NFL News: Odds For DeAngelo Williams' Next Stop
Former Steelers running back who led the league in rushing touchdowns in 2015, made headlines this week for saying where he won't play. Here's a look at where an oddsmaker thinks he will land in 2017.
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams made headlines recently for saying where he won't play next year.
The Cowboys, Panthers, Browns and Jaguars are all off the table, he told ESPN's Adam Schefter, and he had some interesting reasons to avoid those places.Â
But that doesn't answer where the former Pro Bowl running back, who led the NFL in touchdowns in both 2009 and 2015, will land next.
There generally isn't a robust market for a 34-year old running back coming off an injury, but Williams was extremely productive as recently as 2015, when he stepped in for the Steelers and took 200 carries for 907 yards and a league-leading 11 touchdowns.
He appeared in just nine games in 2016, rushing 98 times for 343 yards and four touchdowns.
The Steelers could be set to move on at running back. Le'Veon Bell is entrenched as the starter, and Pittsburgh added James Conner and Knile Davis for depth this offseason. But Pittsburgh wasn't on Williams' list of teams he'd refuse to go to, so the door for a return is still at least somewhat open.
BookMaker.eu, a major offshore sportsbook, released odds this week for where Williams will be for the 2017 season:
No Team -150 (Wager $150 to gain $100)
Los Angeles Chargers +185 (Wager $100 to gain $185)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +225
Pittsburgh Steelers +250
Los Angeles Rams +350
San Francisco 49ers +500
Green Bay Packers +1000
Field +125
The pick: If Williams wants to avoid Jacksonville and Cleveland because of their lack of success, it would't make a ton of sense to head to the Chargers, Rams or 49ers at this point either.
Assuming nothing crazy happens with Bell's contract situation, it's tough to envision Williams back in Pittsburgh.
The Bucs, a dark-horse contender this year, could be the best bet here. Williams could wrap up his career for a competitive team that needs a little more consistency at running back. And, as a bonus, he'd get to face the Panthers -- a team on his no-go list -- at least twice.
