Through two games in the NFL season, DeAngelo Williams is one of the leading rushers as he leads the league with three touchdowns on the season after putting up 204 yards off 41 carries. Williams might be a veteran, but has had been proving age is just a number while helping push the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. However, while Williams is one of the hottest running backs in the league right now, he will have to settle for a spot on the bench as head coach Mike Tomlin confirms Le'Veon Bell will get the nod in Week 3.
Williams has been thriving while Bell served a two-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Now with Bell back on the field, Williams is getting benched. According to Tomlin via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Bell will start while Williams will still contribute on the field.
"I'm going to play Le'Veon Bell," Tomlin said, via the Post-Gazette. "I can't say enough about the contributions of DeAngelo Williams. He's been a good asset and acquisition for us. He's working hard to compete and contribute in all areas. Obviously, we get Le'Veon Bell back this week. We are excited about that. But we are excited about having both guys."
Bell was a fantasy star last season after racking up 1,361 yards rushing while also contributing with 83 catches. Fantasy owners did not hesitate to draft the running back despite the suspension as many believe Bell will pick up right where he left off. Williams will not factor in to his stats as the veteran will not see the field that much with Bell especially against a weaker defensive front in the St. Louis Rams.
While Bell is back, Martavis Bryant still has two games left to serve on his four-game suspension. Antonio Brown has been leading the wide receiver unit as expected, but the Steelers are getting production out of a sleeper pick in Darrius Heyward-Bey. The wide receiver put up four catches for 77 yards and a touchdown against the 49ers. Heyward-Bey and Markus Wheaton have been handling the offensive load with Bryant out. They have been needed while Sammie Coates remains off the field.
The Steelers drafted Coates with the hopes that he could be an immediate impact player after his success with the Auburn Tigers. However, the rookie has been inactive through two games. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger noted that Coates simply needed time to adjust to NFL life and the Steelers still remain hopeful that he can be the NFL talent they were expecting.
"He just needs to keep getting work, keep getting confidence and keep putting the work in to get mentally ready, both in the playbook and on the field," Roethlisberger said, via the Post-Gazette. "When you have the best on the field in your room in Antonio Brown, just do everything he does."