Spiller (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game against the Jets.

Analysis: Spiller has shown that he can be a fantasy star if given the appropriate number of touches and with Fred Jackson on IR, he should get plenty Sunday. The Jets have been poor against the run this season, so Spiller should get plenty of opportunities to shine.

Spiller continues success

In his Week 17 "Start 'Em, Sit 'Em" report, Michael Fabiano notes the "New York (Jets) has one of the worst run units in the NFL, and Spiller scored close to 24 fantasy points against them back in Week 1." FULL START 'EM, SIT 'EM

Analysis: Spiller has re-emerged into an elite fantasy back and faces one of the more favorable matchups this week. The back has scored no less than 16 points his last two outings and has a good chance to make it three in a row this week.

Spiller carries Bills offense

Spiller totaled 22 carries for 138 yards, adding 35 yards receiving versus the Dolphins on Sunday. WATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Analysis: With little offensive output, Spiller was the lone source of production for the Bills. His 17.30 point performance was his third-best fantasy total of the season.

Spiller (shoulder) had 22 carries for 138 rushing yards, as well as four catches on five targets for 35 receiving yards Sunday against the Dolphins.

Analysis: Spiller was dominant with Fred Jackson out, as fantasy owners marveled once again at how good Spiller can be when given the appropriate number of touches. It was his second straight game with over 100 yards and he'll look to do it again in Week 17 against a porous Jets' run defense.

Spiller (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game at Miami.

Analysis: Spiller had a pretty great game last week, considering the Bills got humiliated by the Seahawks. He should have a bit more room to roam this week.

Spiller (shoulder) carried the ball 17 times for 103 yards and a score in Sunday's loss to the Seahawks. He wasn't a factor in the passing game, catching three balls for minus-2 yards.

Analysis: This was about as could be expected given the 50-17 drubbing at the hands of the Seahawks, as once again Spiller was one of the most talented guys on the field in averaging 6.1 yards per carry. He hit the 1,000 yard rushing mark on just his 154th carry of the season, and should continue to see the bulk of the work the last two games with Fred Jackson on IR. Backup Tashard Choice only saw one carry.

Seahawks not as stout vs. run on the road

In his Week 15 "Start 'Em, Sit 'Em" analysis, Michael Fabiano notes, "While the Seahawks have been pretty tough on the run overall, this unit has surrendered an average of close to 17 fantasy points per game to running backs on the road." FULL START 'EM, SIT 'EM

Analysis: Spiller was a fantasy disappointment last week, but he's in line to see more carries moving forward in the absence of Fred Jackson (knee, injured reserve).

Spiller's teammate Fred Jackson, who suffered a grade 2 MCL sprain Sunday, has been placed on injured reserve, WGR550.com reports.

Analysis: Jackson had almost no chance of playing the next week or two, but there had been some slim possibility he could make an earlier-than-expected return like he did with a previous injury this season and try to play in Week 17. That's now officially off the table, while we'll get a chance to see what Spiller can do with a full workload for more than just one game.

Coach Chan Gailey said Monday that Spiller has a major workload in store for the final three games following the likely season-ending knee injury to Fred Jackson, BuffaloBills.com reports. Said the coach: "We're going to get the opportunity here in the next few weeks for him to get it a lot and we won't have what I term two great backs. I think Tashard (Choice) is a very good back, but to me he's not in Fred's category. So there won't be a lot of sharing of duties. C.J. will have to take a big part of the load now."

Analysis: In other words, no more games where Gailey says one thing about Spiller and doesn't follow through with it on Sunday. Spiller is now expected to get major touches, and based on what he's done with inconsistent amounts of work all season, folks using him in the playoffs should be pretty excited. That said, there are a few hurdles here too, such as an injury ravaged offensive line, the possibility of Choice vulturing a goal line look or two, and two pretty decent run defenses ahead between Seattle and Miami. Nonetheless, he's been a top 10 back this season in a shared role, and this development might move him into the next group.

With news that Fred Jackson's knee injury is expected to keep him out for the remainder of the season, Spiller is in line for added touches down the stretch.

Analysis: Though it's unfortunately at the expense of Jackson, opportunity knocks for the dynamic Spiller, who is averaging an eye-popping 6.6 yards per carry to date, while also chipping in 34 catches for 354 yards. While his Week 15 matchup (the Seahawks) isn't especially favorable, it's tough to bet against Spiller, given how productive he has been with his touches this season.

Spiller (shoulder) had seven carries for 37 rushing yards and one catch on one target for 15 receiving yards Sunday against the Rams.

Analysis: Another relatively poor performance by Spiller, who once again finished with fewer touches than Fred Jackson. However, Jackson was forced out of Sunday's game with a knee injury that could be serious enough to keep him out for awhile, which means Spiller should go back to being the main workhorse for the Bills. However, up next is a tough matchup against a very strong Seahawks defense in Week 15.

Spiller (shoulder) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Rams.

Analysis: Fred Jackson remains in the Bills' backfield mix on the heels of a big game last week, but Spiller will get his share of touches and more often than not he's been able to produce for his fantasy owners this season, even with a time-share in play.

Rams allowing points to key positions

In his Week 14 "Start 'Em, Sit 'Em" analysis, Michael Fabiano notes the Rams defense has "allowed the third-most total touchdowns and an average of close to 20 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs overall." FULL START 'EM, SIT 'EM

Analysis: Spiller saw fewer touches than Fred Jackson last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but that was due to the wet weather conditions. Even if he does split carries, Spiller's explosiveness ranks him among the best starts at the position this week.

Spiller is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Rams with a shoulder issue.

Analysis: This is becoming more and more a non-issue as the season wears on, so you can almost start to consider it on the "Brady-probable-shoulder" scale of things. As for Sunday, on the good side Spiller has shown big-play capability all season and is putting up one of the all-time YPC carry seasons the NFL has ever seen, while he'll see a Rams defense that is middle-of-the-pack in terms of yardage but also one that gives up a lot of rushing touchdowns. On the negative side Fred Jackson will certainly be in the mix after having a big game last week, while both running backs may be expected to block a little more than usual with the team's right side of the offensive line in shambles due to injury.

Coach Chan Gailey mentioned that weather and the flow of the game affected his intended use for Spiller (shoulder) in Sunday's win over Jacksonville, BuffaloBills.com reports.

Analysis: Gailey said last week that he was eyeballing a 60/65 share for Spiller in relation to Fred Jackson's action, but that didn't even come close to happening, with Jackson carrying the ball 25 times Sunday versus a modest 14 for Spiller. Gailey cited the soggy weather conditions and, at another time, mentioned how effective Jackson was. While we still like Spiller more on a fantasy level, maybe by a decent margin, the lesson here is that Jackson is not going away, whether that might be due to him getting hot - he hit his first 100-yard game of the season Sunday - or because Spiller misses a block, or simply because Gailey might decide to give Jackson some goal-line carries. Spiller did just fine in terms of production, averaging 5.5 yards per carry and scoring on a beautiful 44-yard run, so he actually got more fantasy points than Jackson as usual. But the worrisome aspect, as great as he's been (seventh overall among running backs in standard scoring), is that Jackson did have his best game of the season and that through 12 games Spiller has seen more than 15 carries just once.

