Jonathan Williams came into Week 11 as a no-name running back on the Indianapolis Colts' roster. With Marlon Mack as the clear-cut starter and workhorse and Nyheim Hines as the bonafide third-down receiving back, there wasn't much of a role available for Williams. Things changed for him against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Even before Mack went down with a hand injury, Frank Reich and company carved out a role for Williams. He showed flashes of big-play potential and then received a big role down the stretch of the game when Mack went out.
On the afternoon, Williams ended up carrying the football 13 times for 116 yards. Those numbers average out to an electrifying 8.9 yards per carry. Williams also caught one pass for 31 yards against Jacksonville.
At 25 years old, the former Arkansas Razorback made a name for himself this week. He is going to have a huge opportunity to make an even bigger name for himself on Thursday Night Football against the Houston Texans due to Mack likely being out. Williams could receive an even bigger role if Mack misses extended time.
Williams started his NFL career with the Buffalo Bills, being drafted with the No. 156 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He played 11 games with the Bills as a rookie, rushing for just 94 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. The next season he didn't have a team and didn't play a game.
Last season, Williams latched on with the New Orleans Saints for three games. He only had three carries on the year for zero yards. Williams had appeared in two games this season with the Colts, but only had two carries for one yard.
Needless to say, this kind of a breakout performance could be a game that saves his career. Williams has always had the potential to be a quality NFL player, but there have been some questions about him being capable of performing on a consistent basis. This is the opportunity he has been waiting for since his rookie year.
It is unknown what the Colts are going to do in the backfield for Thursday night's game. Reich and the coaching staff will have their hands full coming up with a game-plan. No matter what direction they choose to go, it seems likely that Williams is going to have a sizable role.
Expect to hear much more about Williams this week. Fantasy Football players are going to be looking to scoop him up and the Colts' fan base will be doing a lot of talking about him. Williams made the most of his opportunity against the Jaguars and it should pay off.
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