Mike Williams

Mike Williams

29-Year-Old Wide ReceiverWR
 Free Agent  
Free Agent
Questionable
Injury Knee - ACL
Est. Return 8/1/2024
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Williams exploded early in 2021 but otherwise has been stuck in the good-but-not-great category -- mildly disappointing for someone drafted seventh overall in 2017. Even Keenan Allen's absence for seven games last year wasn't enough to spark Williams for huge numbers, with the Chargers instead throwing a boatload of passes to RB Austin Ekeler. It is possible new OC Kellen Moore helps Williams' cause, especially if he brings the fast-paced approach from Dallas, but it mostly appears Williams just doesn't have the separation skills to draw a huge volume of targets even in a friendly offense. He's always been excellent on jump balls and in the red zone, leaving the crafty route-running underneath to Allen and Ekeler. Injuries have also been an on-and-off issue, with an ankle sprain costing Williams four games last season and a back fracture holding him out from the playoffs. He should have plenty of time to recover before training camp and learn the ins-and-outs of Moore's offense, but Williams is no longer the only show in town when it comes to deep-ball prowess after the Chargers spent their first-round pick on 6-4 wideout Quentin Johnston, who ran a 4.49 at his pro day. While unlikely to outproduce Williams right away, Johnston could take some of the deep looks that went to his veteran teammate in past seasons. Read Past Outlooks
$Released by the Chargers in March of 2024.
Cut by Chargers
WRFree Agent
Knee - ACL
March 13, 2024
The Chargers will release Williams (knee) on Wednesday with a failed physical designation, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Williams is rehabbing from an ACL tear and was due $20 million in non-guaranteed compensation for 2024, the final season of a three-year extension. The Chargers may have discussed a paycut, extension or trade, but they weren't able to work anything out and now are cutting the 29-year-old wideout loose right around the start of the league year. Williams will become one of the top free agents available, and the timing of his severe knee injury -- which occurred in late September -- gives him a decent chance to be ready for the start of the 2024 campaign.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Mike Williams' 2023 advanced stats compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Air Yards Per Game
100.0
 
Air Yards Per Snap
1.88
 
% Team Air Yards
6.4%
 
% Team Targets
4.2%
 
Avg Depth of Target
11.5 Yds
 
Catch Rate
73.1%
 
Drop Rate
0.0%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
5.6
 
% Targeted On Route
26.5%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
2.54
 
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2023
2022
2021
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2017
2023 NFL Game Log
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2022 NFL Game Log
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2021 NFL Game Log
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2017 NFL Game Log
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Mike Williams lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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2023 Mike Williams Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Mike Williams' measurables compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 4"
 
