Always Ready: C.J. Spiller wins it; Jeremy Hill plays his way back into favor
Always Ready is a weekly feature that looks at NFL players who excelled after being thrust into larger roles this past week.
C.J. Spiller
Week 4 line: 2 carries, 10 yards, 5 receptions, 99 yards, TD
The narrative from the New Orleans Saints and head coach Sean Payton was that C.J. Spiller would be a bigger part of the offense's game plan in their Week 4 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys.
While that meant only six combined touches through the game's first 60 minutes, Spiller was ready to step up when the game was on the line.
On the second play from scrimmage in the extra session, Saints quarterback Drew Brees dropped a pass into Spiller's bread basket as he streaked up the right sideline. After making a man miss, Spiller was off to the races, jetting into the end zone on an 80-yard touchdown strike to give the Saints the 26-20 victory for their first win of the season.
Jeremy Hill
Week 4 line: 9 carries, 40 yards, 3 TDs, 2PT
A pair of lost fumbles in a Week 2 win over the San Diego Chargers saw Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill move into the doghouse. But Hill appeared to play his way back into the coaching staff's good graces with his performance Sunday.
After turning his 12 carries into just 21 yards against the Baltimore Ravens, Hill gained 40 yards on nine carries in a win over the Kansas City Chiefs, finding the end zone three times.
Most notable about Hill's day was that each of his touchdown runs came from inside the Chief's 10-yard line, from eight, five, and one-yard out. That's a great indicator that the coaching staff has renewed faith in Hill's ability to keep the football off the carpet, sending him in down near the goal-line.
Allen Hurns
Week 4 line: 11 receptions, 116 yards, TD, 15 targets
Through the first three games of the season, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Hurns hauled in 11 passes on 15 targets. In Sunday's overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Hurns matched his season output with 11 receptions on 15 targets.
Many foresaw a big day from Hurns, with the assumption being that Colts star cornerback Vontae Davis would shadow the Jaguars' top wideout, Allen Robinson. While that never materialized, Hurns remained a big part of Jacksonville's game plan.
Hurns had at least one reception on each of the Jaguars' three scoring drives on the day, including four grabs on a six-minute drive that led to a go-ahead field goal near the end of the first half.