Do you take the fat guy? Or do you take the suspended guy? With Karlos Williams, now you can get both. Hard to believe, but he’s had an even worse offseason than Isaiah Crowell (who undermined himself with a dumb Instagram post last week).
Williams’ offseason first started heading south when he showed up at the OTAs carrying about an extra 25 pounds. He blamed those extra pounds on his wife’s pregnancy. He’s trying to work his way back into shape
And Thursday he was hit with a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He’ll be with the team in the preseason, but then won’t be allowed at the facilities until the Monday after their Week 4 game.
The Bills also have a promising fifth-round running back, Jonathan Williams out of Arkansas, and he oddly was arrested the day before on charges of driving while intoxicated. That might also eventually result in league discipline.
With those running backs shooting themselves in the foot, it becomes more palatable to use a late-round pick on Mike Gillislee. Cut by the Dolphins, he kept busting off long runs when the Bills activated him off their practice squad late last year. He had a 19-yard touchdown at Philadelphia, at 60-yard touchdown at Washington, and a 50-yard touchdown against Dallas.
During the 2015 season, 82 running backs carried the ball at least 40 times. Only five of those running backs averaged more than 5.5 yards per carry, and the Bills had two of them – Gillislee and Karlos Williams. They’ve got some ability, and they’re helped along by a good scheme, which includes Tyrod Taylor scaring the hell out of defenses with his ability to keep the ball and run outside.
The Karlos Williams suspension also helps LeSean McCoy. He’s the only veteran guy they have, and he’s been very good at times – he’s won an NFL rushing title, and he’s still just 28 years old. McCoy was involved in a brawl at nightclub, but it’s now been confirmed that incident won’t result in a league suspension.
| BACKS WITH 40-PLUS RUSHING ATTEMPTS (YPC averages) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| Andre Ellington, Ariz. | 45 | 289 | 6.4 | 3 |
| Mike Gillislee, Buff. | 47 | 267 | 5.7 | 3 |
| Thomas Rawls, Sea. | 147 | 830 | 5.7 | 4 |
| Spencer Ware, K.C. | 72 | 403 | 5.6 | 6 |
| Karlos Williams, Buff. | 93 | 517 | 5.6 | 7 |
| Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | 52 | 271 | 5.2 | 2 |
| Jamaal Charles, K.C. | 71 | 364 | 5.1 | 4 |
| Jonathan Grimes, Hou. | 56 | 282 | 5.0 | 1 |
| Ryan Mathews, Phil. | 107 | 539 | 5.0 | 6 |
| Charles Sims, T.B. | 107 | 529 | 4.9 | 0 |
| LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 113 | 556 | 4.9 | 3 |
| Doug Martin, T.B. | 288 | 1402 | 4.9 | 6 |
| Todd Gurley, St.L. | 229 | 1106 | 4.8 | 10 |
| Dion Lewis, N.E. | 49 | 234 | 4.8 | 2 |
| Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 154 | 730 | 4.7 | 2 |
| C.J. Anderson, Den. | 152 | 720 | 4.7 | 5 |
| David Johnson, Ariz. | 125 | 581 | 4.7 | 8 |
| Mark Ingram, N.O. | 166 | 769 | 4.6 | 6 |
| Darren McFadden, Dall. | 239 | 1089 | 4.6 | 3 |
| Adrian Peterson, Minn. | 327 | 1485 | 4.5 | 11 |
