James

Williams

A three-year starter at Wazzu, Williams (5'9/197) caught 202 career balls. He did average just 7.1 yards per grab, a number indicative of layup receptions. He still nevertheless has the third-down back hands you want to see in the modern NFL. He has landed in a crowded backfield, but one where he could eventually carve out a role if he shows well enough to make the 53-man roster. The practice squad is his likely rookie home.

Williams (5'9/197) doesn’t have a ton of athleticism, but he was excellent as a receiver in open space, which led to three appearances on PFF’s missed tackles per touch leaderboard. However, it’s obviously easier to force missed tackles in the open field, so it would be bold to project Williams as an elite-level tackle breaker in the NFL, especially since he’s just 197 pounds. His landing spot will be a huge factor on how much he’ll be utilized, but he’s on the Theo Riddick and James White spectrum, so he’s a worthwhile pick for PPR fantasy leagues.

“Coach Mike Leach’s Air Raid system helped inflate Williams’ receiving stats, but he has displayed natural hands and good route-running ability,” Edholm writes, adding that he is “shifty” and knows how to avoid contact. The Washington State standout hauled in a whopping 202 passes for his career in Pullman. Size concerns -- Williams measured in at 5-foot-9, 197 pounds -- could limit him to a third-down role in the NFL. Edholm hits up the back with a Round 4/Round 5 grade for April.

Williams (5'9/197) left school early after three productive seasons wish Washington State, but he didn’t test particularly well at the NFL Scouting Combine, and there are concerns about both his size and athleticism. Zierlein also notes that he “Plays with oily hips and slippery feet,” and that the former Cougar “Has athleticism to become effective route-runner.” “He may need to find a more wide-open scheme to operate in,” Zierlein writes in the overview, “but there is enough talent there to challenge for the 53 [man roster.]”

That’s a bad time for a running back who weighs only 197 -- it was the 4th-worst weight-adjusted forty in this RB class -- but it’s not exactly the best drill for his skill-set. In the NFL, Williams will be utilized as a pass catcher where his damage will be done making one man miss in open space, a skill that requires more lateral movement than straight speed. Still, today’s performance makes him more likely to come off the board in Day 3, rather than sneaking into Day 2.

“I don’t know that many of the sleeper running backs will test well,” Ledyard writes, “but Williams should hold his own in all the workouts, while also catching the ball at an elite level compared to the rest of the running backs in positional drills.” To the latter point on Williams’ ability as a receiver, he led all running backs in the draft class in targets, receptions, receiving yardage and receiving touchdowns this past season. Ledyard has previously referred to the 6-foot, 205-pounder as an “electric playmaker.” Day 3 will likely see him off the board come April, but a Day 2 push can’t be ruled out, especially if he can show out well in Indianapolis upcoming.

Williams (6'0/205) will likely end up as a mid-round pick, which lowers his chances, but he has the potential to be an above average pass-catching running back. Williams led this year’s RB class in targets (93), receptions (83), receiving yards (613), and receiving touchdowns (4) and graded well in YPT (4th) and Marginal Explosion (4th). However, if he is going to be a playmaker, Williams has to improve his pass protection skills. If Williams lands on a team that utilizes their running backs as receivers, watch out.

The positives for Williams are apparent as Ledyard notes. He’s an excellent receiver -- he caught 83 passes in his redshirt junior year -- and his variety of moves make him one of the most difficult tailbacks to tackle in this class. There are issues here, however, as Ledyard points out that he’s never been a bell-cow, has issues with vision and can struggle in pass protection. The latter could really hurt Williams, as he’s going to be viewed as a third-down back, and a third-down back has to be able to handle the blitz. “He won’t be coveted early, but I would expect his stock to rise with a strong Combine, as he is virtually un-talked about in NFL Draft circles currently,” Ledyard writes. “Williams is the exact type of player I would target in the mid-rounds at running back, as his skill set should translate easily to the NFL.”

Williams has long been a favorite of ours -- and anyone who watches college football -- as one of the very best receiving tailbacks in the country. He caught 83 passes for four touchdowns, but he also scored 12 times as a rusher with 565 yards on the ground. He’s extremely slippery -- he routinely ranked among the leaders week-to-week -- in forcing missed tackles, and the 6-foot, 205-pound tailback should have the size to be a three-down player. At the very least, he should be a solid third-down option, and the man they call Boobie should hear his name called at some point in the 2019 draft.

Williams (6'0/205) has been a very effective receiver out of the backfield for HC Mike Leach in the Cougars’ Air Raid offense. The redshirt junior was slippery in open space when Gardner Minshew checked down to Williams, and he even dodged a tackle with a big hurdle tonight. In 2018, Williams caught 83 passes for 613 yards and four touchdowns, adding 565 yards (4.6 YPC) and 12 touchdowns on the ground. That’s enough production to warrant an early exit to the 2019 NFL Draft -- the role he played at Washington State is a role that is expanding across the NFL -- but nothing has been announced yet. If Williams returns for his redshirt senior season, he will try to go three straight seasons with at least 70 receptions.