Jackson takes lead, but Spiller effective

After taking a backseat to teammate C.J. Spiller last week, Jackson lead the way with 25 carries for 109 yards against the Jaguars on Sunday. Spiller was still the more effective of the two, notching 77 yards and a touchdown on just 14 carries. WATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Analysis: Spiller is still the safer play of the two backs as well--he's scored double-digit fantasy points in seven straight games. Jackson does have value, but he is most trustworthy as a flex play moving forward.

Spiller (shoulder) had 14 carries for 77 rushing yards and a touchdown, as well as one catch on one target for seven receiving yards Sunday against the Jaguars.

Analysis: Head coach Chan Gailey had said multiple times during the last few weeks that Spiller would get a majority of the carries for the Bills moving forward. That simply wasn't the case Sunday when Fred Jackson got the call 25 times versus only 14 for Spiller. Fantasy owners are simply beside themselves that the Bills are limiting touches to one of the most explosive backs in the game. It seems that the only team that can truly slow Spiller right now are the Bills themselves.

Spiller (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.

Analysis: Once again, Spiller's injury should not be of any concern. He will once again get the majority of touches and will be looking to gain over 100 yards from scrimmage for the seventh consecutive game.

Spiller having career season

In his Week 13 "Like/Dislike" analysis, Adam Rank notes, "C.J. Spiller has 1,162 yards from scrimmage this season (seventh in NFL). It is the first time he has gone over 1,000 scrimmage yards in his career. Spiller has at least 100 yards from scrimmage in each of his last six games." READ: LIKE/DISLIKE

Analysis: In his Week 13 "Start 'Em, Sit 'Em" analysis, Michael Fabiano adds the Jaguars defense "has surrendered 12 total touchdowns and the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs overall."

Spiller (shoulder) is listed as probable for Sunday's game against Jacksonville.

Analysis: Spiller may show up as probable the rest of the way, but unless he takes another rough hit the shoulder has been pretty much a non-issue since he returned earlier this season without even missing a game. Spiller will aim for his seventh consecutive game of 100-plus yards from scrimmage when the Bills take on the Jags, where he's expected to continue to see the majority of carries over Fred Jackson.

Jaguars face test vs. Spiller

In his Week 13 "Start 'Em, Sit 'Em" analysis, Michael Fabiano notes the Jaguars defense "has surrendered 12 total touchdowns and the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs overall." FULL START 'EM, SIT 'EM

Analysis: Bills coach Chan Gailey named Spiller his starter this week, adding that he should also see 60 percent of the snaps. That's more than enough for the explosive Clemson product.

Coach Chan Gailey, who has said Spiller will remain the starter even though Fred Jackson is healthy again, has said he's looking at something like a "60-40, 65-35" split, BuffaloBills.com reports.

Analysis: That's about what we were expecting, even though 75-25 would seem more appropriate given Spiller's burst of speed and 6.75 yards per carry. Then again, there could be a pretty big difference in split as to whether Gailey is referring to snaps or carries, which is a bit of a difference in this situation because Jackson saw a lot of snaps in Week 11 but on obvious passing downs because he's the better blocker of the two. Nonetheless, Spiller continues to trend up, given the better portion of the load and the relatively weak schedule down the stretch, not to mention his own skills. And for this week against Jacksonville's 29th-ranked run defense, he certainly makes for a strong play.

Although Spiller carried the ball 14 times to Fred Jackson's six Sunday and coach Chan Gailey said Monday that Spiller will continue to get the majority of the work, he actually saw less overall snaps than Jackson during Sunday's loss to the Colts, BuffaloBills.com reports.

Analysis: Spiller missed a key block early in the game, and while it didn't really impact his carries versus Jackson, he was subbed out for several downfield passing downs. The bottom line is he can probably keep himself on the field more if he doesn't suffer any letdowns with the intangibles. Spiller is actually becoming a decent blocker, but Jackson is a whiz in pass protection and Spiller can only help himself by staying at a palatable level. The good news is that Gailey appears ready to let him be the major focus of the offense -- as he was during the Miami game two weeks ago when Jackson was hurt -- though we'll have to see how long this continues and how the goal line carries get split up.

C.J. Spiller : Will Remain Starter

Coach Chan Gailey said Monday that Spiller will remain the starter for now and continue to get the "majority of play time," the Bills' official Twitter feed reports.

Analysis: Gailey probably had to make this decision at some point even though Jackson is officially healthy again. With the coach taking much criticism in other areas following a must-win loss against the Colts, keeping the highly effective Spiller as a main focus seems like the right choice. On the season, Spiller is averaging 6.75 YPC and 10.38 YPR, while going over 100 yards from scrimmage for six consecutive games, compared to Jackson's 3.88 YPC and 7.07 YPR. If Gailey is true to his word, Spiller is pretty much a top-10 fantasy back while this is in play, the only drawback being that Jackson may vulture the goal line carries, something we'll be watching closely.

Spiller (shoulder) had 14 carries for 107 rushing yards and caught one pass on three targets for minus-four receiving yards Sunday against the Colts.

Analysis: Spiller now has a six-game streak of recording at least 100 total yards, the longest in Bills' history since Thurmon Thomas did it in 1992. The Bills' offense sputtered for most the day, which limited the number of carries for its running backs, as Spiller and Fred Jackson combined for only 20. That being said, fantasy owners must feel good that there wasn't a 50-50 timeshare in the backfield, which seems to be the only thing that can slow down Spiller these days.

Spiller takes over

C.J. Spiller carried the load on Sunday, notching 14 carries for 107 yards. Teammate Fred Jackson totaled just six carries for 16 yards on the day. WATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Analysis: With such a big gap in touches, this could signal a slow phasing out of Jackson on the field and as a viable fantasy option. A bigger sample will be necessary to gauge where this is headed, but the early signs are not good for Jackson owners.

Spiller (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game at Indianapolis.

Analysis: Spiller is expected to start and get a heavier workload than Fred Jackson in this game.

Spiller hits career marks

Spiller already has single-season career highs in yards rushing (723) and receiving (336), along with five combined touchdowns. The Bills struggled for years to balance Spiller and Fred Jackson when they were both healthy. Spiller now has slid into the role of lead back for the NFL's eighth-ranked rushing team. FULL REPORT

Analysis: In his Week 12 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em analysis, Michael Fabiano notes, "Regardless of Fred Jackson's status, Spiller will be no worse than a solid No. 2 fantasy option against the Colts. Their defense continues to struggle against the run, allowing an average of just under 19 fantasy points to opposing backs on their home field."

Spiller will get the start

Gailey told reporters Wednesday that C.J. Spiller will start Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts, but he didn't shut the door on Fred Jackson seeing time. "C.J. will start, but we're still going to play Fred," Gailey said. "It takes two. It does. So Fred will get quite a few snaps, but C.J. will start and get the majority of the snaps." FULL REPORT

Analysis: In his "Week 12 Predictions" analysis, Elliot Harrison notes, "the Indianapolis Colts' run defense is allowing nearly 120 yards per game and 4.68 yards per rush. C.J. Spiller should go coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs in this one." Expect Jackson to see his share of success as well, even if in limited duty.

