Rams Hit With Brutal Reality As Kyren Williams Contract Talks Loom

Kyren Williams has become one of the most productive yet polarizing running backs in the NFL. After posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and finishing seventh in rushing yards and tied for fifth in rushing touchdowns in 2024, the Los Angeles Rams back was expected to get more league-wide recognition. Instead, Williams found himself omitted entirely from ESPN’s annual Top 10 Running Backs ranking—receiving only scattered votes and not even earning an honorable mention.

This snub raised eyebrows, especially considering Williams was a critical reason the Rams overcame a 1-4 start and reached the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Through injuries, inconsistency, and a battered offensive line, Williams remained a steady contributor, finishing with 1,299 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns, and 182 receiving yards. His value to head coach Sean McVay’s offense has been obvious. But league evaluators remain unconvinced.

Is League Perception A Reality For The Rams Running Game?

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To understand why, you have to look deeper than raw production. The Rams offensive line—while efficient in short-yardage and zone-blocking concepts—ranked dead last in explosive run rate (1.8%) and 31st in open field yards. That suggests the unit could get a play started, but failed to spring runners into the second and third levels. In other words, what happened beyond the line of scrimmage often came down to individual skill.

And that’s where some concerns with Williams surface. His lack of breakaway speed has been a theme, particularly in 2024 when he dropped from second to 20th in yards before contact per attempt. Williams was gaining nearly 29 fewer inches of space per run than he had the year before. Despite that, he ranked just 40th in yards after contact and 37th in missed tackles forced per attempt among qualified backs—highlighting a limitation in his ability to create once the space disappeared.

He’s not Christian McCaffrey, whose elite pass-catching and open-field burst still put him in MVP conversations when healthy. Nor is he James Conner, whose punishing downhill style and second-level acceleration remain highly regarded. But Williams’ reliability, vision, and short-yardage instincts fit McVay’s scheme, which prizes efficiency and consistency over flash.

The Rams’ backfield didn’t provide much help behind him either. Injuries and ineffectiveness elsewhere meant Williams handled the bulk of the workload, often without the luxury of a breather or situational substitute. Yet his production held steady, even as defenses keyed on him in the absence of consistent line play or wide receiver support (especially now with Cooper Kupp’s departure).

The Rubber Meets The Road For Rams And Kyren Williams At The Negotiation Table

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Perhaps most frustrating for Williams is the timing. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, he and the Rams are discussing an extension. And while the team has expressed interest in a long-term deal, the league-wide perception of Williams could complicate those talks. ESPN’s rankings reflect a broader reality: that NFL decision-makers don’t view him as a top-tier talent. Whether that’s fair or not, it will likely influence the value he commands.

Still, Williams doesn’t need to be a do-everything superstar to remain vital to the Rams. The team added rookie backs Blake Corum and Jarquez Hunter in the offseason, a signal that they intend to diversify the run game and perhaps limit Williams’ usage to what he does best: grind out yards, convert in the red zone, and be the stabilizing force in a high-powered offense now featuring Davante Adams and Puka Nacua.

If McVay’s offense can stay healthy, and if the line can return to its 2023 form—when Williams had 3.0 yards before contact per run, second only to McCaffrey—then the ceiling is higher for both Williams and the Rams’ ground game.

For now, the lack of national attention might actually work in Williams’ favor. He’s never been the loudest name, but he continues to deliver quietly, and consistently. And if the Rams can scheme smarter around his strengths, the recognition—if not the rankings—will eventually follow.

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