Vince Williams

Vince Williams

34-Year-Old LinebackerLB
 Free Agent  
2023 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Vince Williams in 2023. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
RANKS
$Signed a one-year, $1.08 million contract with the Steelers in April of 2021.
Announces retirement
LBFree Agent
July 21, 2021
Williams announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The 31-year-old was released by the Steelers in March, but he re-signed with the team a month later. Williams spent his entire eight-year career in Pittsburgh since after the Steelers selected him in the sixth round of the 2013 draft. Over 121 career regular-season games, he accumulated 479 total tackles and 20.5 sacks. With Williams out of the picture, Robert Spillane could take on a starting role alongside Devin Bush (knee) at inside linebacker.
Read More News
NFL Stats
Loading NFL Stats...
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2020 NFL Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Game Log...
2019 NFL Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Game Log...
2018 NFL Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Game Log...
2017 NFL Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Game Log...
2016 NFL Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Game Log...
2023 Vince Williams Split Stats
Loading NFL Split Stats...
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Vince Williams See More
Exploiting the Matchups: Wild-Card Round
January 7, 2021
The Titans may seem to have Lamar Jackson's number, but their recent performance on defense suggests the young QB will have the upper hand this time around.
IDP Analysis: Tuitt the Terror
November 3, 2020
After functioning mostly as an run-anchor defender in his first six NFL seasons, Stephon Tuitt has broken out to make a pass-rushing impact more like standout teammate Cameron Heyward in 2020.
IDP Analysis: Week 7
IDP Analysis: Week 7
October 20, 2020
October 20, 2020
The injury to Benardrick McKinney was a big loss for the Houston defense, but Tyrell Adams appears to have emerged as a standout IDP in his absence.
IDP Analysis: Week 17 Matchups
IDP Analysis: Week 17 Matchups
December 24, 2019
December 24, 2019
Jim Coventry notes the Ravens are unlikely to put Lamar Jackson in a position to take unnecessary hits Sunday, which means running the ball and a busy day for T.J. Watt and Pittsburgh other LBs.
Gameday Injuries: Week 5
Gameday Injuries: Week 5
October 6, 2019
October 6, 2019
With another host of big names sporting injuries heading into Week 5, Juan Carlos Blanco guides you through the latest news for your Sunday morning lineup decisions.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Staying in Pittsburgh
LBPittsburgh Steelers
April 14, 2021
Williams received contract offers from other teams before deciding to re-sign with the Steelers on Wednesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The Steelers released Williams in March to free up cap space and ultimately managed to keep him around at a lower price. The veteran inside linebacker has spent his entire career in Pittsburgh, starting 69 of his 121 regular-season games, including 14 of 14 last season. The Steelers now have nine of their 11 defensive starters from last year under contract, with outside linebacker Bud Dupree (Titans) and cornerback Steven Nelson (free agent) being the two exceptions. The team also lost slot corner Mike Hilton to the division-rival Bengals in free agency, so the cornerback position is arguably Pittsburgh's biggest need on defense ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft.
See All NFL Rumors
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
Williams briefly hit free agency in mid-March after he was released by the Steelers, but he'll return to Pittsburgh for a ninth consecutive season after he re-signed with the team in April. The linebacker missed two games in 2020 while he was on the reserve/COVID-19 list, but he still finished second on the team with 70 tackles (47 solo). He also racked up three sacks and recovered two fumbles in his 14 games. Williams was on the field for 64 percent of the Steelers' defensive snaps last year and should be a prominent factor once again after Bud Dupree signed with the Titans during the offseason.
After playing less than 37% of Pittsburgh's defensive snaps in 2019 the release of Marc Barron paves the way for Williams to resume his starting role among one of the NFLs strongest linebacker corps. During the previous two campaigns -- playing more than 71% of the snaps -- Williams averaged 82 tackles including six sacks, making him worthy of IDP consideration in deep fantasy leagues.
As expected, Williams experienced some regression last season and now faces competition for snaps from free agent Mark Barron and Devin Bush, who the team traded up to select 10th overall in the 2019 draft. This could adversely impact his production and fantasy value this season.
Last season was a breakout year for Williams, who recorded 89 tackles, including eight sacks, after averaging 47 tackles and 0.5 sacks in his previous four seasons. He has missed just one game in his career, and that was during his rookie season, making him a reliable fixture of a formidable Pittsburgh defense, and worthy of serious consideration in IDP fantasy formats.
Williams is entering his first year as a presumed starter after Lawrence Timmons signed with the Dolphins in the offseason. In the same role across the past seven seasons, Timmons averaged 116.7 tackles and 3.3 sacks per 16 games, so there's warranted optimism that Williams could post the first triple-digit tackle total of his career.
Williams is coming off of a career 2015 campaign, but will reprise his role as the primary backup to Lawrence Timmons and Ryan Shazier.
2014 was another solid season for Williams, but he remains behind Lawrence Timmons and Ryan Shazier on the depth chart, limiting his fantasy value.
Williams had a solid rookie season, but the addition of first-round pick Ryan Shazier will likely relegate his role to that of a reserve in 2014.
Pittsburgh's 2013 sixth round draft pick looks to land a spot on the 53-man roster behind Lawrence Timmons and Larry Foote.
More Fantasy News
Back in Pittsburgh
LBPittsburgh Steelers
April 14, 2021
The Steelers re-signed Williams on Wednesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Let go by Steelers
LBFree Agent
March 16, 2021
The Steelers released Williams on Tuesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Minimal role against Cleveland
LBPittsburgh Steelers
January 6, 2021
Williams recorded one solo tackle in Sunday's 24-22 loss to the Browns.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Removed from COVID list
LBPittsburgh Steelers
December 23, 2020
Williams was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May return Week 16
LBPittsburgh Steelers
Illness
December 22, 2020
Williams could be activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list for Sunday's game versus the Colts, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.