C.J. Spiller : Better Portion Of Timeshare For Now

Following up on initial reports, Spiller is expected to start and get a greater portion of the timeshare Sunday against the Colts, BuffaloBills.com reports. Said coach Chan Gailey: "C.J. will start, but we're still going to play Fred. It takes two. It does. So Fred will get quite a few snaps, but C.J. will start and get the majority of the snaps."

Analysis: While Spiller won't have quite the free reign as he had last week in seeing heavy touches against the Dolphins, it sounds like he makes for a good start this week against the Colts and their 22nd-ranked run defense. The two biggest things to follow now that Jackson is close to full health will be: 1) What kind of goal line work will Spiller see, as it hasn't been too favorable much of the season, plus Gailey seems to love Jackson's efforts in the red zone and if he's going to pick his spots to use Jackson, that may be one of them; and 2) If Spiller stays hot - he's averaging an insane 6.63 YPC this season - will the Bills stick with the plan they're eyeballing for Sunday?

Spiller will start at running back for the Bills on Sunday against the Colts, the Bills' official site reports.

Analysis: That said, coach Chan Gailey noted Wednesday that Fred Jackson is expected to play Sunday and will get his share of carries, with the rotation between the two players yet to be determined.

Coach Chan Gailey said Saturday that he thinks Spiller's (shoulder) teammate Fred Jackson (concussion) is doing a lot better and hopes to have him back when the Bills resume practice Wednesday, according to BuffaloBills.com.

Analysis: Jackson isn't out of the woods yet and will continue to follow concussion protocol. If he is able to return for the Week 12 game against the Colts, it'll be interesting to see if the Bills put him right back into a nearly 50-50 timeshare role with Spiller, or ease him back into game action and let a hot Spiller run with the feature back role for another game or two. Spiller had a season-high 22 carries and also put up 130 yards from scrimmage in Buffalo's win over Miami on Thursday.

Spiller continues success

With running back Fred Jackson sidelined, Bills running back C.J. Spiller totaled 91 yards rushing and 39 receiving against the Dolphins on Thursday Night Football. WATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Analysis: Spiller continues to thrive with or without Jackson in the lineup this season, becoming among the most dependable fantasy running backs for owners.

Spiller (shoulder) had 130 yards from scrimmage in Buffalo's win over Miami on Thursday, with 91 on the ground and 39 via the air.

Analysis: Spiller had 25 touches, the most he's had all season. While he didn't break a long run and the 4.1 YPC significantly lowered his lofty season average, he actually looked great working for his yards, frequently shedding the first tackler or bouncing off people to pick up some yardage outside. There's no questioning his skill, so the bigger fantasy question will be Fred Jackson's status for next week's game at Indianapolis.

Spiller (shoulder) is active and starting Thursday's game against Miami.

Analysis: Opportunity knocks for the dynamic Spiller, with Fred Jackson out Thursday. Overall, the Dolphins' run defense has been good (though they have slipped a bit in recent weeks), but Spiller is still a high-upside Week 11 play with a full workload to look forward to, with Tashard Choice on hand to spell him.

Spiller (shoulder) is listed as probable for Thursday's game against Miami.

Analysis: No worries here, as Spiller says he's gotten healthier and healthier as the weeks have gone on since his injury and he's ready for a full workload with Fred Jackson out this week. He's definitely a top 10 RB play for this week, with the biggest hurdles being that Miami has a good run defense (though the Dolphins have slipped here in recent weeks) and the possibility that Chan Gailey gives Tashard Choice work around the goal line, though that hasn't been stated by anyone yet.

C.J. Spiller: Gailey Not Afraid Of Heavy Workload

With Fred Jackson out with a concussion, coach Chan Gailey says he's not afraid to give Spiller carries of "20 to 25 ... or 30 times a game for us to win," BuffaloBills.com reports.

Analysis: Tashard Choice will serve as the main backup to Spiller on Thursday, but rest assured this won't be anything close to the usual Spiller/Jackson timeshare, and Spiller will be the bell cow at least for a week. The only worries would be the possibility of Gailey making Choice the goal-line specialist or the Dolphins' stout run defense, which ranks fifth in the league. Nonetheless, Spiller's value just took a big spike upward for a week and possibly more, and he clearly has the all-around talent to have a big game even outside those obstacles. The long-term question might be what the Bills do with Jackson once he returns, should Spiller keep up such fine work, as he's averaging an eye-popping 7.26 yards per carry. Even if it's impossible to keep that up, the amount of touches Spiller is about to get in the near term should more than offset any regression to the mean.

Jackson ruled out

Bills coach Chan Gailey confirmed Monday that after undergoing concussion evaluations, Jackson will sit out Thursday's game with a concussion. FULL REPORT

Analysis: C.J. Spiller will carry the load against a Miami front which was torched by Chris Johnson last week. While he might not be as successful in the running game, Spiller's versatility in the passing game and workload makes him a good play.

With Fred Jackson ruled out this week, Spiller is in line for added touches Thursday against the Dolphins.

Analysis: Spiller had just nine carries on Sunday, while Jackson had 16 before absorbing a hit late in the game. With Jackson out Thursday, Spiller owners have to be thrilled at the prospect of seeing him get more carries, as the dynamic back has produced to the tune of a nifty 7.3 yards per carry to date.

Spiller (shoulder) had nine carries for 70 rushing yards and four catches on four targets for 61 receiving yards Sunday against the Patriots.

Analysis: A nice yardage day for Spiller, who missed scoring a touchdown when he stepped out of bounds near the five-yard line late in the game. Fred Jackson finished with more rushing yards and scored two touchdowns, but he took a hard hit late in the game to the head, which would certainly mean more playing time for Spiller, if he's forced to miss any time.

Bills RB carousel causing headaches

In his Week 10 "Like/Dislike" analysis, fantasy expert Adam Rank notes, "Fred Jackson is another running back who could be a tough start this week. You love the matchup, but there are reports he could lose carries to C.J. Spiller at some point." FULL LIKE/DISLIKE

Analysis: The Patriots are not as porous against the run, allowing an average of 88.6 yards per game and just three scores this season. Still, the Bills should be able to move the chains in the pass game, so if they get close, one of the backs could pound it in for a score. The problem is guessing which one will be the guy.

C.J. Spiller, Fred Jackson ignored in Buffalo Bills' loss

Spiller ran the ball just six times, but gained 6.5 yards per attempt. Fred Jackson also only had six carries (five in the first half) for 21 yards.

Analysis: It's strange that the Bills have built their offense around an inconsistent passing game when they are blessed with two very talented running backs. Of course, this week's game against the Patriots would favor an aerial attack. Hopefully, the ground game gets a little more love.

Spiller (shoulder) rushed six times for 39 yards in Sunday's loss at Houston. He also caught five balls on five targets for 63 yards.

