DeAngelo Williams has been one of the best running backs in the NFL over the past two seasons when he fills in for Le’Veon Bell, but the 33-year-old is heading back to the bench now that Bell is set to return from a three-game suspension, right?
Maybe not.
With slot receiver Eli Rogers listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs due to a toe injury, the Steelers may try to get creative by using both Bell and Williams. On Wednesday, Ben Roethlisberger was asked if that could involve using Bell as a wide receiver.
“In a way, yes,” he said, per Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Listen, we’re not going to put him at wide receiver and use DeAngelo at running back, but we will, I think, have them both on the field and move them out of the backfield. We’re not going to take RB off the front of [Bell’s] name and put WR, but I definitely think he is one of our best receivers.”
Williams is far less talented than Bell, but he has been more than effective since the Steelers brought him in as an insurance policy. Last season, he carried the ball just 13 times and had one catch during the five games Bell played.
If you’re wondering what this means from a fantasy football standpoint, it’s probably still best to keep Williams on the bench. Even if the Steelers find ways to mix in a handful of touches for him, he likely won’t make a major impact. Pittsburgh is better off keeping Williams healthy in case Bell goes down with an injury or has another one of his infamous off-field screw-ups.
