Knowshon Moreno

Week Seventeen Analysis: Over the last five weeks, Knowshon Moreno leads all backs with 135 touches—that's 27 per game! He's yet to dip below 24 touches in any of those five games, and in his last three outings, he's averaged a fantastic 140 total yards. This week he gets a rematch with Kansas City's 26th-ranked run defense that he beat for 111 yards last month in his season debut as Denver's feature back. Now that he's fully up to speed and clicking on all cylinders, Moreno should have every opportunity to improve upon that performance.

Week Sixteen Analysis: Last week I ranked Knowshon Moreno comfortably inside the top-10 based on both matchup, and his enormous role in Denver's high-functioning offense. Nothing changes this week. In his last four games, Moreno's touched the ball 24, 24, 36 and 24 times. The hero of late-season free agency has now scored in two straight, along with totals of 167 and 126 yards, so at this point, the only difference between Moreno and Ron Dayne is about 100 pounds. Cleveland's bottom-10 run defense has given up a total of 252 rushing yards and three touchdowns to Jamaal Charles and Alfred Morris the last two weeks, so keep riding Moreno.

Week Fifteen Analysis: After toting the rock 32 times for 119 yards and a score last Thursday night in Oakland, Knowshon Moreno certainly earned the long week of rest. The 32 carries were the most by a Denver back since Rueben Droughns carried 38 times, on October 17, 2004. Moreno's 72 carries over the last three weeks lead the league, and his 12 catches over that span trail only Darren Sproles and Arian Foster. Baltimore's 27th-ranked run defense has given up 145 combo yards per game to opposing backfields, including 122 and a touchdown to Alfred Morris last week. Between the matchup, the volume, and Denver's high-functioning offense, there's a lot to like about Moreno.

Week Fourteen Analysis: Remember Ronnie Hillman? Neither does John Fox. Knowshon Moreno has now racked up exactly 20 rushes and four receptions in back-to-back games, and has averaged a very solid 97 combo yards. You can expect him to keep piling up yards this weekend against a Raider defense that ranks bottom-10 to the position in both rushing and receiving. Moreover, he'll have a solid opportunity to notch his first touchdown since the opener, as only one team has given up more touchdowns to opposing backs than Oakland's 14. Eight of those scores have come in the last five weeks alone, so Moreno is a surprisingly strong play.

Week Thirteen Analysis: Welcome back from the dead, Knowshon Moreno. After millions of fake dollars were spent on Ronnie Hillman last week, it was Moreno who got the start at Kansas City, and he rolled up 111 combo yards on a shocking 24 touches. Peyton Manning is Denver's lifeline, and Moreno's superior pass protection will continue to bode well for his playing time going forward. Tampa Bay allows a league-low 69 rushing yards per game, but they've surrendered three rushing scores in their last two games, and they rank bottom-five against opposing backs in the passing game. Moreno is a capable receiver, so that will be his best angle here.

Week Thirteen Add: Nobody saw this coming. Knowshon Moreno was a surprise start last Sunday, after everyone assumed that Ronnie Hillman would get the start in place of Willis McGahee. After all, Hillman had gotten all of the backup work this year, and he played after McGahee got hurt last week. Moreno turned 24 touches into a respectable 111 yards, but even more importantly, Hillman only saw three touches. It looks, for the moment, that Moreno will continue to get the start in one of the league's most high-powered offenses. Moreno has repeated proven himself to be completely ordinary, so he may not hold down the job for very long. I'd bid $15 for him.