Analysis: Spiller didn't find the end zone, but he was Buffalo's best offensive player in this one, as has been the case most of the year and put up a decent fantasy day once you consider the defense. That said, the Bills aren't going to exclude Fred Jackson. As speedy and exciting as Spiller is, he'll remain in the second wave of fantasy running backs unless he starts receiving the bulk of the touches, and the Bills have given no indication they plan to go that route for now.

Spiller effective in passing game

Spiller rushed six times for just 39 yards, but added 63 yards receiving on five catches against the Texans. WATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Analysis: Owners forced to start Spiller should be pleased with his 10.20 point performance given the matchup was not a good one to start with.

Spiller (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game at Houston.

Analysis: Both Spiller and Fred Jackson were very busy and productive in Week 8 and all indications are that the time split will continue indefinitely. So if 15 or so touches for Spiller are enough for you, feel free to use him this week.

Coach Chan Gailey was happy with the heavy use of both Spiller and Fred Jackson during Sunday's loss to Tennessee, BuffaloBills.com reports. Said Gailey: "But for them to touch it 35 times between them and about four, five other times we tried to get the ball to Fred (Jackson) on some throws and did not connect on them. If we can let them touch it between 30 and 40 times a game, I think that is pretty good for us."

Analysis: Spiller had 18 touches Sunday while Jackson had 17, all with the Bills putting up 34 points and 382 yards of offense. While the balance between the two backs has stayed consistent since both returned from injury, this was the first time they collectively handled the ball as much as they did, with a new emphasis on the short passing game. Until a team slows it down, the Bills seem committed to keeping the two running backs and wide receiver Stevie Johnson as the main points of attack. While "exclusive carries" is always the phrase you're desperately seeking, if Spiller can get 15 or more touches a game, that keeps him in at least the second tier of fantasy running backs, especially with his ability to break for big plays. Note that the upcoming schedule isn't so fantasy-friendly, with a bye followed by road games at Houston and New England, but then things get a lot softer for Spiller and the offense down the stretch.

Spiller shares equal time with Jackson

Spiller totaled 70 yards on 12 carries, adding 32 yards on 6 receptions. FULL GAME RECAP

Analysis: Both he and Jackson finished with nearly the exact same amount of total touches, a trend that will be the norm now that they are both healthy.

Spiller rushed the ball 12 times for 70 yards during Sunday's loss to Tennessee. He also caught six balls for 32 yards.

Analysis: Fred Jackson was a little more productive in this one, as he had one more yard than Spiller on the ground and 17 more in receiving yardage, plus a two-yard TD catch, while Spiller was held out of the end zone. Still, it was a decent outing for Spiller considering the timeshare. He'll head into the bye with a 72/523/4 line on the ground through seven games, to go with 19/173/1 in the air. Not bad at all.

Jackson taking the lead

Proving there is enough to go around for the Bills, Fred Jackson has totaled 34 yards and a touchdown reception. FOLLOW WITH GAME CENTER

Analysis: Jackson has slowly been re-cementing himself as the Bills' lead-back, though Spiller will continue to see his share of carries.

Titans thin on defense

The Titans will be without middle linebacker Colin McCarthy (ankle). FULL INJURY ROUNDUP

Analysis: It's just another reason to start both Spiller and Jackson against the Titans' 24th ranked rush defense.

Bills' RBs can both thrive in Week 7

In his Week 7 Like/Dislike analysis, fantasy expert Adam Rank notes "Fred Jackson has a great matchup this week. The Titans have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to running backs. But Jackson has scored only one touchdown in his last eight games, and has failed to produce more than 85 yards in five consecutive games." FULL LIKE/DISLIKE REPORT

Analysis: Both Jackson and CJ Spiller should be able to take advantage of a Titans' rush defense which is allowing an average of 129 yards per game and seven touchdowns for the season.

Spiller most explosive choice

In his Week 7 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em analysis, fantasy guru Michael Fabiano says that despite the presence of Fred Jackson, Spiller is "the most explosive offensive option on the roster and remains a nice choice when the matchup is favorable." FULL START 'EM, SIT 'EM

Analysis: The Titans have really struggled to stop the run in 2012, so look for Spiller to shine.

Spiller says the coaches have allowed him and Fred Jackson to use a system where each running back plays two straight series and then subs out for two, with some exceptions such as when coach Chan Gailey wants a certain look or one player hits a long run and needs a breather, BuffaloBills.com reports.

Analysis: While they'd probably both prefer to carry the ball as much as possible, Spiller and Jackson each like the 2-2 system rather than a more traditional play-a-series, sit-a-series method a lot of teams use when they alternate backs. The 2-2, the thinking goes, gets them in a better groove. In any matter, the touches have been split relatively evenly in the two games since Jackson returned from a knee injury, with Jackson getting slightly more both because he was slightly closer to full health (Spiller is almost recovered from a shoulder injury) and Jackson tends to start the game. We don't see this changing much in the coming weeks unless one back gets dinged up or starts suffering a major fumbling problem. For now, both are held in such high regard among the coaching staff that we see no indication, for now, of either runner taking a back seat to the other.

Spiller rushed 12 times for 88 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's overtime win over the Cardinals. He also caught four balls for 22 yards.

Analysis: Spiller continues to be productive, but the problem is Fred Jackson only seems to be getting healthier and it seems doubtful the Bills will let Spiller carry the bulk of the load like they did earlier in the season when Jackson had a knee injury. That said, timeshares have become the norm in all but a handful of NFL locations, so Spiller can still be quite helpful in fantasy lineups, as his 17 fantasy points on just 16 touches indicate. The one buzz-kill is knowing just how much he could do if he was given Ray Rice or Reggie Bush treatment.

Spiller, Jackson face tough test

NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah believes that "for the 2-3 Bills to upset the 4-1 Cardinals, Buffalo must get a big game from Spiller." READ: SPILLER vs. WASHINGTON

Analysis: Spiller has only rushed for 73 yards his last three games, and the Cards have only allowed one TD this season. With Fred Jackson also taking away some touches, don't expect stellar production from Spiller or Jackson.

Spiller had seven carries for 24 yards Sunday against the 49ers.

Analysis: The Bills' offense was absolutely dominated Sunday and no player was able to cut through. Spiller finished with two fewer carries than Fred Jackson and one fewer catch, so it appears the Bills will continue to split their work. It doesn't get a whole lot easier next week against a Cardinals' defense that has surprised many opposing teams this year.

49ers defense stingy to opposing RBs

Fantasy expert Adam Rank believes "C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson are two players to avoid this week going against the San Francisco 49ers, who have allowed the fewest points to fantasy running backs." FULL LIKE/DISLIKE REPORT

Analysis: Neither back was able to shine in their first game back from injuries last week, totaling just 7.70 fantasy points between the two of them. Though fantasy owners might be forced to roll the dice because of the bye week, you could do worse.

Spiller (shoulder) is not listed on Thursday's practice injury report, meaning he's practicing fully for a second straight day.

Analysis: Like teammate Fred Jackson, Spiller will be listed as probable for Week 5 or not on the injury report at all. Now that both players are approaching decent health again, we'll be watching the carry/touches/snap split on a game-by-game basis.