Weight
218 lbs
 
Vertical Jump
32.5 in
 
Broad Jump
121 in
 
Bench Press
15 reps
 
Hand Length
9.38 in
 
Arm Length
33.38 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Mike Williams See More
NFL Free Agency: Weekend Roundup
Yesterday
Often injured and now aging, Mike Williams' free agent market so far has turned out somewhat dreary.
NFL Free Agency: Thursday Trade-athon
5 days ago
A pair of QB trades were overshadowed by the Chargers' decision to ship WR Keenan Allen to the Bears.
NFL Free Agency: Wide Receiver Wednesday
6 days ago
Jerry Donabedian breaks down the fantasy winners and losers from Tennessee signing WR Calvin Ridley and the Chargers releasing WR Mike Williams.
Dynasty Watch: Players Losing Value this Winter
20 days ago
Chargers WR Keenan Allen was on track for his best season yet in 2023, but he's now facing a lot of questions ahead of his age-32 campaign in 2024.
NFL Free Agency: Assessing Potential Cap Casualties
26 days ago
Tyler Lockett is one of the many big-name WRs with no guaranteed money remaining on a sizable contract, potentially setting up a trade or release in the next few weeks.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
Williams finally appeared to put it all together last year in his second season catching passes from Justin Herbert. The first four years of Williams' career included a 10-TD season in 2018 (but with only 664 yards) and a 1,001-yard season in 2019 (with only two TDs). Last year, Williams again provided big plays and touchdowns, and also topped his career high for targets by 39. On paper, it was a legitimate breakout, placing him at WR9 for standard scoring and WR12 for PPR. The one problem? Williams averaged 6.2 catches for 94 yards and 1.2 TDs on 10.2 targets the first five weeks, followed by 4.1 catches for 61.4 yards and 0.3 TDs on 7.1 targets in his final 11 games. In other words, he reverted back to his old self after a month, at least on the stat sheet. It makes for an interesting case as the No. 7 overall pick from the 2017 Draft prepares for Year 6, now signed to a three-year, $60 million extension. There's no question the Chargers' passing game will run through Williams, Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler, and there's not much doubt it'll be one of the better attacks in the league. The question is whether Williams will earn a big piece of that pie, like he did in early 2021, or if he'll spend more time clearing out space for Allen and Ekeler to see short targets.
The seventh overall pick in 2017, Williams has quietly lived up to his billing, though you wouldn’t necessarily know it from his cosmetic stats. His per-play output has been among the league’s best the last three seasons. The problem for Williams has always been volume, and last season was no different. Despite missing only one game, Williams managed just 85 targets, compared to Keenan Allen’s far less efficient 147 in 14 games. The Chargers also have a high-volume pass-catching running back in Austin Ekeler (though he was hurt for much of last year) and replaced the departed Hunter Henry with Jared Cook at tight end — i.e., if Williams is to get more opportunities this season it won’t be due to personnel changes. At 6-4, 218, with 4.49 speed and a massive wingspan, Williams can outreach, out-jump and outmuscle defensive backs. While quarterback Philip Rivers used to throw him jump balls, Justin Herbert has the arm and downfield accuracy to hit Williams in stride. Williams had fewer big plays last year — only two catches of 40-plus yards, down from a league-leading eight in 2019 — in part because the team used rookie burner Jaylen Guyton (four 40-yard catches) to attack downfield. New head coach Brandon Staley — the former Rams defensive coordinator — and his offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi could change the target distribution in Williams’ favor this season, but Allen is likely the top dog, and Lombardi’s previous stints favored pass-catching backs like Ekeler.
After scoring 10 TDs on only 66 targets in 2018, Williams' TD/target ratio cratered last year with only two scores on 89 looks. Chalk it up mostly to bad luck. Williams had roughly the same number of red-zone and goal-line targets both seasons, dropped only three passes all year and tied for the league lead with a whopping eight catches for 40-plus yards. In other words, he had adequate red-zone looks, a ton of big plays and only two TDs to show for it. Williams was also efficient. He led all 85-target receivers with 20.4 YPC, and was second to A.J. Brown with 11.2 YPT. At 6-4, 220, and with a giant wingspan, Williams doesn't need to be open to make a play, and his 4.49 wheels allow him to get downfield. With Philip Rivers gone, the Chargers apparently will roll with Tyrod Taylor at QB, though they drafted Justin Herbert sixth overall. Either way, it probably means fewer overall passes and not as many downfield throws. But Williams is one of the NFL's more physically gifted WRs, and the 2017 seventh overall pick should continue to increase his share in the passing game relative to Rivers-favorite Keenan Allen. At the least, expect a bounce back in TDs. Williams acknowledged after the season he played on a sore knee, but exams showed no major damage, and he returned healthy for the start of training camp. Unfortunately, he sprained his shoulder during a practice in late August, leaving his Week 1 status up in the air.
After barely playing his rookie year due to a back injury, the seventh overall pick from the 2017 draft showed encouraging signs during his second season. Although he saw only 66 targets (60th), Williams scored a whopping 10 times (T-6th) and averaged 10.1 YPT and 15.4 YPC. At 6-4, 220, Williams is a huge receiver with a massive catch radius, and the Chargers used him a lot near the goal line - nine (T-8th) of his 66 targets were from inside the 10, and he scored on six. Williams also runs well for his size with a 4.49 40 time at his pro day (he didn't run at the NFL combine). Chargers GM Tom Telesco gave Williams a vote of confidence in March, saying the 24-year-old wide receiver has the ability to handle a high-volume role, and Telesco backed up that confidence by letting Tyrell Williams (65 targets) leave for Oakland this offseason. That makes Mike Williams the primary red-zone and downfield weapon this year while Keenan Allen runs mostly short and intermediate routes. Allen is still the favorite to lead the team in targets, and the Chargers should have Hunter Henry at full strength, but Williams with more volume could push for the NFL lead in touchdowns.
A bad back derailed Williams' rookie season as he saw only 23 targets in 10 games. But last year's seventh overall pick is completely healthy heading into OTAs and will get the chance for a do-over. At 6-4, 218, Williams has excellent size and a massive catch radius, making him an ideal red-zone threat. Williams didn't run at the 2017 combine but turned in a 4.49 40 at his pro day. He's strong and athletic enough to make plays even when he doesn't have much separation. Another concern is the Chargers' densely packed depth chart - No. 1 target Keenan Allen finally stayed healthy, and at press time Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin are still on the team. But the Chargers didn't use such a high pick on Williams to have him sit, so he should have a chance to emerge as the team's No. 2 receiver behind Allen. Given Allen's extensive injury history, there's some upside here.
With Keenan Allen presumably coming back from his torn ACL and Tyrell Williams breaking out, the Chargers didn't necessarily need a receiver. But they took Mike Williams with the seventh overall pick anyway. At 6-4, 218 and with a huge catch radius, Williams can make plays both down the field and in the red zone. He's not especially fast -- 4.6 40 -- but given his size and ball skills he can make plays even if he doesn't separate. Williams' route running needs work, and he might not be polished enough for a huge role. There's a fair amount of targets to go around, but Williams has a lot of competition. In addition to Allen and Tyrell Williams, LAC has two capable TEs in Antonio Gates and Hunter Henry and a field-stretcher WR in Travis Benjamin. Williams sat out OTAs with mild disc herniation in his lower back and opened training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list. The Chargers still hope he'll be ready by Week 1, but his absence from practices (and possibly exhibition games) will make it tougher to earn a major role.
More Fantasy News
Ahead of schedule in recovery
WRLos Angeles Chargers
Knee - ACL
February 7, 2024
Williams (knee) said Jan. 8 that he's "slightly ahead" of schedule in his rehab from an ACL tear, Omar Navarro of the Chargers' official site reports.
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On track for training camp
WRLos Angeles Chargers
Knee - ACL
October 26, 2023
Williams underwent surgery Wednesday to repair the torn ACL in his left knee and is expected to be ready for the start of training camp next summer, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
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Makes way to injured reserve
WRLos Angeles Chargers
Knee - ACL
September 26, 2023
The Chargers placed Williams (knee) on injured reserve Tuesday.
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Torn ACL confirmed
WRLos Angeles Chargers
Knee - ACL
September 25, 2023
Williams (knee) was diagnosed with a season-ending ACL injury after undergoing an MRI following Sunday's 28-24 win over the Vikings, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
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Scheduled for MRI on knee
WRLos Angeles Chargers
Knee
September 24, 2023
Williams is slated to undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the knee injury he suffered in the Chargers' 28-24 win over the Vikings on Sunday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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