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CHARLOTTE -- DeAngelo Williams couldn't have asked for a better week off.

The horror film fanatic's favorite day, Halloween, comes during the Carolina Panthers' bye week. And Williams is coming off one of the better games of his career, rushing for 108 yards and a touchdown in a win over Arizona that left the Panthers 6-2.

Not bad for a guy many thought would lose his job to rookie Jonathan Stewart.

"I'm not in charge of the rotation. I'm happy as long as we're productive," Williams said. "We've been fairly productive thus far, so there are no complaints out of me as far as rotation or anything like that."

Williams was Carolina's first-round pick in 2006 after compiling an NCAA record 7,572 all-purpose yards at Memphis. But Williams spent his first two years as DeShaun Foster's backup and managed 1,218 yards rushing in 29 games. After Foster was released in the offseason, the Panthers selected Stewart in the first round, again putting Williams' role in doubt.

"We expect big things out of him," quarterback Jake Delhomme said. "Maybe some of us are hard on him, but we mean it in a good way."

Williams' youth and quirky personality were on display early with the Panthers. He would break down gory films to reporters, and staged an elaborate skit on Halloween night as a rookie. Hiding in his garage dressed in a zombie costume and holding a chain saw two years ago, Williams waited until trick-or-treating kids knocked on his front door. He then opened the garage door and fired up the chain saw, sending the kids scurrying.

Williams plans a more low-key day Friday.

"I'm just going to pass out candy. No chain saws," Williams said. "I'll probably go to a couple haunted houses. Other than that, I'm going to relax for the most part."

Williams needs it. He's on pace to become the third player in team history to rush for over 1,000 yards. He has 522 on 120 carries in eight games.

Stewart has 362 yards and five touchdowns as part of coach John Fox's two-headed plan in the backfield that is slowly producing results.

"You guys keep trying to separate them. We look at them kind of together," Fox said. "It's our running back position. Both of them have played well.

"I think they are both fine football players, and we are pleased with both of them."