Spiller (shoulder) is practicing Wednesday, according to the Bills' official Twitter feed. Earlier in the day he told the team website he feels better than at this time last week: "I guess you could say that. I'm just taking it day by day trying to do all the necessary things that I can do to make sure that hopefully I'm ready to go. I don't think I wouldn't be ready to go considering I played last week. So just doing all the necessary things that I can."

Analysis: Spiller and the Bills face a tough match-up this week on the road at San Francisco, where it's starting to look like the best guess is a 50-50 type timeshare with Fred Jackson, who is also getting closer to full health after missing time with a knee injury.

Spiller, who returned to action Sunday after missing much of Week 3's game with a shoulder injury, said afterward he came out of the game OK, BuffaloBills.com reports. Said Spiller: "I'll be fine. Just a little soreness, but I'll be fine."

Analysis: Spiller saw 10 touches to Fred Jackson's 16, but that number should go up in the coming weeks when he's not such a question mark in the health department. We knew he wasn't a great start this week, but it looks like his owners dodged a bullet after what looked like a scarier injury last weekend.

Spiller (shoulder) had eight carries for 33 yards, two catches for five yards and a lost fumble Sunday against the Patriots.

Analysis: While not a great performance, Spiller still managed to lead the Bills in rushing yards, as Fred Jackson could manage only 29 on 13 carries. His fumble was a costly one near the goal-line and a touchdown there could have put the Patriots out of reach. Fantasy owners have to be encouraged that he was healthy enough to play, although with Fred Jackson also healthy, Spiller's upside is somewhat limited.

Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle speculates that Spiller (shoulder) may be something of a decoy in Sunday's game against the Patriots.

Analysis: Meanwhile, ESPN's Adam Schefter -- a normally reliable source -- believes that the Bills plan to split carries between Splller and Fred Jackson. Still, Maiorana's speculative take is worth noting, at least, since he is a Bills' beat writer. He suggests that Spiller will likely be limited, with Fred Jackson starting and not working a full load and Tashard Choice in line for some work as well. Either way, we won't have any real clarity on the Bills' Week 4 backfield situation, until the Sunday's game gets going, which is not the most comforting thought for those inclined to gamble on Spiller's upside this week.

Jackson, Spiller active vs Pats

Both Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller are "active" for their matchup against the Patriots today.

Analysis: Jackson will officially get the start, but both backs are expected to split time. Each has proven their potential to break long runs, so they are worth the risk as borderline No. 2 or 3 RBs. Just temper expectations on their potential output today.

C.J. Spiller: (Shoulder) Timeshare on Tap

The Bills plan to evenly split their Week 4 rushing workload between Spiller (shoulder) and Fred Jackson, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

Analysis: It remains to be seen how close each player is to 100 percent, but it looks like both players will get their chances Sunday, barring any setbacks, with Jackson in line to start and the dynamic Spiller available to rotate with him as long as his shoulder holds up.

Spiller (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game against the Patriots.

Analysis: Fred Jackson is active as well, so as dynamic as Spiller has been thus far, the fact that he is banged up and now has added competition for looks (besides Tashard Choice) dials down his upside some in Week 4. He will, at least, give it a go Sunday, likely more in a change-of-pace role though.

Though there is optimism that he will play, a decision on Spiller's (shoulder) Week 4 status won't be made until after warmups, the Buffalo News reports.

Analysis: If Spiller can play Sunday, he'd be part of a time-share with Fred Jackson and Tashard Choice, but if he is scratched, Jackson would presumably get more touches in his anticipated return to action.

Jackson, Spiller questionable

Fred Jackson, C.J. Spiller are both listed as questionable. FULL STORY http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000067189/article/cj-spiller-fred-jackson-might-play-for-buffalo-bills

Analysis: Tashard Choice makes for the safest play, but with so many question marks, fantasy owners might want to go a more reliable route.

Both Spiller (shoulder) and Fred Jackson are listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots, the Bills' official site reports. "Jackson and Spiller are both questionable, 50-50 and I think they both have a legitimate chance," coach Chan Gailey said after Friday's practice. "Both were limited today."

Analysis: Fortunately for anyone invested in members of the Bills' backfield, the team kicks off at 1:00 ET on Sunday. At this point, we'll view both banged-up RBs as game-times decisions, though Jackson seems a tad less iffy than Spiller. If both suit up though, a time-share figures to be in play, with Tashard Choice also potentially in the mix for carries. Gailey added, "it was great to get Spiller back in practice because it keeps our Wildcat stuff alive." In any case, as dynamic as Spiller has been when he has been on the field this season, his balky shoulder, coupled with the possible-to-probable return of Jackson, makes him a risky option Sunday against a New England defense that has allowed an average of 81 rushing yards per game thus far.

Spiller (shoulder) is participating in practice Friday, Joe Buscaglia of WGR550 reports.

Analysis: This is the second straight practice Spiller has been able to take part in. While he hasn't been ruled out yet, it would still be a surprisingly quick recovery if he was able to suit up Sunday against the Patriots.

Spiller (sprained left shoulder) was eased back into practice Thursday, BuffaloBills.com reports. Said coach Chan Gailey: "He did okay. He took a few reps. He didn't take a lot, but he took a few and he got back into the swing of things. We didn't go out there and do tackling drills with him, but it looked like he was moving well. It looked like all of his range of motion was there. We'll see where it takes us."

Analysis: Fred Jackson (knee) seems like a much better bet than Spiller to play this week, though no one is ruling out Spiller yet. We'll probably have a better idea based on what he's able to do following Friday's practice.

Spiller, who only did individual work Wednesday, appears to be participating to a greater degree in Thursday's practice, BuffaloBills.com reports. He suffered a sprained left shoulder during Sunday's win over Kansas City.

Analysis: We'll check in after practice, but things continue to progress well for the previously red-hot Spiller even if he has to sit out just one week. The news may be enough to move him up to a game-time decision for Sunday's big showdown against the Patriots.

C.J. Spiller: (Shoulder) Not Practicing Wednesday

While Spiller, who injured his left shoulder during Sunday's win at Cleveland, won't practice Wednesday, he might get some reps Thursday or Friday, BuffaloBills.com reports. Said coach Chan Gailey: "He's not going to practice today, but we're hoping we'll get him a few reps maybe by the end of the week."

Analysis: Spiller is looking good for a return to action for Week 5, and he's young enough where it wouldn't surprise us if he were able to get on the field for limited action in Sunday's big game against the Patriots. He's probably not a fantasy option for this week no matter which way things turn the next few days, but it looks like he avoided a considerable amount of downtime with this injury.

Spiller not being counted out

Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller isn't ruling out playing in Week 4 after spraining his shoulder.

Analysis: If Spiller doesn't go, Tashard Choice appears to be the, well ... choice to be Buffalo's starter this week. But there's also a chance that Fred Jackson could return for Sunday. Stay tuned for more details on this situation.

Spiller not ruled out for Week 4

The Bills haven't ruled out C.J. Spiller (shoulder) for Sunday's game with the Patriots, and Fred Jackson (knee) puts his status at 70-75 percent.

