DeAngelo Williams goes into the NFL Football season in a very unusual position as a Carolina Panther running back. He is being mentioned in the same breath with the best running backs in the game. Having an NFL season such as his last year will do that. Think about it:
Over 1600 plus total yards
Leading the league with 20 touchdowns…
Those numbers made him the fantasy football MVP and put him into consideration for the NFL MVP award. How then is it that many are calling DeAngelo Williams overrated?
Part of it is the development of Jonathan Stewart. Part of it is the fact that the Panthers are facing the one of the toughest NFL Schedules this year. And part of it is because he is just not given the respect he deserves.
The fact is, DeAngelo Williams is an elite NFL talent that is still not getting his due. I have watched his career since the Panther’s drafted him. I have seen every single game, and every single carry. The naysayers are wrong. DeAngelo Williams will be a huge part of a huge season for the Panthers.
For now, it is worth it to have everyone question him. That just makes the Panthers that much more deadly as a team, and Williams that much more deadly as a running back.
Will DeAngelo match last year’s stats? Probably not. But he will break 1200 yds and have around 15TDs. That is elite running back status no matter who you are. When are people going to give this guy the proper respect?
Image Credited To Flickr User kevin813
When the Panthers drafted Jonathan Stewart last season, they did not realize that DeAngelo Williams was going to be the breakout star in the NFL. Williams went on to score 20 touchdowns, and completely dominate the competition with multiple 40 yard runs every week it seemed. Stewart was no slouch either, scoring 10 Tds, and gaining 800+ yards in the process. Going into the NFL season, which running back should start and get the bulk of the carries?
What seems like a simple answer is not as easy as you might think. DeAngelo Williams has certainly earned the position, but he is not built to carry the load. The smaller Williams is more of a third down type back, and many think that he should be moved into that type of role. Stewart is a bruising, every down type of back, and might just be the star of the future.
While Stewart is a fantastic back, and might just be the Panthers future at the position, he was the back that was injury prone. I do not buy the whole “DeAngelo Williams is too small” argument at all. Think of Barry Sanders, for example. He was a small back that was built very similarly to Williams. Williams is the running back of Carolina’s present. Period.
DeAngelo literally ripped apart every ball club he faced. Stewart had moments, and was quite impressive, but DeAngelo was unstoppable. He was the best running back in the NFL over a period of about twelve weeks. Week after week, he suited up and literally ran all over the opposition.
While the Panthers are fortunate to have them both, this position has to be Williams’ to lose. If not, then someone down in Panther land is not paying attention in the least. Stewart will get his chance, and plenty of carries this season to boot.
