Arizona Cardinals running back Ryan Williams hasn't been able to practice for four days with a knee injury, and he may finally be testing the patience of head coach Bruce Arians. Speaking with the Arizona Republic, Arians talked up rookies Andre Ellington and Stepfan Taylor, saying they have separated themselves from "the pack". When asked about Williams, Arians was fairly blunt:
Ryan Willams frustrating both Cardinals coach and fantasy owners
Ryan Williams’ knee isn’t getting any better, and coach Bruce Arians admits that he’s falling behind the other backs on the depth chart. This is not good news for his potential fantasy value.
Christian Petersen
“It’s hurting him extremely not to be on the field competing for the job, because those other guys are doing so well,” Arians said.
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Williams has played a grand total of five games in his first two years in the league. He underwent further treatment on his knee last week and is currently on crutches. It’s the same knee on which he tore his patellar tendon in 2011.
Fantasy impact: The clock is ticking for Williams. Rashard Mendenhall, the presumed starter, is dealing with knee tendinitis, so Williams had an opportunity to seize more training camp reps, but he hasn't been able to take advantage.
The Cardinals’ backfield is a fantasy nightmare right now. The final pecking order may not be decided until the end of preseason, and even then Arians might opt to go with a committee. This isn’t even getting into their suspect offensive line.
Mendenhall is being vastly overdrafted at his sixth round ADP, and Williams is a late-round lottery ticket at best. Ellington and Taylor are worth watching in Dynasty leagues, but are off the single-season radar at the moment.
