ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Call Javonte Williams ‘Pookie,’ if you want.
But don’t call him a rookie.
“He’s a rookie by classification, but not by play and demeanor and professionalism,” Vic Fangio stated firmly on Wednesday. “He doesn’t act like a rookie at all.”
The 21-year old doesn’t play like a rookie either. And his nickname ‘Pookie’ certainly doesn’t reflect the violent attitude he approaches defenders with between the white lines.
Just ask the numerous defenders that have tried, and failed, to bring him to the ground.
“He’s just a really good player,” Fangio added. “The guy’s really good.”
In his nine-game career up to this point, the second-round draft pick has already looked like a steal for George Paton.
Entering Week 10, while splitting carries with Melvin Gordon, Williams is the 18th-leading rusher in the NFL with 466 yards on the ground. Gordon is two spots ahead of him with 477 rushing yards.
The rookie—I mean, the 5-foot-10, 220-pound bowling ball—has the most rushing yards in the entire league among players who haven’t started in a majority of their team’s games.
Additionally, he has the 12th-best yards per carry (4.9) in the NFL.
When given the opportunity, he’s also had impressive success through the air too. His 84.6 catch percentage is the 17th-best among all players in the NFL and is better than other dominant backs such as Alvin Kamara, Aaron Jones, Ezekiel Elliot and Najee Harris, to name a few.
He’s already stole the hearts of Kyle Brandt and the crew of Good Morning Football, by being named their Week 4 “Angry Runs” winner after he carried numerous Baltimore Ravens on his back during a dominant 31-yard run. And he’s up for the award again after throwing multiple Cowboys off him on his 30-yard run in Week 9.
After his first 100-yard game on Sunday in Dallas, Williams is also up for the NFL’s Rookie of the Week honor.
Williams’ dominance has reminded Fangio of the best running back he’s ever been with.
“You know, he reminds me a little bit of—probably the best back I’ve been with on a team, I’m not going to say he’s there yet, but—Edgerrin James,” Fangio said, hitting Javonte with incredible praise. “He kind of runs a little bit (like him). Complete player as Edgerrin.”
That’s Hall-of-Fame praise from a coach who has been in the NFL for nearly four decades.
Fangio knows exactly what James looked like as a rookie as he spent the first three years of Edgerrin’s career with him in Indianapolis.
James led the NFL in rushing yards his first and second year in the NFL on his way to four Pro Bowls in his career. He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the 2020 class.
And that’s the guy Javonte Williams reminds Fangio of. Back in September, Fangio brought up James’ name when talking about how quickly Williams earned the trust of the Broncos’ coaches too.
This isn’t the only All-Pro back Williams has been compared to, either.
Before the team had even played a regular season game, Teddy Bridgewater saw similarities between the rookie and Alvin Kamara.
“We have two good backs and if we can give them some space, they’re going to do good stuff for us,” Fangio stated on Wednesday.
If Williams even comes close to the All-Pro, and Hall-of-Fame, names he’s being talked about with, he’ll do much more than “good stuff” for the Broncos.
Javonte Williams’ most recent 100-yard game flashed the “great stuff” he’s capable of achieving with the Orange & Blue.
