Blake Corum Fantasy 2024
Coming into the 2024 NFL Draft, the consensus was that it was a weak running back class. If that ends up being true, then most of the rookie running backs will find it hard to be fantasy-relevant this year. But so much of fantasy football is about the landing spot and opportunity, especially for a rookie. Leading up to the draft, it was believed that the Chargers were the favorites to draft Blake Corum, who would reunite the rookie with his former Michigan coach. Instead, the Chargers went in a different direction, using their third-round pick to draft a different Wolverine player in linebacker Junior Colson. That left the door wide open for the Los Angeles Rams to select Corum with the 19th pick (83rd overall) in the third round. The Chargers would’ve been a great fit with only the aging Gus Edwards and oft-injured JK Dobbins ahead of him. But with 2023 break-out star Kyren Williams on the depth chart, Corum’s pathway to fantasy production on the Rams could be a bit more murky. Still, there is a chance for him to carve out a role. Let’s see what that might look like in 2024 and beyond.
Fantasy Value
One thing Corum will have going for him in Los Angeles is that he will arrive with better draft capital than presumed starter Kyren Williams, who was drafted in the fifth round (164th overall.) But Williams finished second in the league in fantasy points per game at the position last season. Corum also has all the tools required to be a featured back in the NFL, but that type of role will be hard to come by if Williams is as good as he looked last season. There is some optimism surrounding Rams HC Sean McVay’s comments stating that the style of play of Corum and Williams is similar, but those comments don’t mean Corum is going to supplant Williams as the RB1. It just means the Rams could have a decent one-two punch if Corum is allowed to contribute. The depth chart behind Williams is also encouraging. Corum should be able to beat out Boston Scott and Ronnie Rivers for primary backup duties, which will give him value. Williams has gotten hurt both years he has played in the NFL, and Corum could be incredibly productive if he’s ever forced into the lead role. Even without a lead role, Corum could return value as a physical change-of-pace back with some goal-line carries sprinkled in. If I were the Williams owner, I would try to get Corum on my squad as his handcuff. But in redraft, the better option may be to bypass Williams (who I think is somewhat overvalued now) in favor of a safer, higher upside option, and target Corum with a late draft pick in the hopes he gets his chance.
Dynasty Value
Predicting Corum’s dynasty value is tricky because he enters the NFL with several substantial red flags. First, Corum doesn’t bring much experience to his professional career, with just 505 carries over his past two collegiate seasons. Then there’s the fact that Corum will turn 24 years old as a rookie, so if he’s going to have any sort of long-term impact then he will have to hit the ground running (pun intended) and get started with making that impact immediately. That may prove difficult. There’s always the chance that Williams stumbles and Corum gets his chance, but for now, all we should expect is for Corum to be a complementary piece to the proven starter. As I already mentioned, the depth chart behind Williams is not insurmountable. Corum should have the inside track to the backup job, which could prove fruitful if Williams gets hurt or proves ineffective. But with his age and the shorter shelf-life of production for a running back in the NFL it’s hard to get too excited about his long-term value. The Rams will give him a chance to solidify himself into a secondary role and prove he was worth the third-round draft capital they used on him. But whether he can turn this backfield into a true committee or even push Williams for lead duties remains to be seen.
Conclusion
Corum may never be a lead running back in the NFL. He profiles as the type of player who can provide solid depth as a secondary piece in an offense but who needs someone else’s injury to be truly valuable for fantasy. Corum should get his touches, but until I see him in an NFL game it’s hard for me to imagine him taking over the lead job from Williams. Due to Williams’ poor draft capital, it would be easier to make the case for Corum leapfrogging him if Corum was a special player, but he’s not. Corum is at his best in short-yardage situations, though, so he could steal goal-line work from Williams, limiting the latter’s touchdown upside. This will make him a frustrating asset because he won’t score enough points to be a difference-maker on any given week, but he will be involved enough to limit Williams’ ceiling. I don’t see a lot of difference in Corum’s redraft and dynasty league value. He is a touchdown-dependent flex play or bench stash, and one of the more valuable handcuffs in the league.
