Dri Archer
- RB
- ,
- 33
- 173 lbs
- 5' 8"
- N/A
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Jeremy Fowler, ESPN
·May 27, 2015 · 1:43 PM EDT
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Before the moves, the Steelers were the only team in the league that had only two running backs on their roster. Now, they will head into New England with three, but in reality, only one — DeAngelo Williams.
Dri Archer has 10 career carries and it is unrealistic for Jordan Todman, who has 111 career carries with three teams in four years, to be able to contribute immediately leaving the Steelers two options — empty, as Ben Roethlisberger joked, or Williams.
The latter is what the Steelers are leaning toward.
“This is not (Williams') first rodeo by any stretch,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “He has been in the league for a decade. He is a 6,000-yard rusher. If you listen, he will tell you about it. He is an energy bringer. He is a hard worker. He's had not only a good offseason but a good preseason. I am excited about watching him play.”
Williams was the only free agent the Steelers targeted in the offseason, with the idea of him filling the void left early in the season by LeVeon Bell's absence. While there are stylistic differences between Bell, who amassed more than 2,000 all-purpose yards last year, and Williams, the Steelers made it known to Williams that the game plan would not deviate with him in the game. That includes when Williams is replacing Bell for a two-game period, and when he is giving Bell a rest during a series or two once he returns from suspension.
The Steelers will miss suspended running back LeVeon Bell and wide receiver Martavis Bryant when playing against the New England Patriots on Thursday night.
But Pittsburgh still has Antonio Brown, plus capable playmakers Markus Wheaton, Heath Miller and DeAngelo Williams, who signed a two-year deal as Bell's backup.
And the Steelers have Roethlisberger, who is coming off a 4,952-yard, 32-touchdown season. Roethlisberger, who attempted 608 passes last year, will be called upon to carry the offensive load.
Behind Williams, the Steelers are so thin, they have moved H-back/tight end Will Johnson into the running back room as the No. 3 option behind change-of-pace back Dri Archer, who has 10 career rushing attempts.
"When you have No. 7 and a guy like 84 [Brown], anything is possible," Johnson said. "We can go as far as we want."
It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Steelers be pass-happy in Week 1 with no Bell in the lineup. That's great news for owners of Roethlisberger, Brown and Wheaton especially, as the season kicks off this Thursday night. Ben is ranked seventh among our QBs this week in what is a pretty good matchup against the Pats.
Steelers RBs Josh Harris and Dri Archer are both going into their second NFL seasons. But since Archer arrived as a third-round pick and Harris as an in-camp free agent signing, the expectation level is dramatically different as are the roles each player will try to fill. For Harris, it’s to show himself capable of being a traditional No. 2 running back during the length of LeVeon Bell’s suspension. Carry the football, catch the occasional pass, step up and deliver in pass protection. Because the Steelers figure to utilize more than one running back in every regular season game, Harris will have to convince the coaches he can be trusted to play on Sept. 10 in New England. Archer’s chore is similar, but he’ll be competing for a less traditional role. It makes little sense to expect someone who’s 5-foot-8 and 173 pounds to run the ball between the tackles and take on blitzing linebackers, and so the Steelers are expected to look for ways to maximize his difference-making speed.
There's no doubt Bell will carry the load once he's fully back from his suspension, which currently stands at three games. DeAngelo Williams figures to be the RB1 while Bell sits, and should have RB2 value in that time. The team seems concerned with Williams' injury history, so if Harris can step up, he figures to get some work in an attempt to try and keep Williams healthy. Williams can be had in the late rounds while Bell is still an attractive, early-first-round option because of his running and pass-catching abilities. Anyone who drafts Bell may want to consider reaching a little earlier for Williams. His current ADP is the 12th round in 12-team leagues.
Steelers RB DeAngelo Williams is considered a bridge back until LeVeon Bell returns from suspension, but he shouldn't be alone on that bridge. The Steelers will need just as much from Dri Archer as from Williams, who signed a two-year, $4 million deal worth $1.13 million in signing bonus money but no incentives in 2015.
Williams is exactly what the money suggests he is -- a veteran who can get you 10-12 carries at a respectable clip and nothing more.
That's why the Steelers will need substantial contributions from Archer and possibly Josh Harris to get through September.
There's not much to love about the idea of starting Williams against the Patriots, 49ers and Rams during Bell's three-game suspension, but we believe that the team will try to get him closer to 15 carries per game. He should be healthy to start the season, and there are reasons why he only averaged 12.2 carries per game in his career -- he was splitting time with Jonathan Stewart and QB Cam Newton carried much of the rushing load for the Panthers. The biggest concern is Williams' 3.5 YPC last season, but he battled injuries the whole way. We think he'll provide low-end RB2 numbers while Bell is sidelined, provided he's healthy.
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