After surprisingly being waived by the New York Giants, the Los Angeles Chargers pounced on the opportunity to pick up running back Andre Williams. While Williams did not see much of the field last season, how will he do this upcoming year? Let’s see what we can expect.
Performance:
Boston College:
Williams was an absolute stud at Boston College. In his senior year, he rushed for an incredible 2,177 yards, the fifth most in NCAA history. After coming in fourth in the Heisman race, Williams was drafted in the fourth round by the Giants, which many considered to be a steal.
New York Giants:
In his rookie season, Williams only started in 7 games, but still managed to accrue 721 yards rushing and 7 touchdowns. However, the Giants were still unhappy with their rushing production, so they attempted to revamp their running game in Williams’ sophomore season.
In his second year, Williams did not start any games, and because of that had very low production. Although his stats were still decent for the low amount of carries he had, the Giants felt unsatisfied.
After being waived by the Giants, the Chargers picked up Williams almost immediately.
Chargers:
Williams made his debut for the Chargers in their Week 17 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs. On 18 carries, Williams managed to gain 87 yards, which is not bad considering the depletion of the Chargers’ roster at this point.
Also, Williams was splitting carries with former back Ronnie Hillman, but Williams should see more chances in the future.
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Expectations:
While Melvin Gordon is the clear starter for the Bolts, the depth chart past him is a bit unclear. Williams will be competing with Kenneth Farrow, Branden Oliver and potentially Kenjon Barner, although it seems he will mostly be utilized on special teams.
Farrow, who filled in for Gordon after his injury, did not produce much, but also suffered from a lack of experience. Oliver suffered a season-ending injury before the regular season even began, so whether or not he will be prepared for the Bolts’ upcoming campaign is in question.
Ultimately, I expect Williams to serve as the Chargers’ No. 2 running back and also a change of pace back when Gordon needs a break.
How do you think Williams will/should be utilized? Let us know in the comment section below.