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The Carolina Panthers have an amazing zone-blocking scheme. The team has perfected the art of pulling their offensive linemen, and as a result, the team’s running backs have become quite popular in fantasy football circles.
The number one back on the roster, DeAngelo Williams, has notoriously been a popular sleeper pick. This season, though, Williams comes with a little baggage. He has struggled to produce on a weekly basis and has started to fall from grace in the fantasy world.
Positives:
Despite the appalling numbers, Williams was still rather productive down the stretch last season. He averaged a jaw-dropping 101.6 all-purpose yards (58.3 rushing/43.3 receiving yards) over the final four contests. Williams has become the favorite check down option for QB Cam Newton to look for out of the backfield and Williams will again receive a heavy dose of targets again in 2014.
Additionally, Carolina tragically lost wideouts Steve Smith and Brandon LaFell during the off-season. The tandem combined to haul in 1,372 yards with nine touchdowns in 2013 and consistently helped the struggling offense move the chains. The Panthers will now need to rely on their running game much more this year, which will only result in more overall touches for D-Will.
Negatives:
Williams is coming off an embarrassing 2013 season in which the veteran rushed for a meager 843 yards and three rushing touchdowns. His numbers have been on a steady decline since his 1,500-yard, 18-touchdown season back in 2008 and his fantasy value has all but disappeared in recent years.
Carolina’s backfield is also somewhat crowded. The team has veterans Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert pillaging carries away from Williams, which puts a limit on the 31-year-old’s overall fantasy production. Williams also tends to lose goal-line carries to Tolbert and without the potential to score touchdowns his value takes yet another hit.
Final Verdict:
Williams will once again have value as a RB4 this season. He won’t be a veteran running back worth reaching for by any means, but he will have decent value as a reserve back this season. Look for D-Will to finish with 250 touches and another 1,200 all-purpose yards.
Bye Week: 12
Projected Round: 6
Auction Value: $3
Adam McGill is the Senior Fantasy Sports Writer at Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @adammcgill83, like him on Facebook, or add him to you networks on Google here or here.
