this week. We had a really good, physical practice on Thursday and he responded well in that practice. Sometimes as a back, you’ve got to do a little bit more. You’re in this league to make some plays that nobody else can make sometimes,” Kubiak said confidently Friday.

Anderson came on late in the 2014 season and earned a Pro Bowl nod finishing the season as the third ranked running back on Pro Football Focus (PFF) but has had a tough start in the new Broncos offense thus far. Much of his struggles may be fairly placed on the offensive lines’ inadequate start and is a major reason he is buried as the 38th ranked running back so far in 2015, per PFF. There are four new players blocking for him this season and it certainly has affected the consistency of the running attack but Kubiak has vowed several times that they will not abandon the run. They simply cannot do that and this week it will be even more important due to Peterson’s role on the opposing team’s offense.

If Anderson can “create space” as Kubiak mentioned, it will not only help Manning in the passing game but it will keep Peterson off of the field. The Vikings defense has been average against both the pass and the run and have given up 119.3 rushing yards per game, ranking 24th in the NFL. Look for the Broncos to try and get things going early Sunday, especially on first downs. They have struggled to begin drives this season and Kubiak commented on that fact Friday.

“If you’re not running the ball well, you feel like you’re wasting some downs,” he said. “We’ve got to be better on first down. That was a point of emphasis last week. When you’re not running the ball well, you’re probably going to try to find a way to make some plays throwing it on first down. That has been an emphasis for us the last couple weeks.”

No. 1 has the unenviable task of moving positions last-minute…