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When running back Samaje Perine departed Cincinnati for the Denver Broncos during the offseason, pundits around the league presumed that the Bengals would draft another ball carrier, or sign a veteran, to pair with Joe Mixon. They did not spend a high pick on a back, instead waiting until the fifth round to select Chase Brown, and there wasn't a veteran brought in either. Those offseason moves, or lack thereof, left Brown and fifth-year back Trayveon Williams to battle for the backup role.
Williams had an incredible college career at Texas A&M, totaling 3,615 rushing yards and 35 total touchdowns in three seasons, including a school record of 1,760 yards in his final year with the Aggies. That production has not translated to the NFL, however.
Williams largely just played special teams in his rookie season and tallied just 47 carries for 238 yards over the next three years. He has also been released and brought back on more than one occasion.
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How Many Opportunities Did Perine Have in 2022?
Joe Mixon did not have lower than a 65% snap share until his injury in Week 11. Samaje Perine exploded onto the scene in those three weeks (including Week 11) that Mixon missed, averaging 23.6 PPR fantasy points. He finished in the top 10 in RB scoring in all three games.
When Mixon returned, Perine kept a role in the offense. Over the final four games of the season, Perine held a 41% average snap share. In the AFC Championship game, Perine saw 65% of the offensive snaps, compared to just 35% for Mixon. On the season, Perine garnered 51 targets and 95 carries.
In March, Perine signed a two-year contract with the Denver Broncos to be a complimentary piece to Javonte Williams, who is coming off of a serious knee injury.
Is Trayveon Williams Injured Or Healthy?
Trayveon Williams was carted off the field with an apparent ankle injury during Tuesday's practice. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport is reporting that Williams suffered a mild ankle sprain, but will likely still miss a couple weeks.
With the lack of additions to the Bengals' backfield, the injury to Williams is one to monitor. Chase Brown will be given more opportunities in practice to claim the backup role, which could prove important to fantasy players, given Mixon's age and decreased productivity in 2022.
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