Mike Williams

Mike Williams

30-Year-Old Wide ReceiverWR
Pittsburgh Steelers
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Williams has been blessed with good QB play throughout his career, going from Philip Rivers to Justin Herbert and now joining forces with Aaron Rodgers in New York. The 2017 seventh overall pick played second fiddle to Keenan Allen during his seven years with the Chargers, reaching triple-digit targets just once (129 in 2021) while averaging at least 14.2 yards per catch and 8.9 per target in five straight seasons from 2018 to 2022. The 2021 campaign was easily his best, though heavily front-loaded with six of his nine TDs and 41 percent of his yardage coming in the first five weeks. He actually improved from 1.93 yards per route in 2021 to 2.00 YPRR in 2022, but he scored just three TDs while missing four full games and most of two others with ankle and back injuries. Williams then got off to a fast start in 2023 with 249 yards and 26 targets through 11 quarters, only to suffer an ACL tear in the second half of Week 3. He anticipates being ready for the start of 2024 -- a month before his 30th birthday -- but he was released by the Chargers in March and had to settle for a one-year, $10 million contract. Williams' per-game and per-route production from the past three years in Los Angeles hint at upside in a Jets offense that doesn't have much else behind WR Garrett Wilson and RB Breece Hall, but it depends on both Williams and Rodgers returning to form after severe, late-career injuries. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#128.33
ADP
$Signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Jets in March of 2024. Traded to the Steelers in November of 2024.
No targets in Week 13
WRPittsburgh Steelers
December 2, 2024
Williams wasn't targeted during Sunday's 44-38 win over Cincinnati.
ANALYSIS
Williams recorded a 32-yard reception during his Steelers debut against Washington in Week 10, but he hasn't been targeted over three games since then. It's especially discouraging that Williams was held without a target during Sunday's high-scoring victory in which Russell Wilson tallied a season-high 414 passing yards. Williams seems unlikely to be a consistent fantasy option late in the regular season given his lack of work in recent weeks.
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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' 2024 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
22.8
 
Air Yards Per Snap
1.03
 
% Team Air Yards
10.7%
 
% Team Targets
5.1%
 
Avg Depth of Target
14.1 Yds
 
Catch Rate
57.1%
 
Drop Rate
4.8%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
2.3
 
% Targeted On Route
8.9%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
0.70
 
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Pittsburgh SteelersSteelers 2024 WR Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

61578%
24486%
48962%
15153%
37648%
11440%
12616%
72%
678%
6724%
547%
4817%
51%
00%
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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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This Week's Opposing Pass Defense
How does the Browns pass defense compare to other NFL teams this season?
The bars represents the team's percentile rank (based on QB Rating Against). The longer the bar, the better their pass defense is. The team and position group ratings only include players that are currently on the roster and not on injured reserve. The list of players in the table only includes defenders with at least 3 attempts against them.
CLE
vs Browns
Sunday, Dec 8th at 1:00PM
Overall QB Rating Against
84.1
 
Cornerbacks
90.8
 
Safeties
66.0
 
Linebackers
74.8
 
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2024 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' 3"
 
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
Box Score Breakdown: Week 13 Snaps, Routes, Personnel and Usage
4 days ago
Injuries to Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason leave Isaac Guerendo as San Francisco's starting RB for the final month of the season.
Steelers at Bengals: NFL Betting Odds, Picks and Predictions
5 days ago
NFL Picks via Betting Expert Juan Carlos Blanco as the Steelers and Bengals face off in a crucial AFC North Battle. Juan has plays on the total and Najee Harris
Wide Receivers vs. Cornerbacks: Week 13 Matchups
6 days ago
Terry McLaurin should stay hot against a Titans defense starting its third- and fourth-string corners on the boundary.
NFL Game Previews: Browns-Broncos Matchup
9 days ago
Erik Siegrist previews the Monday night matchup as the Browns take on the Broncos.
Box Score Breakdown: Week 12 Snaps, Routes, Personnel and Usage
11 days ago
RW's Jerry Donabedian has the full breakdown from Week 12, including analysis of Tampa Bay's committee backfield after a big game from rookie Bucky Irving.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
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.
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
Not targeted against Baltimore
WRPittsburgh Steelers
November 18, 2024
Williams wasn't targeted during Sunday's 18-16 win over the Ravens.
ANALYSIS
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Reaches end zone in team debut
WRPittsburgh Steelers
November 11, 2024
Williams secured his lone target for a 32-yard touchdown during Sunday's 28-27 win over the Commanders.
ANALYSIS
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Set for Steelers debut
WRPittsburgh Steelers
November 10, 2024
Williams is active for Sunday's game against the Commanders.
ANALYSIS
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Likely to play Sunday
WRPittsburgh Steelers
November 9, 2024
Williams, whom the Steelers acquired in a trade with the Jets on Tuesday, is expected to suit up for his new team Sunday versus Washington, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
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Moving to Steel City
WRPittsburgh Steelers
November 5, 2024
The Jets agreed to trade Williams to the Steelers in Tuesday, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Opening opportunities for others
WRPittsburgh Steelers
November 30, 2024
Although Williams hasn't been targeted in the Steelers' last two contests, Mike DeFabo of the Athletic relays that the veteran wideout's presence has helped Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin enjoy their most productive games of the regular season.
ANALYSIS
After playing the first nine regular-season games with the Jets, Williams was traded to the Steelers in early November. He made his presence felt immediately with a 32-yard, go-ahead touchdown catch against the Commanders in Week 9. He hasn't seen a target over the last two games despite his offensive snap count increasing, but Defabo relays that Williams' presence has opened up the field for Jefferson, Austin and the rest of the Steelers' pass catchers. Williams' deep-threat ability could be utilized by quarterback Russell Wilson on Sunday against a Bengals team that allows 26.9 points per game, which is fifth-worst in the NFL.
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