Washington Football Team: The 2021 running backs

Sep 27, 2020; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Washington Football Team running back J.D. McKissic (41) runs the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 34-20. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2020; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Washington Football Team running back J.D. McKissic (41) runs the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 34-20. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 8
Next
HOUSTON, TX – NOVEMBER 21: Jonathan Williams #33 of the Indianapolis Colts runs the ball defended by Dylan Cole #51 of the Houston Texans and Vernon III Hargreaves #28 in the second quarter at NRG Stadium on November 21, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – NOVEMBER 21: Jonathan Williams #33 of the Indianapolis Colts runs the ball defended by Dylan Cole #51 of the Houston Texans and Vernon III Hargreaves #28 in the second quarter at NRG Stadium on November 21, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

The Sleeper – Jonathan Williams

Williams was headed for a big senior year at Arkansas back in 2016 when ligament damage in his foot derailed his entire season. He was back in time for the Senior Bowl, but was clearly still recovering. A second or third-round draft pick fell into the fifth-round, and he has kicked around the league ever since. Six teams. 334 yards. There was a brief stretch in 2019 when Marlon Mack’s injury allowed him to briefly shine for Indianapolis. But he was not able to build on that.

It is possible that Williams simply doesn’t do any one thing well enough to make an impact in the league. He is a big strong runner, but not quite powerful enough. He doesn’t have enough burst or raw speed to scare defenses. And he has been plagued by fumbling dating back to his college days. In other words, he may have a tiny bit more upside than Peyton Barber, but is not nearly as reliable.