Analysis: It would be a surprise if the Bills took the risk with Spiller, so fantasy owners should look elsewhere for help. Jackson has the better chance to play, but could be on a limited snap count. Tashard Choice is the back who should carry most of the load in Week 4.

C.J. Spiller: Week 5 Return?

Bills coach Chan Gailey thinks Spiller, who injured his left shoulder during Sunday's win over Cleveland, has a good chance at returning for Week 5 and won't rule him out for the Week 4 game against New England (even though it seems like a long shot), The Buffalo News reports.

Analysis: Said Gailey: "Maybe not as bad as originally thought. [We're] not going to completely rule him out this week, but you know, I think it's more of a chance that he won't than he will [play Sunday against New England] ... I think there's a good possibility for the second week, for whoever we play after this week," he said. "We go to San Francisco? ... He's got a good chance to be back for that one." While it's kind of humorous the coach had to think twice or ask for help about who the Bills play after the Patriots, the news keeps getting better about Spiller. It will be interesting to see how the Bills split the carries between Spiller and Fred Jackson when both are close to full health again.

Spiller avoids serious injury

Spiller is expected to miss at least a week or two, but it looks like he avoided a broken bone and only suffered a sprained A/C joint.

Analysis: Spiller owners averted serious issue, but with Fred Jackson possibly returning as early as this week, this backfield could become a timeshare situation. Each back makes for good borderline No. 1 or 2 RB plays when carrying the load, but temper expectations once both are healthy. Tashard Choice will be the No. 2 back until both return.

C.J. Spiller: Sprained A/C Joint

Spiller has a sprained A/C in his shoulder, which is likely a 1-2 week injury, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.

Analysis: That's actually good news for the Bills, as the injury looked pretty serious right away and a sprained joint is a lot better than a separated shoulder or broken collarbone. Spiller is young and may heal from that pretty quickly, though the team is already speculating that there's little chance he could play in Week 4. The only bad news about this development is that the team has New England and San Francisco the next two weeks, games where you'd absolutely love to have your best weapons.

C.J. Spiller: (Shoulder) Out Next Week

Spiller (left shoulder) will be out next week, the Buffalo News reports. "I don't believe it's long, long term," said coach Chan Gailey, who noted that Spiller's collarbone is not broken. "If he misses a week, that's long for me. I think he's going to be out for sure this week, and then we'll see where he goes from there."

Analysis: Gailey added that Spiller will have more tests on Monday, but the initial vibe here seems to be that the running back avoided a major injury that would force him to miss an extended period of time. "He's out for a week or two, but I don't know how extensive it is," Gailey added.

C.J. Spiller: (Shoulder) Not Expected to Miss Extended Time

Though Spiller seems pretty iffy for Week 4's game against the Patriots, he isn't expected to miss a significant amount of time with his left shoulder injury, cbssports.com reports. "I don't believe it's long, long-term," coach Chan Gailey said Sunday. "If he misses a week, that's long for me...I think he's going to be out for sure this week and then we'll see where it goes from there."

Analysis: We'll look for further clarification of Spiller's injury, but if he is forced to miss time, then either Fred Jackson (if he is able to return this coming week, which is no lock) or Tashard Choice will handle the Bills' rushing duties next week.

Spiller will not return

C.J. Spiller will reportedly not return to the game after exiting in the first quarter with a shoulder injury.

Analysis: Tashard Choice will be leading the way for the rest of their matchup against the Browns.

C.J. Spiller: (Shoulder) Done for the Day

Spiller (left shoulder) will not return to Sunday's game against the Browns, the Bills' official site reports.

Analysis: Spiller had four carries for 16 yards and caught two passes for 42 yards with a TD, prior to his departure from Sunday's game. With Fred Jackson unavailable, Tashard Choice is filling in for Spiller at running back on Sunday.

C.J. Spiller: Exits Sunday's Game

Spiller sustained an apparent left shoulder injury Sunday against the Browns.

Analysis: The injury sent Spiller to the locker room to be checked out. We'll provide more info on his status as it becomes available.

Coach Chan Gailey is "shocked" by Spiller's teammate Fred Jackson's progress in recovering from a sprained right knee ligament and thinks he could even be ready for the Week 4 game against New England, BuffaloBills.com reports.

Analysis: Spiller may be the NFL's hottest running back right now, but the party could be coming to an end soon if Jackson is going to get significant carries once he's close to full health. Spiller will see almost all the touches against Cleveland in Week 3 and could even see a significant portion if the Bills decide to ease Jackson back in for a couple of weeks while Spiller is so effective, however, his value certainly takes a hit with such a respectable veteran back in the fold, one who is also known to do some damage in both the running and passing games. We love riding the Spiller Wave for now and there's still plenty of value to be had here even if things morph back into a timeshare, but a smart owner who's not afraid to take a chance might throw out the fishing line to an offer or two and see if a big one bites.

Spiller older and wiser

Bucky Brooks explains that C.J. Spiller finally learned to become more decisive at the point of attack, showing a willingness to occasionally grab shorter gains rather than always trying to beat defenses to the edge. He also writes that Spiller's got serious pass-catching potential, which should give him good value in PPR leagues.

Analysis: Spiller is a must-start No. 1 RB and will continue to hold his value even when Fred Jackson returns from injury, in what could become one of the better RB tandems.

Spiller could Wally-Pipp Fred Jackson

C.J. Spiller rushed 15 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday in the Bills' 35-17 win over the Chiefs. Spiller also caught three passes for 47 yards. Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com's Around the League says Spiller is starting to look like a star."

Analysis: Spiller has now rushed for 292 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries since replacing Fred Jackson in Week 1. When Jackson returns in a month, don't expect him to automatically replace Spiller in the starting lineup. In fact, he might be lucky to earn a time share the way Spiller is playing.

Spiller continues success

C.J. Spiller scored twice and had 123 yards rushing in sparking the Buffalo Bills' 35-17 rout over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Analysis: Spiller has now totaled 20- plus fantasy points in each of his contests. Consider him a must-start RB until Fred Jackson returns from injury. Even then, he will still carry plenty of value in what should be a timeshare situation.

C.J. Spiller: 123 Yards, Two TDs Against Chiefs

Spiller had 15 carries for 123 yards and two touchdowns during Sunday's win over the Chiefs. He also added three catches for 47 yards.

Analysis: Spiller was a monster Sunday, dominating on nearly every touch. With Fred Jackson out for another few weeks, Spiller has moved himself into the elite running back category and should be a must-start in nearly every league type.

Jackson to miss 3 to 4 weeks

NFL.com's Albert Breer reports Bills RB Fred Jackson "is expected to miss 3 to 4 weeks after injuring his right knee during Sunday's 48-28 loss to the New York Jets." C.J. Spiller will take over lead-back duties until his return. Tashard Choice would be the expected backup should Spiller also succomb to unexpected injury.

Analysis: Choice would be the handcuff to the handcuff for those in deeper fantasy leagues, but expect Spiller to see the lion's share of work over the next several games. The back makes a good No. 2 option and will be a hot commodoty after racking up 194 total yards and a TD in Week 1.

