Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams appears to be the clear No. 1 back heading into training camp, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports. Williams is coming off a breakout season where he rushed for nearly 1,200 yards with 12 touchdowns in 12 games with the Rams. On paper, Williams should be the workhorse back but there could be some concern because he hasn't played a full season in the league yet. Also, the Rams drafted running back Blake Corum who should be in the mix for touches right away. Despite that, Williams should get the bulk of the carries early in the season. Corum could see an increased workload if Williams struggles, but it's say to assume Williams is going to be leaned on as the No. 1 back to open the season.
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (foot) was previously working with trainers during OTAs and doing some uptempo workouts. As shown by the Rams' official account on X, the lead back was back on the practice field and participating in on-field workouts on Thursday. Williams is set to open the year as the top back on the depth chart, but the team did bring in rookie Blake Corum who will likely see at least some snaps in each game. Williams does have a bit of an injury history with his foot, so he'll be one to monitor as we get closer to training camp.
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (foot) was seen doing an up-tempo workout on a side field with athletic trainers during organized team activities on Wednesday. Williams isn't going to take part in OTAs or mandatory minicamp next month, but the Rams fully expect him to return for training camp this summer. The 23-year-old is worth keeping an eye on this offseason after he broke his foot early in his rookie season in 2022. In addition to his foot injury, Williams faces much more competition going into the 2024 season from rookie third-rounder Blake Corum, who the Rams think has three-down capabilities. Williams will open the year as LA's top RB on the depth chart, but if he gets hurt or starts out slow, Corum could become a bigger part of the backfield sooner than later.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that running back Kyren Williams (foot) is dealing with a "foot issue" and won't take part in the team's offseason program this spring. However, McVay also said that Williams will be back on the field for training camp this summer. "It's nothing to worry about. He'll be ready to go for training camp, but there's a little issue when he was training, and [I'll] kind of just leave it at that. But nothing to be concerned about," McVay said. The 23-year-old injured his foot during offseason training, but for now, it doesn't seem too serious. It will be worth monitoring in training camp, though, especially since Williams' fantasy stock already took a hit on draft day when LA took Blake Corum in the third round. Williams will still be atop the RB depth chart in 2024 after his first 1,000-yard rushing season in 2023, but Corum is a clear threat to his RB1 upside.
The Los Angeles Rams surprisingly selected Michigan running back Blake Corum in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft despite breakout star Kyren Williams racking up 1,350 total yards and 15 touchdowns in 2023. In a media availability, general manager Les Snead said that the decision to draft Corum was related to keeping Williams fresh. "It's a tough league. It's a 17-game season plus playoffs, so we always felt like we needed to have as many quality runners as possible... so we don't just totally run down Kyren," Snead said. "And we have one or two or even three guys that can contribute... keep everyone fresh." The organization implemented a workhorse backfield approach with 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley, and he ultimately had a short shelf life as a pro due to durability concerns. As most teams shift to a committee backfield, high-end fantasy running back producers are becoming more scarce. Williams missed five games last year on the Injured Reserve list, so the organization is being proactive and adding depth in the backfield. Williams remains an RB1 candidate, but his floor and ceiling take a hit with the addition of Corum.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay sees similarities between rookie running back Blake Corum and Kyren Williams, which is part of the reason why the Rams took Corum in the third round of this year's NFL draft. McVay also said that Williams will be a "great mentor" for Corum as he enters the NFL. The 23-year-old Corum was a big reason why Michigan won the national championship this past season, and he finished his time for the Wolverines with 3,736 rushing yards on 675 carries for 58 total touchdowns. The 5-foot-8, 205-pounder is more of a pounder than a straight speed guy, but he should complement Williams well. Williams will remain the team's primary pass-catching back in 2024, but the addition of Corum to LA's backfield is ultimately bad news for his fantasy upside this fall after he broke out for managers in 2023.
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (hand) had successful surgery on Tuesday to fix a broken bone in his hand, according to head coach Sean McVay. Williams broke a bone in his hand in Sunday night's one-point wild-card loss to the Detroit Lions, but he'll have plenty of time to heal up before the start of the 2024 regular season. The 23-year-old moved into a starting role in LA's backfield in Week 2 of the 2023 campaign after the Rams traded Cam Akers away. Williams had a career year, carrying the ball 228 times for 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns while also logging 32 receptions (48 targets) for 206 yards and three more scores in just 12 regular-season games played. He could have more competition for touches in 2024 in the Rams' backfield, but Williams should remain the lead back, which will give him at least high-end RB2 upside in fantasy drafts.
Kyren Williams Injures Hand, Accounts For Just 14 touches
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (hand) was not very productive in the team's 24-23 Wild-Card loss to the Detroit Lions. He left Sunday's loss to the Lions in the fourth quarter with a hand injury and did not return. Williams rushed the ball 13 times for 61 yards on the ground while catching his lone target for nine yards before exiting. This workload was surprising, considering he has had at least 20 touches in seven straight games before this one. Williams took over the three-down role early on in the season and has not looked back. Assuming the team does not add any significant backs in the offseason, the 23-year-old should be considered in the first two rounds of fantasy drafts next season.
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams was one of the most consistent and dominant players throughout the regular season. Despite missing five games this season, Williams finished top-three in rush yards and top-five in rushing touchdowns among all RBs. He has proven to be an every-down back and crucial part of the Rams offense. The 23-year-old has scored eight touchdowns in the last six games, being a huge reason for the team's late-season playoff push. Williams should be heavily considered in all DFS lineups and will be a problem for the Detroit Lions, regardless of their stout run defense.
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams will not play in the Week 18 regular season finale against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Despite the fact that the Rams could fall to the No. 7 seed in the NFC with a loss this weekend, they will rest key starters Williams, quarterback Matthew Stafford, receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive star Aaron Donald. The 23-year-old Williams was one of the most productive early-season waiver-wire additions of the 2023 campaign. The second-year back finishes the regular season with 228 carries for 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding 32 catches for 206 yards and three TDs in 12 games played. With Williams resting on the sideline this Sunday, Royce Freeman, Ronnie Rivers and rookie Zach Evans figure to split the Rams' backfield.
