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The Los Angeles Rams found success running the ball last year, benefitting from Kyren Williams' apparent breakout, especially when playmakers like Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford were sidelined with injuries. (Of course, Williams himself missed time with an injury, too.)
Los Angeles made a significant addition to their backfield this offseason, selecting Michigan's Blake Corum with their third-round pick. Corum joins a backfield consisting of Williams and fellow offseason addition Boston Scott.
Will the Rams be running the ball a lot in 2024? Are Williams and Corum worth a pick in redraft formats? Is Scott fantasy-relevant? Let's dive in and find out.
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Kyren Williams Fantasy Outlook
No running back saw more volume than Williams last year. Taking over the backfield from Cam Akers, Williams tallied an 83.9 percent snap share (first in the NFL) and a 78.4 percent opportunity share (fourth in the NFL). He showcased efficiency with 4.8 true yards per carry and +11.8 expected fantasy points added. He also tallied an impressive 15 touchdowns on the campaign, giving fantasy managers and bettors plenty to be excited about.
In terms of receiving, Williams wasn't tasked with many challenging routes downfield. He was limited to just 0.77 yards per route run and 6.4 yards per reception. Between Williams' heavy usage in the running game and the dominance of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, there simply wasn't much of a need for Stafford to pepper Williams with significant targets.
As for his elusiveness, Williams had a 23.5 percent juke rate and evaded 61 tackles; both marks ranked among the top 10 running backs in the NFL. Thus, not only did he demonstrate strength and power in short-yardage situations, but he was also able to make plays happen when facing off against a defender mid-run.
As exciting as Williams was last year, there's a real belief that the Rams may look to reduce Williams' workload, which is why they drafted Corum. The Michigan product isn't a major receiving threat, but he's quite physical around the goal line. If Corum takes away at least a handful of Williams' touchdown opportunities, Williams could be facing unfortunate regression in fantasy formats despite being the Rams' clear No. 1 running back. He'll still see a healthy workload as the Rams' lead back, but the odds of him replicating last year's league-best snap share are very slim. Of course, that might not be terrible. A reduced workload could keep Williams' legs relatively fresh, giving him a chance to play all 17 games in 2024.
Fantasy managers should continue to view Williams as an RB1, but he's not a top-three option at the running back position. With a reduced workload and fewer touchdown opportunities expected, Williams finds himself more in the middle of the RB1 tier for 2024. Managers should look to draft him around the middle of the second round.
#Rams HC Sean McVay on preserving Kyren Williams:
“Knowing what an instrumental part he’s gonna be, you want to be smart about that. And so that’s where we can be mindful of it. But in the meantime, he’s gonna go, he’s gonna lead the way for that running back room.” pic.twitter.com/kynDztNecG
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) July 25, 2024
Blake Corum Fantasy Outlook
As mentioned, the Rams drafted Corum to give them a more comfortable backup situation behind Williams. The third-round Michigan product won't compete for the lead role, but he'll give Los Angeles a change of pace while rotating in for some short-yardage opportunities.
During his last two seasons with the Wolverines, Corum totaled 505 carries, 2,708 rushing yards, and a whopping 45 touchdowns on the ground. He had quite the nose for the end zone, so between him and Williams (who had 15 touchdowns last year), Rams fans should feel plenty of optimism when their team is near the goal line.
Corum possesses a valuable blend of strength and athleticism. His PlayerProfiler agility score and bench press results both rank in the 93rd percentile or better, and he also had a 33.3 percent college dominator score (79th percentile). Beyond his clear athletic prowess, Corum is supported by third-round draft capital. The Rams spent a solid pick on him, so they should get him involved right away.
Corum's ADP has teetered over the last couple of months, but he's currently being drafted as the No. 39 running back. He's a worthwhile selection near the start of the 10th round given his ability to create yardage, score touchdowns, and earn snaps in general. He could also jump into low-end RB1 territory if thrust into the lead-back role due to a Williams injury.
Rams RB Blake Corum is SHIFTY 😳
pic.twitter.com/WnykSgkwfQ— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) June 30, 2024
Boston Scott Fantasy Outlook
Scott departed for Los Angeles after spending six years as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. He routinely filled a depth role with his former team but did show flashes of promise during a few appearances as their lead back.
Similar to how Los Angeles rarely used its depth running backs last year, it's hard to envision a scenario in which Scott earns meaningful touches behind Williams and Corum. However, the Rams did sign him as a veteran player with NFL experience, and he should contribute on special teams as a returner.
Scott can be avoided in fantasy football drafts, but he's trending toward making the 53-man roster as September inches closer.
THANK YOU BOSTON SCOTT
FAREWELL, GIANT KILLER 🥹 pic.twitter.com/iu5WSkPvcD
— Birds vs Boys Pod (@BirdsVsBoysPod) May 1, 2024
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