Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams is "very doubtful" to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
DeAngelo Williams “very doubtful” on Sunday for Panthers, fantasy owners
The Panthers will likely be without one of their leading rushers on Sunday due to a quad injury. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Williams has been dealing with a quad injury that kept him out of practice all week and had the eight-year veteran listed as questionable on the team's injury report. The Panthers are a team that prefers to run the ball by committee, and will turn to Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert to carry the load in instances that Williams usually did.
Fantasy Spin: Despite the increased workload for Williams’ counterparts, either can only be trusted as middling flex options in what is still a backfield that distributes a diluted workload to its runners. Tolbert has upside as a goal-line back, but that role is also in danger of being cut into by Stewart or by quarterback Cam Newton.
However, all Panthers runners will be in for a rough day versus an eighth-ranked Buccaneers run defense that has given up just five touchdowns on the ground this season. Stewart and Tolbert can be given slight boosts due to Williams’ absence, but not much more. Williams should not be active for fantasy owners this week.
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