Los Angeles Rams operating again Kyren Williams has had an attention-grabbing profession to date. After being chosen within the fifth spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft, Williams suffered a foot harm throughout OTAs that brought about him to overlook the primary eight video games of his rookie season. When he was energetic, although, he was the clear backup to Cam Akers within the backfield.
Nevertheless, issues modified for Williams final season. He not solely took over the Rams’ beginning job but additionally proved to be the most effective fantasy choices all year long.
So, after a breakout 2023 marketing campaign, can fantasy managers belief Williams in fantasy in 2024? Let’s dive in and discover out.
Editor’s Word: Our unbelievable group of writers gained two writing awards and acquired 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports activities Writers Affiliation. A giant congrats to our very personal Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for each profitable Author Of The Yr awards! Make sure to comply with RotoBaller’s evaluation and recommendation all yr lengthy, and win extra.
Win Extra With RotoBaller!
Kyren Williams’ 2023 Common-Season Recap
Getting into 2023, Williams was not the Rams beginning operating again. That position nonetheless belonged to Akers, who was coming off a 786-yard season. However following a robust two-touchdown efficiency on 52 rush yards in Week 1 towards the Seattle Seahawks, the previous 2022 fifth-round decide quickly earned that position.
Los Angeles ultimately traded Akers to the Minnesota Vikings, and Williams confirmed his potential instantly in that beginning position. On the yr, the 23-year-old totaled a career-high 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns on the bottom whereas catching 32 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns via the air.
Reminder how a lot of an X issue Kyren Williams is for the Rams pic.twitter.com/9Xn4PYkupY
— The thirty third Workforce (@The33rdTeamFB) June 19, 2024
The Rams operating again was in a position to put up these large numbers in simply 12 video games final season after injuring his ankle in the course of the yr. Nevertheless, upon his return from that harm, Williams was unstoppable. From Week 12 to Week 17, he totaled 789 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns.
It was certainly an surprising season from Williams, particularly in fantasy. The 23-year-old went undrafted in most leagues however quickly emerged because the waiver wire pickup of the yr. He completed because the RB7 in PPR codecs whereas averaging a whopping 21.3 fantasy factors per sport. He additionally completed as a top-12 fantasy operating again in 9 of 12 video games, together with six of the ultimate seven video games he appeared in.
Will Kyren Williams Nonetheless Be A Workhorse Again?
Quantity is essential in fantasy soccer, and Williams’ quantity in 2023 led to fantasy stardom. He averaged 21.7 touches per sport, which led to a median of 95.3 rush yards and 17.2 receiving yards per sport. That made the 23-year-old a workhorse again for the Rams final season. Nevertheless, his excessive workload might change a bit in 2024.
Final season, Los Angeles did not have any again to compete with Williams for touches — therefore why the group relied on him closely within the operating and passing sport. After the Rams traded away Akers early within the yr, their depth chart consisted of Ronnie Rivers and Royce Freeman. Even after they signed Darrell Henderson, he wasn’t going to remove touches from the younger again.
Kyren Williams from the LA Rams stopped by to place in some work between periods with all of my guys in the present day …
He’s seen my guys utilizing the gloves on my IG & needed to present it a attempt, first time ever.
Let athletes athlete
Man is electrical pic.twitter.com/joiRGzSmRU
— Jeff LoVecchio (@JeffLoVecchio) June 20, 2024
However the Rams have added operating backs this offseason to compete with Williams for touches. They drafted Blake Corum within the third spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft and in addition signed Boston Scott in free company. Whereas Scott probably will not be a lot of a menace, Corum figures to have a task in Yr 1. So, the third-year operating again might lose some alternatives in 2024.
Nonetheless, there is no purpose why the Rams will shrink back from Williams this upcoming season. Perhaps Corum sees someplace between 4 to eight touches per sport whereas giving the 2023 Professional Bowler some relaxation on the sideline. However that is Williams’ backfield, and he confirmed how nice he could be when given alternatives. Because of this, it is secure to imagine that the 23-year-old will nonetheless be a workhorse again in 2024.
The largest query heading into the yr is whether or not or not Williams can repeat his 2023 fantasy season. He averaged the second most fantasy factors per sport final yr, solely behind Christian McCaffrey’s 24.5 PPR fantasy factors. The Rams again additionally averaged 5.02 yards per carry behind 15 complete touchdowns.
That robust season has propelled Williams to an early second-round decide in most fantasy leagues this summer season. He at present has an ADP of 15.3 on Sleeper and is normally the sixth operating again off the board in drafts. Nevertheless, is he price that prime of a decide?
The brief reply to that query is sure. Williams is the clear RB1 in Los Angeles’ backfield, and a rookie operating again in Corum is not going to take that many touches away from the 2023 Professional Bowler. The one factor that ought to presumably fear fantasy managers, although, is his harm historical past.
I REALLY don’t perceive the Kyren Williams pessimism within the fantasy soccer world proper now🤷🏻♂️🤯
When have we ever had an RB accomplish as a lot as Kyren Williams of their sophomore SZN within the NFL however nonetheless get doubted in a serious methods the subsequent yr?
– THE ONLY RB OTHER THAN… pic.twitter.com/HOSlmLFpRZ
— PPRFantasyTips (@PPRFantasyTips) June 10, 2024
He broke his foot in the course of the 2022 offseason after which suffered a excessive ankle sprain final yr. Now, Williams missed most of OTAs resulting from a foot harm. Nonetheless, that is not sufficient to keep away from him early within the second spherical. He ought to see a excessive workload once more in Los Angeles’ offense whereas having the potential to complete as a top-three operating again in 2024.
Obtain Our Free Information & Alerts Cell App
Like what you see? Obtain our up to date fantasy soccer app for iPhone and Android with 24×7 participant information, harm alerts, rankings, begins/sits & extra. All free!
Win Extra With RotoBaller
Make sure to additionally try all of our different day by day fantasy soccer articles and evaluation that will help you set these profitable lineups, together with this new RotoBaller YouTube video:
