DeAngelo Williams

Panther RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart stood on the sideline and watched.

The Carolina Panthers were mounting a fourth-quarter comeback in Sunday’s 19-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, and their running backs that count more than $10 million against the salary cap were nothing more than spectators.

On the field for two straight series -- three if you go back to Carolina’s last series of the third quarter -- was journeyman Fozzy Whittaker.

It seemed odd. Asked about it, Carolina coach Ron Rivera didn’t offer much insight.

"We have a nice trifecta of running backs," he said.

The story went on to say that perhaps the Panthers saw something in Whittaker’s 46-yard second-half kickoff return that made them believe he could offer a spark. Or perhaps this is a sign Carolina is close to turning the page on "Double Trouble." For neither to be on the field during a crucial part of a game raises questions about whether they in the plans for 2015. Williams is the most likely to be gone. He has one year left on his deal. Because of an option bonus that would have to be exercised between the first and fifth day of next season, odds favor him being cut. From a fantasy perspective, this was already a situation to stay away from outside of Williams and Stewart possibly having some flex value in lineups.