Spiller's teammate Fred Jackson will need 7-10 days before a timetable for his return from a knee injury can even be outlined, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Analysis: That should make Spiller a hot commodity for at least the next two weeks, and possibly beyond. For the Week 2 matchup against Kansas City, Spiller is likely going to get a high majority of touches out of the backfield.

Spiller shines in Jackson's absence

Though the Bills took the loss, C.J. Spiller exploded for 169 rushing yards and a score in Fred Jackson's absence. Jackson left the game after suffering a left leg injury early.

Analysis: Spiller has picked back up where he left off last season, and unfortunately so has Jackson. Fantasy owners who didn't handcuff Jackson with Spiller will find it hard to trade for him after racking up 23.40 fantasy points.

Spiller had 14 carries for 169 yards and a touchdown, as well as two catches for 25 yards during Sunday's loss to the Jets.

Analysis: Unfortunately for Bills fans, Spiller's great performance came in a Jets' blowout. Spiller scored on a 56-yard touchdown minutes after Fred Jackson went down with a knee injury that could very well keep him out of a few games. If that's the case, Spiller becomes the main back for a Bills offense that has shown signs of brilliance over the last year, but can also go stagnant at times.

Spiller rushed four times for just 10 yards and lost a fumble during Saturday's preseason game against the Steelers.

Analysis: The Bills are confident in Spiller's abilities as a change-of-pace back and a pass-catcher, so they continue to monitor his pass-blocking which has apparently impressed coach Chan Gailey here in camp. He will assume his regular role as Fred Jackson's backup and should see a much better percentage of the workload than he did last season when Fred Jackson was healthy.

Bills coach Chan Gailey has been impressed with Spiller's progress as a pass protector, according to BuffaloBills.com. Said Gailey: "C.J. is right on the money. He knows everything now. It is not as easy as some people might think to figure it out. But he has it all down pat."

Analysis: That's going to keep him on the field as he shares time with Fred Jackson, which we expect to be quite more favorable than last year's split when Jackson was healthy. Spiller only carried the ball 21 times through Week 11 last season, as Jackson was used almost exclusively in the backfield. But Spiller was fantastic after Jackson broke his leg, and he's continued his grasp of the pro game in the offseason. He could be looking at 35-40 percent of the snaps when the Bills go with sets featuring one traditional running back, plus they've also said they'll occasionally put both on the field. Spiller looks like one of the better No. 2 backs you can target once all the decent No. 1's are gone.

Spiller had a backwards night in Friday's preseason contest against the Vikings, literally. He finished with -3 yards on two carries and one reception for -5 yards.

Analysis: Not exactly the performance the hoards who are touting Spiller as a "big-time sleeper" this season were looking for. That said, it's only Preseason Game 2. Spiller is a dynamic playmaker with long speed who proved his skills after Fred Jackson went down last season. There will be better games ahead, and despite his no-show thus far in the exhibition season, Spiller is still a high-upside, high-risk player worthy of selection in the middle rounds.

Spiller did not record a carry in Thursday's preseason loss to Washington. He logged one catch for two yards.

Analysis: Fred Jackson didn't have a carry either. There's not much to read into here, as the team came out in a no-huddle offense and the first-teamers ended up throwing every down. Both running backs know the offense well, so we don't expect either to get a heavy load all preseason. For now, we're assuming a timeshare with Jackson getting the better portion, but we'll pay close attention to anything coach Chan Gailey has to say from here on out. If we had to guess this second, we'd say Jackson for 55 percent of the plays, Spiller for 35 percent of the plays, and both in a dual-threat tandem the team has discussed for about 10 percent.

Though Buffalo's offensive staff is going to make every effort to have Spiller and Fred Jackson on the field simultaneously more often this season, don't expect to see a ton of split backfields, according to BuffaloBills.com. "If you lose one of them then all of a sudden you've lost a majority of your offense," said coach Chan Gailey.

Analysis: What Gailey means is that if you have too many offensive sets that use the unique skills of Jackson and Spiller and one goes down with an injury, the team would either end up scrambling to put in new plays midseason or using too limited of a playbook without the two-RB setup. This is a situation we'll continue to gauge well into the season, as it's clear the Bills have a bigger role in mind for Spiller after last year's end-of-year breakout, though Jackson will continue to see more playing time than his younger teammate as long as he continues to play like he has the last few seasons.

Jackson and Spiller to split carries in 2012

Bills running backs C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson are expected to split carries this season. Coach Chan Gailey stated he "can't predict what's going to happen as far as percentages for their touches." Adding to the speculation, he promised "we will not make everybody happy."

Analysis: The reports have impacted Jackson's fantasy value most, now considered safest taken as a borderline No. 2 RB in fantasy drafts. If Spiller should falter, it will make Jackson one of the better value picks based on ADP.

C.J. Spiller to steal touches

NFL.com's Dan Hanzus reports Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller could be in line to steal touches from Fred Jackson. With Spiller proving he is capable of handling lead back duties last season, the team plans on using both backs to their potential.

Analysis: Spiller had a breakthrough season in '11 and will now be rewarded for his production. The move also allows for Fred Jackson to maintain his health after being the team's workhorse for several seasons. Just how many touches Spiller is in store for remains yet to be known, but he should be drafted as a No. 3/4 RB in fantasy leagues as a handcuff to Jackson with potential to perform beyond his draft status.

Bills head coach Chan Gailey is excited about Spiller following a strong performance in the wake of Fred Jackson's season-ending injury last season and plans to use both backs on the field in certain formations this season, BuffaloBills.com reports.

Analysis: Until he shows a decrease in speed or effectiveness, Jackson is still the guy to own in this backfield. However, it's also not going to be like 2011 where Spiller took a clear back seat to Jackson when he was healthy and went long stretches without seeing the field. Gailey now has a better idea of what the young runner can do, and is more comfortable in the way he handles the pro game and even as an improving blocker. Bottom line, Spiller will likely have some value if he's truly out on the field that much and occasionally lined up at receiver, and he'd have a ton of value if Jackson got hurt again.

C.J. Spiller: Gailey Envisions More Action

While teammate Fred Jackson is likely to still see more of the carries out of the backfield next season, the difference in workload may not be by nearly as much as last season when both were healthy, BuffaloBills.com reports. "I wouldn't call it 50-50, but it's closer to 50-50 than it ever has been because (Spiller's) more confident and we have more confidence in him having experience now," said coach Chan Gailey.

Analysis: Spiller had a big stretch run after Jackson went down with a broken fibula, enough that Bills followers have finally stopped calling the former No. 9 overall selection a bust pick. This could be a big fantasy issue if it truly is going to be a more direct time-share. Even though Spiller might be in the 30-40 percent range once it all shakes out, that might make him one of the more valuable No. 2's in the league, given his speed and the fact that he plays in a decent offense with a good run-blocking offensive line.

Spiller rushed 13 times for 60 yards in Sunday's loss to the Patriots. He also caught four balls for 40 yards and a score.

