In what appears to be a massive Super Bowl hangover, Sean McVay’s offense has yet to wake up this season. Whether it’s Matthew Stafford’s lingering elbow injury, the declining offensive line, Allen Robinson’s uselessness, or the two plodders in the backfield, the Rams rank 24th in total yardage, 31st in rushing offense, and 23rd in offensive touchdowns. Thus, something is not right.
For the sake of this article, let’s dig into Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson. Akers, who we were fading this season, is coming off an Achilles injury and has looked like most running backs who are coming off an Achilles injury — dust. Meanwhile, Henderson is plodding his way to a YPC below the 4.0 threshold and looks truly incompetent as a three-down back.
To throw more gas on the fire, Akers and the team are “working through some different things” while looking for a trading partner to ship his ass out of Los Angeles.
Enter Kyren Williams.
Williams, one of the few Rams’ 2022 draft picks from its “fuck them picks” class, is currently on IR due to an ankle sprain he suffered in Week 1. But, he’s set to return very soon and he has some real upside off the waiver wire.
“Based on Williams’ reps with the first-team offense in joint practices against Cincinnati this summer, then McVay’s effusive praise following those reps, I think Williams figures to have a big role when he’s back,” Jordan Rodrigue of The Athletic wrote. “Williams is probably not going to be a high-volume power-yards guy, but he sees the levels of McVay’s outside zone well and can work into the passing game.”
The former ACC Player of the Year made enough noise during camp for Adam Schefter to pump his tires before the season. Schefter is no fantasy wizard, but he did tell drafters to stash Elijah Mitchell before last season. Schefter dropped Williams’ name on Get Up before the season opener.
“There’s a guy tonight that I would watch. We haven’t heard much about him at all this summer and we’ll see how much he factors in tonight. But the Rams have a rookie running back, Kyren Williams, that I think is worth watching tonight,” Schefter said. “Former draft pick from Notre Dame, someone that could figure in tonight, could figure in this season. Someone to monitor for fantasy teams I think going forward. And it’s somebody that the Rams like. He showed some things this summer. Sean McVay after the last preseason game talked about the fact that he was somebody that could contribute this year.”
With Akers’ bags packed and ready to leave LA and Henderson impressing no one, Williams will get his shot to overtake Henderson as the team’s RB1. Stash Williams in your IR spot and be patient as he should return to the practice field over the next week or two.
Williams is 20% rostered in Yahoo fantasy leagues and checks in at RB52 (+50 vs ECR) on The Wolf’s Rest of Season Rankings.
