Kevin Hoffman-US PRESSWIRE
C.J. Spiller is off to a ridiculous start as the 2012 NFL season gets under way, and the string-pullers over at EA Sports have taken notice.
Madden, the annual NFL video game offering from EA Sports, has given Spiller a significant boost to his in-game rating after bursting on to the scene as a legitimate game-breaker at running back.
Spiller started the season with an overall rating of 80. In Madden’s latest roster update, Spiller has been assigned an overall rating 86. His elusiveness rating, which began at 91, enjoyed a massive jump up to 98, only behind LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson and Devin Hester.
After starting running back, Fred Jackson, went down with a high-ankle sprain in the Buffalo Bills’ opener, Spiller was inserted into the No. 1 role and embraced the move. Through two games, the former first-round pick has amassed a league-leading 292 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries. His 10.1 yards per attempt appear to have come straight out of a Madden slaughter set on Rookie difficulty.
This season was considered by many to be a make-or-break year for Spiller, a former No. 9 overall pick by the Bills back in 2010.
Throughout his first two years in the league, the Clemson product has racked up only 844 yards and five touchdowns on 181 carries – a solid 4.6 yards per carry – but displayed inconsistency. Spiller has also been hampered by fumble problems, losing control of the pigskin eight times in 32 appearances. His recent success, however, could be a sign that Buffalo’s gamble is finally paying dividends.
With Jackson expected to be out for at least a few more weeks, Spiller will have plenty of time to solidify his role as the Bills’ go-to back. If he keeps this pace, Madden might even vault him into the prestigious 90s.
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