Analysis: Thanks to Fred Jackson's season-ending injury and the evolution of his own skills, Spiller won a number of fantasy championships with a big stretch run, especially when you consider he was on the waiver wire in a lot of leagues due to poor early production. Spiller finishes his second season with a 107/561/4 line in the running game, and 39/269/2 in the passing game. He'll likely start the year as a backup to Fred Jackson, but the days where he was barely used seem like they might be a thing of the past, and he might even be able to compete for the top job outright.

Spiller, who is averaging more than six yards a carry in December, this week will face the Patriots, who rank 17th against the run.

Analysis: You can bet the Bills will at least try to get Spiller going in an attempt to keep Tom Brady & Co. off the field. Spiller makes for a decent play this week, given that the Bills will likely play their best team unless the game gets out of hand in an attempt to sweep a much more powerful division rival in the season series. The only negatives we can think of are that the Bills typically end up playing from well behind against the Pats, and coach Chan Gailey seems to like to keep Spiller at 20 touches or less.

Spiller had his first career 100-yard rushing day with 111 yards on 16 carries and a score in Buffalo's win over Denver on Sunday. He also caught two balls for 27 yards.

Analysis: Once again, Spiller's touches stayed in the "20 zone" the Bills have been targeting, but he did a lot with them for the second week in a row. he also has four touchdowns in his last four games, and would seem to be a good final-week play next week when the Bills travel to New England, as even if the Bills get pretty far behind he'd probably stay involved in the passing game.

C.J. Spiller: Touches Being Watched

Bills coach Chan Gailey has said he's keeping an eye on Spiller's touches because he doesn't want to wear him out, The Buffalo News reports. "I don't want to put 25-30 carries on him right now. At some point, he may get 25-30 carries, but if he's going to be involved in the passing game, he's going to touch it 15-20 times and that's what he needs to do. We need to try to make sure he touches it in some way, shape or form 20 times a game. That's what you hope to have from a guy like that. Again, he's not a 215-, 220-pound back like Fred (Jackson). You can't expect him to be one, and if all his runs are edge runs, he might be (able to carry it) 25 times. But if he's going to run it up inside, which we need him to do, he's going to take some pretty good licks and I'm not sure I want that at this point in his career. Maybe in the future, yeah, but not now."

Analysis: One might wonder why the Bills chose Spiller with the No. 9 overall pick last year if they didn't intend to give him a full workload, though he is smallish in size so we suppose there's something to be said about not taking him from 0 to 80 in one step when he's spent most of two seasons as a backup. Going back the last four games (when Fred Jackson got put on IR), Spiller has 21, 15, 17, and 22 touches, and it sounds like Gailey plans to keep him around that level the last two games, with Tashard Choice seeing some action to keep Spiller fresh.

Spiller had 167 yards (91 rushing, 76 receiving) from scrimmage with a pair of touchdowns in Sunday's loss to the Dolphins.

Analysis: Spiller received only 12 carries because the Bills fell behind, but he rewarded PPR owners with nine catches. It was easily Spiller's best game of his young career.

Spiller rushed just 12 times for 46 yards in Buffalo's loss to San Diego on Sunday. He also caught three passes for 10 yards.

Analysis: Coach Chan Gailey keeps saying he wants to get Spiller 20 carries a game in Fred Jackson's absence, but if his team keeps playing so poorly down the stretch, game conditions simply won't allow it to happen ... which is precisely what transpired Sunday in the 37-10 destruction.

Spiller, who had 14 rushes for 83 yards with a touchdown in the Week 13 loss to the Titans, faces a Chargers run front this week that's allowing 131.7 yards on the ground, BuffaloBills.com reports.

Analysis: The Bills will likely try to do what they can to keep a potent San Diego offense off the field, so expect a heavy workload for Spiller. The one risk is that the struggling Bills start to get behind, but they seem committed to sticking with the run as long as they're even remotely in the game, as pretty much everyone associated with the team admits they bailed on what had been a productive day for Spiller a little too early last week when trailing the Titans in the second half.

Spiller had 14 rushes for 83 yards with a touchdown in Sunday's loss to the Titans. He added three receptions for 19 yards.

Analysis: Spiller got off to a great start with a 35-yard touchdown in the first quarter, but wasn't a huge factor from that point on. Spiller saw most of the work again Sunday, as Tashard Choice was the only other running back to receive a carry, and he had just five rushes.

Spiller had 19 carries for 55 yards and caught three passes for 15 yards in Sunday's loss to the Jets.

Analysis: Spiller didn't make any big plays, but he was the team's primary ballcarrier, as Johnny White and Tashard Choice combined for just three carries.

C.J. Spiller: Feature Back From Here On Out?

Spiller's teammate Fred Jackson (lower right leg) has been placed on IR, BuffaloBills.com reports.

Analysis: Now we'll truly get to see if Spiller was worth the ninth overall pick last season, as he'll likely be the feature guy the last six weeks of the season. Spiller doesn't have a great match-up this week against the Jets, especially with a banged-up offensive line in front of him, but give the number of touches he's likely to see the rest of the way, he's probably worth a large free agent bid on your waiver wire this week, if he's sitting there.

Spiller will take over as the Bills' starting running back, with news that Fred Jackson has been placed on IR.

Analysis: Johnny White and Tashard Choice could factor in as well, but the ninth overall pick in last year's draft -- who was electric in college -- has a chance to literally run with the opportunity, after having seen limited touches for most of his young NFL career.

C.J. Spiller: Increased Role With Jackson Out

Coach Chan Gailey has told the media that Spiller's teammate Fred Jackson (calf) will not play this week against the Jets and is out indefinitely, the Bills' official site reports.

Analysis: This is the chance the disappointing Spiller has been waiting for, and his workload in the running game is bound to increase by a very large margin, at least for one week. However, we'll also note that he'll be running behind a banged-up offensive line and he'll be up against a very good Jets defense this week, and the way the Bills have been performing lately, they may also be playing catch-up. If that final thing happens, we may see a few less runs for Spiller, but also a look at him in the passing game out of the backfield, an area where Jackson has excelled in this offense. Johnny White may also see a few looks.

Even with Donald Jones back, Spiller was practicing with the receivers group during the individual position drill portion of practice Wednesday, BuffaloBills.com reports. "He'll probably be a hybird, probably play some wide, some in the backfield, probably do a little bit of everything," said head coach Chan Gailey of Spiller's role moving forward.

Analysis: As exciting as Gailey makes that sound, with Fred Jackson doing his thing and the Bills having plenty of more experienced receiving options, Spiller has little to no value because he's not touching the ball enough. His only miniscule value at the present time is as Jackson insurance or through a possible big play based on his incredible speed, which has yet to translate to NFL success.

Spiller had another lousy statistical day Sunday, rushing just two times for five yards while failing to make a catch.

Analysis: There was a point in the game where Fred Jackson was out with a stinger, but that didn't last long and Spiller didn't do much even when he had one drive to himself. With Donald Jones' return pushing Spiller further down the receiving mix, his value is pretty much worthless the rest of the way unless something more serious happened to Jackson.