Before I get started, it’s only Week 1 guys and gals. Aaron Rodgers won’t be held to 133 yards and throw two interceptions every week. The Titans will not be held to 13 points every game. Jameis Winston is not throwing five touchdowns every Sunday. Mark Ingram is not rushing 26 times for 85 yards and a touchdown…ever again? It’s a long season. It will take time for some teams to get into the flow while players and schemes will get figured out. Matchups also play a factor. That said, Week 1 should not be completely dismissed as there is information to be gleaned.
One performance that stood out to me on Sunday was from Jamaal Williams of the Detroit Lions. He rushed nine times for 54 yards and a touchdown while catching eight of nine targets for 56 yards.
For four seasons, Williams was a thorn in the side for those who rostered Aaron Jones. He received at least 100 carries and 30 targets in each season. He rushed for at least 450 yards and caught 25 passes so you know he can ball because Aaron Jones is one of the best running backs in the NFL.
In the offseason, the Lions signed Williams to a two-year, $6 million contract. It’s not an exorbitant sum but it’s more per year than Raheem Mostert and Mike Davis. The bottom line is that the Lions value Williams and paid him for a reason.
In NFFC drafts, he was being selected as the 99th overall player and 35th running back.
The buzz was and is about D’Andre Swift in the Detroit backfield, and for good reason because Swift is one of the most explosive backs in the league and is a threat in the passing game. Williams, on the other hand, runs a 4.59 40-yard dash and is in the 20th percentile for burst score and 13th percentile for agility score. Oh, he was also a fourth-round draft pick. On Sunday, Swift doubled the snap count of Williams.
Here’s the thing, though. Williams received the goal line carry on Sunday and was just as productive in the passing game. He received nine targets while Swift garnered 11. If the first game is any indication, Jared Goff is going to rely on TJ Hockenson and the running backs in the passing game. And Goff is going to be passing a lot this season because….well, the Lions stink and will playing from behind.
Is Williams a league winner? Negative. Will Swift still get his? For sure. Williams is one of the better handcuffs in the league because he has standalone value, is utilized heavily in the passing game, and gets the goal line carries. Not sure he can carry the load, though, but if anything happened to Swift, he would likely get the bulk of the touches.
