DeAngelo Williams Is Much More Than Just An 'Insurance Policy'

By Jeff Smith

Posted on September 19, 2016

There have been quite a few things to take away from the performance of Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams through the first two weeks of the 2016 NFL season. While Williams is filling in for starter Le’Veon Bell until he’s back from his three-game suspension, he’s been exceptional. Even with that said, he wants to make it widely known that he believes (and is fine with) that he is just an insurance policy until Bell returns.

When asked by The MMQB if he’s proven to be more than just an insurance policy, he stated the following:

“No! I am an insurance policy,” Williams said. “I’m driving the car till L-Bell gets back. I’m trying to keep us in good position till he gets back. That’s good with me. When I came here, I came here to win a Super Bowl. That’s the only thing I care about.”

That’s all fine and dandy that Williams believes that, and his team-first mindset is what may help propel the Steelers to the Super Bowl. Realistically, though, it’s hard to deny the fact that the man who currently is leading the NFL in rushing through two games is really much more than just a backup running back who’s doing a great job of filling it.

Williams is a dual-threat running back who, even at the age of 33, is still capable of completely dominating a game. He’s totaled 237 rushing yards and 66 receiving yards and is indeed the oldest running back in the NFL currently. All of that is irrelevant, though, because Williams could be, and should be, more than just a guy who comes into games when Bell gets tired.

What he did in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals was special. He totaled just 2.9 yards per carry but finished the game with 94 yards in a rainy game where throwing wasn’t easy. To sum up how much gas Williams really left in the tank, you can look at what he did in 2015 during his first season with the Steelers.

Not only did Williams total his most rushing yards in a season since 2009, but also had the second-most rushing touchdowns of his entire career in a season. To go along with that, he also had more catches and receiving yards than he’s ever had in a single season.

Is it possible for a running back to actually get better with age?

In a time when most running backs hit that dreaded age of 30 and then fall off the map completely, Williams is doing just the opposite. He had a second gas tank and one that’s lasted over the span of 18 games now with a new team. Whether it’s the offense the Steelers are running or the fact that he just so badly wants a Super Bowl, both he and the Steelers should be thrilled with his production.

As we all know, Bell’s contract is up after this season, and he’s expected to demand a massive amount of money. If the Steelers don’t want to pay up, could they potentially keep a then-34-year-old running back as their No. 1 guy until they find the right player to take over from there?

DeAngelo Williams is much more than just an ‘insurance policy’