Ryan Williams Fantasy News

Rashard Mendenhall will be every down back
Wednesday, June 19, 2013, 9:36am

Appearing on NFL Network's "NFL AM" Wednesday, Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians confirmed "there's no doubt" that RB Rashard Mendenhall would be the featured back if the season started today.

Arians said, "I know what he can bring to the table as a runner and a pass protector and also a receiver. He's an every-down player. And I think he's looking forward to having an outstanding season."

After touting Mendenhall in March as a "big back who never has to come out of the game," Arians is now making it clear that the former Steelers first-rounder is a three-down running back.

Rashard Mendenhall "clearly" team's RB1
Friday, June 14, 2013, 10:05am

Cardinals beat writer Mike Jurecki on RB Rashard Mendenhall: "He's look good hitting the holes, good in pass protection, catching a ball the backfield, clearly the number #1 RB."

Arians: Rashard Mendenhall is "a legitimate big-time threat"
Saturday, April 20, 2013, 3:13pm

Cardinals HC Bruce Arians signed RB Rashard Mendenhall to a one-year contract in free agency and is thrilled to have him.

“He’s a legitimate big-time threat every time he touches the ball,” Arians, the Steelers former offensive coordinator, said this morning at the NFC coaches breakfast at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. “He’s a big back who never has to come out of the game. He has a 230-pound body with 180-pound feet.”

Arians: Mendenhall is an "every-down back"
Thursday, March 14, 2013, 10:31am

Cardinals HC Bruce Arians on new RB Rashard Mendenhall.

“As a running back he’s the total package,” Arians said in a release by the team. “He’s a big, strong, every-down back with speed who can pass block and also catch the ball. I’ve said before: he’s a big man with little-people feet, meaning he can run like he’s 180 (pounds) but also pound the ball like he’s 230.”

Cardinals sign Rashard Mendenhall to one-year deal
Wednesday, March 13, 2013, 2:07pm

The Arizona Cardinals reached an agreement in principle on a one-year deal with former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Bruce Arians, the Cardinals' coach, was at one time Mendenhall's offensive coordinator with the Steelers.

Mendenhall was slowed last season by injuries. He tore the ACL in his right knee in Week 17 of the 2011 season and didn't return until Oct. 4 of last season. His return didn't last long, though, as he strained his right Achilles four days later.

The 25-year-old running back has rushed for 3,549 yards and 29 touchdowns in 57 career games.

Cardinals release Beanie Wells
Monday, March 11, 2013, 4:12pm

Cardinals RB Beanie Wells on Twitter: "Just been informed that I'll be released today. Would like to thank the Cardinals organization for give me a chance to live out my dreams."

Wednesday, March 6, 2013, 2:43pm

Former Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt liked the idea of breaking up duties for the backs – adding in LaRod Stephens-Howling as well – new coach Bruce Arians has a different philosophy.

“Backs by committee, one of them gets hurt you’ve lost half your committee or a third of your committee,” Arians said. “I like guys who can play every down.”

Arians doesn’t see his running backs as primary receivers. They will get some receptions, yes, but they are there as an extra line of protection so the quarterback has time to look down the field and complete passes for the “big chunks” the new coach loves so much.

“Can they run the football, do they have vision, patience,” Arians asks of his backs. “Second, can they pass protect on second down? Can they pass protect on third down when it really gets complicated?

“Will we throw to the backs? Yeah. But the receivers are the ones paid to catch it.”

Cardinals believe Ryan Williams is a "three-down back"
Thursday, February 21, 2013, 8:40pm

“[Ryan Williams] has to stay healthy,” Cardinals HC Bruce Arians said. “I actually ran the (Virginia Tech) Pro Day there when all those guys came out and he was a fantastic athlete. He has to get healthy and we’ll see how he fits. But as a running back, he’s got what it takes.”

GM Steve Keim said he has seen Williams rehabbing and sounded optimistic about what the Cards could have.

“He’s a guy that, watching film with Bruce, because he got injured early in the season, you forgot the type of run skills Ryan had,” Keim said. “We watched him against Philadelphia, we watched him against New England, his lateral quickness, his natural run skills, his avoidability is something he brings to the table. Plus he’s a three-down back. We’re expecting big things out of Ryan moving forward.”

Saturday, January 26, 2013, 12:34pm

Following his introductory news conference last week, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians was asked about the team's running game.

“I know that [Ryan Williams] can flat run the football,” Arians said. “I’m a Hokie. I know all about Ryan and I love him.”

Arians attended and played college football at Virginia Tech. Maybe that’s why he never mentioned the guy at the top of the Cardinals’ depth chart: Beanie Wells. Or maybe it was just an oversight.

Wells certainly hopes so, because he’s looking at this coaching change as a chance for a fresh start. Wells finished with career lows in carries (88) and yards (234) this season after spending the first half of the year on IR to heal his surgically repaired knee and, to a lesser extent, a severe case of turf toe.

Saturday, January 19, 2013, 11:51am

New Cardinals Bruce Arians loves him some RB Ryan Williams. Both went to Va. Tech, Arians lit up when talking about Williams' ability.

Thursday, December 27, 2012, 11:01am

Cardinals RB Beanie Wells’ four seasons have been defined by injuries. But who replaces him? Ryan Williams finished both of his seasons on injured reserve. LaRod Stephens-Howling is due to be an unrestricted free agent, and the Cardinals have not yet tried to re-sign him. Wells is under contract through 2013.

At this time, the best option appears to keeping him and hoping that he and Williams can stay healthy in 2013. Maybe the situation changes if the team finds running backs in the draft or free agency. But that’s the way it stands now.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012, 1:09pm

RB Beanie Wells isn’t allowed to formally return to practice until the Cardinals’ off week. And judging from his exasperation Monday by having been placed on the NFL’s new injured reserve/designated to return list in the first place, it only figures.

“It’s so boring sitting at home and watching the games on TV,” he said. “I wish I was out there. I feel like I’m ready to go right now. But I can’t until they activate me, so I’ve just been training really hard on my own, getting ready.”

Cardinals RB Ryan Williams out for season
Monday, October 8, 2012, 3:58pm

The Cardinals have lost running back Ryan Williams for the rest of the season with a left shoulder injury. Williams, who injured the shoulder in Arizona’s 17-3 loss to the St. Louis Rams on Thursday, will require season-ending surgery, coach Ken Whisenhunt said Monday. It’s the second straight year Williams has been hurt. He missed all of his rookie year after tearing his patellar tendon in the preseason.

Williams’ injury further depletes an already-thin position. Beanie Wells (turf toe) will be out at least five more games, leaving the Cardinals with LaRod Stephens-Howling, who has missed the past two games with a hip injury, William Powell and Alfonso Smith. Combined, the three players have 15 carries for 10 yards this season.

Whisenhunt said he feels “good about the guys we’ve got,” but added the Cardinals might look for reinforcements at tailback.

Ryan Williams injures shoulder
Friday, October 5, 2012, 9:51am

Cardinals RB Ryan Williams describes his shoulder injury on Thursday night:

“I didn’t black out or anything,” Williams said. “No concussion or anything. My whole shoulder went down and went numb. So then I got up, figured it was something with my AC joint. I was like, ‘At least it’s not my leg,’ so shot it up went back out there but coach wouldn’t put me back in the game.
“But it’s just something else I will have to overcome.”

Thursday, October 4, 2012, 7:15pm

Cardinals Inactives
Laron Byrd WR
Jim Dray TE
Todd Heap TE
Senio Kelemete G
Reagan Maui'a RB
John Skelton QB
LaRod Stephens-Howling RB