University of North Carolina standout Javonte Williams was the third running back selected in this spring’s NFL Draft as the Denver Broncos traded up in the second round to nab him with the 35th overall pick.
Alabama’s Najee Harris (24th overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers) and Clemson’s Travis Etienne (25th overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars) were the two backs drafted in the first round. Will Williams’ high draft stock equate to a fantasy draft find?
Below, we look at Williams’ 2021 fantasy football average draft position (ADP) and where you should draft him.
Williams’ ADP: 38.53
(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com)
That’s essentially a mid-fourthround pick if you’re in a 12-team re-draft league.
Among running backs, Williams has been the 24th off the board, on average, so far, falling right behind Etienne (23rd) and significantly in back of Harris (12th overall).
Interestingly, though, Williams currently owns a running back ADP eight spots higher than veteran Broncos teammate Melvin Gordon III, who finished 2020 with the 12th-most standard-scoring fantasy points and 13th-most point-per-reception points at the position, according to data from The Huddle.
WIN YOUR FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE!
For 25 years, TheHuddle.com has been helping fantasy players just like you win. This year, it’s your turn! Custom player rankings, tools and more to give you the edge over your competition.
Use code SBW21 to take 20% OFF a new subscription. Join now!
Williams’ 2020 stats
(From his junior year at North Carolina)
Rushing: 157 carries, 1,140 yards
Receiving: 25 receptions, 305 yards
Touchdowns: 22 (19 rushing)
Where should you take Williams in your fantasy football draft?
If we’re talking rookie/dynasty drafts, Williams is a clear mid-first round pick, jockeying for position with the likes of Etienne, Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts, Philadelphia Eagles WR DeVonta Smith and Miami Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle.
The majority reading this are looking specifically for 10- or 12-team re-draft league advice, so that’s our main focus.
Local fan favorite RB Phillip Lindsay is gone, but the Broncos’ backfield remains crowded. The aforementioned Gordon led the team in touches (247) last season in his first year in the Mile High City, while Lindsay (125) and 2018 third-round pick RB Royce Freeman (47) were a distant second and third, respectively.
Former Minnesota Vikings backup RB Mike Boone, who was with new Denver general manager George Paton in the Twin Cities, rounds out the Broncos’ current RB depth chart.
The only real concern, though, for Williams’ rookie fantasy stock is what percentage of the total backfield touches will Gordon command. In 2020 — an injury-filled season for Lindsay, who missed five games — Gordon was on the high end of what was essentially 60-30-10 three-way split with Lindsay and Freeman.
On the basis of their offseason moves, though, the Broncos obviously think more highly of Williams than they did of Lindsay or do of Freeman, and if the rookie can perform in the passing game (protection, receiving), he could command north of 40 percent of the touches.
You still should be drafting Gordon ahead of the rookie — but not by much — and if you’re looking for a RB3 with upside, the seventh or eighth rounds are sweet spots for landing Williams.
Play our new free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Follow @kenpomp on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1369]