2 Days Denver Broncos Comment

Ronnie Hillman has packed on 15 pounds of muscle after dipping to near 180 last season.

Hillman was listed at 200 last season, but apparently played nowhere close to that. OC Adam Gase believes Hillman "needs to keep that size." Gase has been impressed with what he's seen out of Hillman in OTAs, particularly in pass protection. "The thing that he's shown us the last three days is at least his aggressiveness and willingness to go attack the blitzer." Ticketed for a change-of-pace role, Hillman must make major strides as a pass-protector after struggling with blitz pick-up as a rookie.

4 Days Denver Broncos Comment

Ronnie Hillman and rookie Montee Ball received increased reps at Broncos OTA practice Monday as Knowshon Moreno (knee) sat and watched and Willis McGahee (personal) stayed away from workouts.

USA Today's Lindsay Jones earlier passed along that Hillman got the majority of first-team reps, likely out of veteran deference. VP of Football Operations John Elway has stated publicly he envisions Hillman as no more than a "change of pace type guy." Ball is slated to be Denver's Week 1 starter at running back.

14 Days Denver Broncos 1 Comment

According to the Denver Post, the Broncos "would like" Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman to be their "one-two running punch" this season.

The club is expected to release either Willis McGahee or Knowshon Moreno, with a slight lean toward McGahee due to his more severe 2012 injury, age, and cost. In an ideal scenario, rookie Ball would run away with the Broncos' feature back job and Hillman would work in as a change-of-pace back. The team does not consider 2012 third-rounder Hillman a viable option to play starter's snaps.

The NFL Draft is in the books, and that means the end of all my beloved "reports." There is nothing better than when a media member comes out with some ridiculous report like there is a 60/40 chance that a team will draft a quarterback. Really? So in other words, you have no idea, either?

Listen, no one knows anything when it comes to the draft, and if they do have information it is given out by the team as misinformation. When I worked for the New England Patriots, everyone was banned from the football offices two weeks before the draft. If you were seen in the football offices you got fired. If you were lost and just happened to wander in there, fired. If someone needed medical attention and you knew CPR, fired. So trust me, no one knows anything when it comes to the draft. That is why Ryan Nassib went in Round 4 instead of No. 8 overall to the Buffalo Bills.

I wrote my pre-draft column about the guys I liked and didn't like. This column will have a bit of overlap but now it is more about the players who went to the best situations for fantasy success. For example, my favorite player in this draft was Montee Ball. Ironically, the guy I loved last year was Ronnie Hillman.

Well, now they are on the same team with 10 other running backs and some guy named Peyton Manning, who I hear likes to throw the ball sometimes. So while I still love Ball, I don't like coach John Fox or the situation he is in for immediate fantasy success. I would recommend Ball much more in a dynasty league format than re-draft leagues.

Below are the players I have going up and coming down following the draft. Remember, this is based on my draft board. Yes, I have a draft board. I have had a draft board since I was 12. I may not be right all the time, but those of you who have been following me for a long time know I have given you my fair share of Eric Decker's, Stevan Ridley's and Priest Holmes' over the years immediately following the draft. Hopefully I can uncover one or two more fantasy gems this year.

Now on with The Fire Sale ...

Going Up

Stedman Bailey, WR, St. Louis -- I said in my pre-draft Fire Sale that Bailey was one of my favorite players in this year's draft, and if I was writing a script for where I wanted him to go to make an immediate impact, St. Louis would have been the place. If you are too lazy to click on the link above, here is some of what I wrote about Bailey last month:

The other thing I really like about Bailey is the quality of...

22 Days Denver Broncos Comment

The Broncos are working with Ronnie Hillman to keep his weight up.

1 Month Denver Broncos 1 Comment

Broncos VP of Football Operations John Elway confirmed Monday that the team envisions 2012 third-round pick Ronnie Hillman as a "change-of-pace type guy."

Although Hillman flashed burst as a rookie, he struggled mightily running between the tackles and in blitz protection. He'll return no higher than No. 2 on the depth chart, regardless of what happens with release candidate Willis McGahee. We won't have high hopes for Hillman's 2013 fantasy prospects.

3 Months Denver Broncos Comment

The Denver Post expects Ronnie Hillman's snap count to rise in 2013.

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