DeAngelo Williams named AFC Offensive Player of the Week

Tony Defeo
Updated
deangelo-williams-redskins_opt
deangelo-williams-redskins_opt

So, how did Steelers veteran running back DeAngelo Williams perform in his first of three starts in-place of the suspended Le’Veon Bell to start the 2016 regular season?

By carrying the football 26 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-16 Week 1 victory over the Redskins, Monday night.

And, oh yeah, he was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week.

As NFL.com pointed out, Williams, at 33, the eldest tailback in the league, became the oldest running back to rush for at least 100 yards and two touchdowns since Jerome Bettis (also 33 at the time) did it for the Steelers 11 seasons ago.

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Williams was signed as a free agent prior to the 2015 season for the specific purpose of filling in for Bell, while he served a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s drug abuse policy.

As it so happened, Williams started more games than Bell (10 to 6) a year ago and rushed for more yards (907 to 556), due to a season-ending MCL tear suffered by Bell in a game against the Bengals in Week 8.

It was obviously a vital investment to bring Williams to town, and he doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

And when Bell does return from his suspension, Williams has shown that his role shouldn’t be reduced to that of a relief-appearance every game; he should be able to handle 10 to 15 carries each week–in-fact, he probably deserves that kind of workload.

The signing of Williams became necessary when LeGarrette Blount, a running back the Steelers inked to a deal in the spring of 2014, couldn’t stomach the same complementary role Williams has excelled at and was subsequently released late that season.

During his short time in Pittsburgh DeAngelo Williams has been much more than a complement to Bell–he’s been downright critical to the Steelers success.

 

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