| DeAngelo Williams, Pitt. | 200 | 907 | 4.5 | 11 |
| Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 87 | 392 | 4.5 | 1 |
| Christine Michael, Dall.-Sea. | 54 | 243 | 4.5 | 0 |
| Lamar Miller, Mia. | 194 | 872 | 4.5 | 8 |
| Dexter McCluster, Tenn. | 55 | 247 | 4.5 | 1 |
| Bilal Powell, NYJ | 70 | 313 | 4.5 | 1 |
| Rashad Jennings, NYG | 195 | 863 | 4.4 | 3 |
| LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 203 | 895 | 4.4 | 3 |
| Chris Ivory, NYJ | 247 | 1070 | 4.3 | 7 |
| LeGarrette Blount, N.E. | 165 | 703 | 4.3 | 6 |
| Shane Vereen, NYG | 61 | 260 | 4.3 | 0 |
| Justin Forsett, Balt. | 151 | 641 | 4.3 | 2 |
| Ronnie Hillman, Den. | 207 | 863 | 4.2 | 7 |
| Ameer Abdullah, Det. | 143 | 597 | 4.2 | 2 |
| Chris Johnson, Ariz. | 196 | 814 | 4.2 | 3 |
| Mike Tolbert, Car. | 62 | 256 | 4.1 | 1 |
| Matt Forte, Chi. | 218 | 898 | 4.1 | 4 |
| Joseph Randle, Dall. | 76 | 313 | 4.1 | 4 |
| Bishop Sankey, Tenn. | 47 | 193 | 4.1 | 1 |
| Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 242 | 989 | 4.1 | 6 |
| Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 115 | 470 | 4.1 | 3 |
| Cameron Artis-Payne, Car. | 45 | 183 | 4.1 | 1 |
| T.J. Yeldon, Jac. | 182 | 740 | 4.1 | 2 |
| James Starks, G.B. | 148 | 601 | 4.1 | 2 |
| Eddie Lacy, G.B. | 187 | 758 | 4.1 | 3 |
| Latavius Murray, Oak. | 266 | 1066 | 4.0 | 6 |
| Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 265 | 1056 | 4.0 | 11 |
| Robert Turbin, Cle.-Dall. | 50 | 199 | 4.0 | 1 |
| Denard Robinson, Jac. | 67 | 266 | 4.0 | 1 |
| Charcandrick West, K.C. | 160 | 634 | 4.0 | 4 |
| DuJuan Harris, Sea.-S.F. | 48 | 189 | 3.9 | 0 |
| Jonas Gray, Jac.-Mia. | 45 | 176 | 3.9 | 0 |
| Tim Hightower, N.O. | 96 | 375 | 3.9 | 4 |
| Donald Brown, S.D. | 59 | 229 | 3.9 | 1 |
| Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 185 | 706 | 3.8 | 4 |
| Jay Ajayi, Mia. | 49 | 187 | 3.8 | 1 |
| Darren Sproles, Phil. | 83 | 317 | 3.8 | 3 |
| Alfred Blue, Hou. | 183 | 698 | 3.8 | 2 |
| Marshawn Lynch, Sea. | 111 | 417 | 3.8 | 3 |
| Javorius Allen, Balt. | 137 | 514 | 3.8 | 1 |
| Terrance West, Ten.-Balt. | 62 | 231 | 3.7 | 0 |
| Frank Gore, Ind. | 260 | 967 | 3.7 | 6 |
| Alfred Morris, Wash. | 202 | 751 | 3.7 | 1 |
| KaDeem Carey, Chi. | 43 | 159 | 3.7 | 2 |
| Duke Johnson, Clev. | 104 | 379 | 3.6 | 0 |
| DeMarco Murray, Phil. | 193 | 702 | 3.6 | 6 |
| Antonio Andrews, Tenn. | 143 | 520 | 3.6 | 3 |
| Jeremy Langford, Chi. | 148 | 537 | 3.6 | 6 |
| Jeremy Hill, Cin. | 223 | 794 | 3.6 | 11 |
| Shaun Draughn, Cle.-S.F. | 78 | 273 | 3.5 | 1 |
| Melvin Gordon, S.D. | 184 | 641 | 3.5 | 0 |
| Joique Bell, Det. | 90 | 311 | 3.5 | 4 |
| Danny Woodhead, S.D. | 98 | 336 | 3.4 | 3 |
| Matt Jones, Wash. | 144 | 490 | 3.4 | 3 |
| Chris Polk, Hou. | 99 | 334 | 3.4 | 1 |
| Brandon Bolden, N.E. | 63 | 207 | 3.3 | 0 |
| Khiry Robinson, N.O. | 56 | 180 | 3.2 | 4 |
| Theo Riddick, Det. | 43 | 133 | 3.1 | 0 |
| Andre Williams, NYG | 88 | 257 | 2.9 | 1 |
| David Cobb, Tenn. | 52 | 146 | 2.8 | 1 |
| Tre Mason, St.L. | 75 | 207 | 2.8 | 1 |
| Arian Foster, Hou. | 63 | 163 | 2.6 | 1 |
—Ian Allan