Kyren Williams:

LA’s Backfield Savior

By: Michael A. Chase Jr.

12/5/2023

Who would've thought the Los Angeles Rams offense with stars like Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Puka Nacua that a 5th round pick at running back may be their most important player? 2nd year running back Kyren Williams has fit this description well and is easily the X-factor that could sway their playoff chances down the stretch of the season. The impact Williams has had on LA's rushing attack and overall offense has been noticeable and speaks well to his unexpected rise to stardom. TUSV details how Williams has solved the Rams' big question mark at running back this season.

Williams was drafted last season by LA in the 5th round, 164th overall of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. The now 23-year-old back played in 10 games as a rookie rushed for 139 yards while hauling in 9 receptions for 76 yards. The Rams finished 26th in the NFL in rush yards per game in 2022, with him being 3rd string behind the likes of Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson. Their leading rusher was Akers with 786 yards on 188 attempts and he and Henderson combined for 10 total touchdowns. Safe to say the Rams' lack of an overall effective running game factored into their eventual 5-12 record.

In 2023 the Rams currently sit at 6-6 and firmly in the hunt for one of the two Wild Card spots. Their rushing attack has been a huge part of their improved play with Williams' elevation to being the lead back as a major factor. Williams in 8 games (7 starts) has rushed for 687 yards while hauling in 22 receptions for 190 yards. He also has 10 total touchdowns (7 rushing, 3 receiving) and is averaging 5.1 yards a rush which ranks 3rd in the NFL. Thanks to this production LA's have improved from 26th to now 15th in rushing yards per game at 114.5 a contest. This aligns perfectly with the fact Williams is leading the league in rush yards per game at 85.6. What makes all these numbers even more impressive is that Williams has posted these totals while having missed 4 games recently due to an ankle injury. Plus, he still ranks 14th in the league in rushing overall showing he has put up some huge numbers in a somewhat limited capacity this season.

With these numbers come some unreal stat lines that he has posted throughout the year. Week 2 was Williams's first true breakout game as he posted 100 total yards (52 rush yards, 48 rec yds) and two total touchdowns (1 rushing, 1 receiving) versus San Francisco. In Weeks 4, 6, and 12 he posted his three 100-yard rushing games which gained him much notoriety across the league and among fantasy football players. In Week 4 he had his first career 100-yard rushing game with 103 rush yards and two touchdowns. He also included 3 receptions for 24 yards for good measure in their 29-23 overtime win versus the Colts. In week 6 he tallied a career-high 158 rushing yards with a touchdown in a 26-9 victory over Arizona. Then finally in Week 12, he rushed for 143 yards while hauling 6 receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns. Williams has had several standout performances on the season and he has 4 multi-touchdown games which for a first-year NFL starter is another feather under the helmet.

Kyren Williams has gone from an unheralded 5th round commodity to a vital piece to a Rams team looking to make a playoff push. He is on pace for a 1,000-yard season and to have 15+ touchdowns if he stays healthy in the Rams final five games. If you told Sean McVay he would get that production from his backfield he would be ecstatic. He is another example of opportunity breeding an unforeseen star which the Rams hope will lead them back to the postseason.