Joe Williams

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the San Francisco 49ers waived sophomore running back Joe Williams. Williams was a fourth-round draft pick just last season but missed his entire rookie campaign with an ankle injury.

Fantasy Impact

Williams had drawn a lot of praise from Kyle Shanahan, so this move was a bit of a surprise. It appears that the signing of Alfred Morris made Williams expendable and also bodes well for the status of Jerick McKinnon. Williams will likely be signed by another team fairly quickly and get another shot.

Joe Williams suffered a rib fracture and is now questionable for the first week of the season.

Fantasy Impact

The second-year running back was already barely hanging onto a roster spot and this could be the injury that leads to his release. The 49ers have Jerick McKinnon and Matt Breida mostly locked into the RB1 and RB2 roles. Behind them, Raheem Mostert and Jeremy McNichols have shined more than Williams in the preseason. The team also signed Alfred Morris who knows Shanahan's system and is a trusted veteran. Williams is not worth a flier if he remains on the 49ers.

49ers running back Joe Williams is competing for the third string reps at training camp this summer.

Fantasy Impact

Williams missed the entire 2017 season due to injury. A former fourth round pick, Williams is behind Jerick McKinnon and Matt Breida on the San Francisco depth chart. He's a name to keep in mind in the event of an injury.

Joe Williams (ankle) had his ankle declared 'good to go' by coach Kyle Shanahan in a press conference Friday.

Fantasy Impact

The 49ers have had significant production from coach Shanahan's first rookie class, where Williams was the only one not to see the field during the regular season. Williams was put on injured reserve during final roster cuts after an up and down, but mostly down offseason. Matt Breida out-produced him during the preseason and impressed during the regular season. Williams has a lot of work to do if he wants to make the roster next year, but there is some uncertainty going forward as to who exactly will return next year in the backfield. This, and the 49ers trading up to get him, leave him in an interesting spot heading into the offseason and make him a name to monitor closely if fellow running back Carlos Hyde leaves during free agency.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero is reporting the San Francisco 49ers have placed RB Joe Williams (ankle) on the injured reserve list with an ankle injury.

Fantasy Impact

Williams, the 49ers' fourth-round pick in April's draft, is headed to IR with an ankle injury. However, despite an offseason full of hype -- he was rumored to be the rusher who out-seats Carlos Hyde for the starting job -- he was expected to open 2017 as the team's RB3. UDFA Matt Brieda out-played Williams in training camp and in the preseason, ultimately emerging as the RB2. Williams could be dropped in all redraft fantasy formats but should be held in dynasty leagues.