Running Back Kyren Williams is entering the final year of his rookie contract and the Rams want to sign him long term.
For the first time in his career Kyren Williams stayed healthy for an entire season, starting 16 games. The only game he sat out was the meaningless week 18 in which all the major starters rested to prepare for the playoffs. Williams posted career highs in all major rushing stats with 316 rushes, 1,299 rushing yards with 14 rushing touchdowns. Williams accomplished this despite the team selecting running back Blake Corum in the 3rd round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Rams GM Les Snead has come out to express the impact Kyren had on the Rams season and the want to extend him, all while mentioning the need for more than one running back for the entirety of the season.
Kyren Williams finished the 2024 fantasy season as RB7, right in line with his ADP of RB8. Williams accomplished this by proving he could stay healthy and holding off the highly regarded Corum. With Corum having another year under his belt and the low long the season is, Williams will need to take another step up to finish as a top 10 back. Williams is not a top-end athlete, being only 8th percentile in Speed Score. I would temper expectations for next season.
Author: Jesse Baldwin (@J_Baldwin51)
Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead indicated that ...
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams was the focus ...
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams continues to ...
Kyren Williams’ Wild-Card Performance and 2025 Fantasy Outlook: What’s Next for the Rams’ RB
Kyren Williams had a solid outing in the Rams’ 27-9 wild-card win over the Vikings, rushing 16 times for 76 yards and adding a touchdown on a 5-yard reception. His balanced performance complemented Matthew Stafford’s efficient passing game and the Rams’ dominant defense, as Williams found the end zone for the third straight game. He finished as the RB7 in PPR leagues for the 2024 season, proving his consistent role as a top fantasy option. Heading into Sunday’s divisional-round clash with the Eagles, Williams faces a much tougher challenge against one of the league’s stingiest run defenses. While he has shown the ability to be a reliable focal point in the Rams’ offense, the matchup will likely limit his ceiling, making him a riskier play this week.
Looking ahead to 2025, Williams’ value remains strong, but competition in the backfield could rise. With Blake Corum nipping at his heels, Williams will need to maintain his role as the lead back to stay a top-tier fantasy option. His pass-catching ability and consistent red-zone presence should help him retain a solid workload, but the threat of a backfield timeshare could limit his upside. For now, Williams remains a solid RB2 with RB1 upside for next season, but fantasy gamers will need to watch the competition closely as the offseason progresses.
Mike Lindberg @FFCanuck99
Head Coach Sean McVay says punt returning will allow Kyren Williams another way to get touches, while the presence of Blake Corum and Ronnie Rivers led to the decision.
This isn’t a joke. The running back going as the RB8 ahead of Derrick Henry on Underdog will be the primary punt returner for the L.A. Rams- woof! Alarm bells regarding Williams’ 2024 fantasy production were raised when the Rams prioritized drafting Blake Corum in the 3rd round of the 2024 draft, and this latest report adds further risk that Williams won’t see a bellcow role in 2024 to justify his hefty price tag.
Blake Corum continues to be one of the most intriguing targets in 2024 fantasy drafts. Corum already posed huge potential contingent upside if Williams were injured, and returning punts will add to the likelihood Williams misses time during the 2024 season. This report also signals that McVay plans to have Corum involved in the offense even if Williams remains healthy. As it currently stands, fantasy managers should fade Williams and capitalize on the value of Blake Corum.
Kyren Williams is one of the top fallers in PlayerProfiler’s Dynasty Deluxe lifetime value rating for the month of August.
Kyren Williams undoubtedly possesses immense potential for the 2024 season. However, the addition of Blake Corum has significantly clouded Williams’ long-term outlook. Corum, a third-round draft pick with a stellar college career and exceptional athleticism, presents a formidable challenge. Early reports from Rams camp suggest Corum is a standout performer and the team intends to leverage his skill set, mirroring Williams’ abilities.
With Corum breathing down his neck, Williams faces a substantial uphill battle to secure a sustained starting role in Los Angeles. Given these circumstances, fantasy managers would be prudent to capitalize on Williams’ current dynasty value by trading him to a running back-needy team eager to compete.
Los Angeles Rams lead running back Kyren Williams will be out until training camp with a foot injury, which has forced rookie Blake Corum into additional responsibilities during OTAs.
Corum’s fantasy stock will undoubtedly be on the rise with the news of Sean McVay asking him to further develop his game in terms of receiving and pass protection. Corum scored 27 rushing touchdowns last year at Michigan, so many experts expected him to potentially have a goal line role for the Rams following the 2024 NFL Draft. His fantastic collegiate production, 3rd round draft capital, along with these reports coming from OTAs officially vault Corum into “elite-handcuff” status, at a minimum.
The Rams have a tremendous offensive scheme that propelled Kyren Williams to be a top-7 ppr running back in 2023, which is especially extraordinary considering he only played in 12 games. Williams has a lack of size and elite athleticism that leave him more susceptible to injuries than your typical bell-cow, making his offseason best ball ADP of 22 seemingly high. Fantasy Managers can expect Williams to drop a bit in ADP while Corum rises.
Corum is an intriguing option in all formats and possesses high-end upside if Williams misses any time in the 2024 regular season.
Kyren Williams may receive fewer opportunities, particularly in the red zone.
The Los Angeles Rams selected Blake Corum in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Last season, Kyren Williams carried a heavy workload while being one of the most productive running backs in the league. Corum stood out as a player at Michigan and was a huge part of their championship culture.
Head Coach Sean McVay said in a conference after the NFL draft. “Obviously I love Kyren and he’s been so important, and just the human being, but then also when you just look at the way he works at it, the production, and the things that he was able to bring to our offense last year, and even really some of the things that he worked through his rookie year. I think there’s a lot of similarities.”
McVay believes Williams will be a “great mentor” for Corum, and the Rams have the 1-2 punch they were missing last season.
Kyren Williams’ managers may have cause for concern with Blake Corum’s touchdown-scoring ability at Michigan, as he has scored 56 rushing touchdowns, the most in program history. Right now it sounds like Williams has the majority of touches in this backfield but fantasy managers shouldn’t be surprised to see Blake Corum come in the game near the goalline ultimately capping Kyren’s upside. This backfield situation will be something to monitor in the offseason as well as weekly, in the regular season.
