DeAngelo Williams has made his claim for touches in the Steelers offense (Getty).
We had a good run.
Through two weeks, 32 year old DeAngelo Williams is the NFL’s 2nd-leading rusher, just seven yards behind 24 year old Carlos Hyde.
Now the surprise success that is Williams’ 2015 season will take a huge hit as Steelers workhorse Le’Veon Bell returns from his two-game suspension Sunday. Bell is in phenomenal shape, and isn’t the type of back that needs to come out in certain situations.
Is this the end for DeAngelo?
If there were ever a time to start him again, this week would be your best bet. It doesn’t take a coach as smart as Mike Tomlin to see how well Williams is running, and he can ride that out while he works Bell back onto the field. If anything Tomlin will stick to Williams at the goal line, where he converted three times last week against the 49ers.
With Bell back in the lineup, the Steelers will have the most explosive offense in football. If they continue to score like they did last week, Williams will still get plenty of touches closing the game in the fourth quarter.
St. Louis has been gashed the first two weeks of the season, first by Marshawn Lynch then Matt Jones of Washington. The Steelers will go to the ground early and often, and Williams will, for now, still have a role to play. He’s a solid flex play for Week 3.
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