The Los Angeles Rams have a legitimate decision to make in their backfield. Kyren Williams remains the starter and has continued to produce, but Blake Corum is making a strong case for a larger role after two games.
In Monday night’s 28-6 win over the New York Giants, both backs received exactly 12 carries. Williams finished with 85 yards, while Corum recorded 79 yards and added 13 receiving yards.
The production is similar. The skill sets are not.
Discussion #1: Running Ability – Speed/Agility
Williams has proven that he can be an effective NFL
running back. He consistently finds production and has been an important part of Sean McVay’s offense.
However, there are times when Williams appears to lack an extra gear. He can be hesitant to hit a running lane, giving defenders time to close the gap. When the Rams create an opening, Corum appears more willing to attack it quickly.
That’s where Corum’s explosiveness becomes intriguing. Corum averaged 6.6 yards per carry against New York and had a long run of 18 yards. Williams averaged 7.1 yards per carry with a 20-yard long, so the numbers don’t tell the entire story.
Corum’s combination of acceleration, agility and elusiveness gives the Rams another dimension. He has the ability to make the first defender miss and turn a relatively small crease into a chunk play.
The Rams don’t necessarily need to move away from Williams entirely. But Corum has shown enough to warrant consideration for a larger share of early-down carries.
Advantage: Corum
Discussion #2: Passing Game
This is another area where Corum could provide something unique.
Corum only caught one pass against the Giants, but he turned it into 13 yards. McVay could potentially expand Corum’s role through the screen game.
Getting Corum into space with blockers in front of him could maximize his agility and acceleration. Rather than asking him to consistently create yards against a loaded box, the Rams could manufacture opportunities where his elusiveness becomes the primary advantage.
A more prominent screen-game role could also force defenses to account for Corum differently when he enters the game.
In fairness to Williams, the value he brings to the table in the passing game is as a blocker for Matthew Stafford in the pocket. Williams is not afraid to stick his nose in against a linebacker in order to protect his quarterback.
To me, the scenario that makes sense here is to let Corum be used in first and second downs; providing a run:pass balance (again – using the screen game potentially on 2nd down), while Kyren works in a third down role.
Advantage: Split
Ball Security
This is where the argument for giving Corum more opportunities becomes even more interesting.
Williams lost a fumble against the Giants, giving New York a short field that resulted in a field goal.
One fumble doesn’t erase Williams’ production, but ball security has been a recurring concern. Williams is the NFL RB leader in fumbles lost since 2023, and Monday night’s turnover added another entry to that total.
For a Rams offense that expects to compete in close games, possessions matter. Giving the ball away can completely change the complexion of a game. We have seen firsthand how Kyren’s ball security has hurt Los Angeles. 2024 vs. PHI. 2024 @ PHI (divisional). 2025 vs. SF.
Corum also fumbled against New York, but he was able to recover his blunder. That means ball security isn’t necessarily a completely one-sided argument. But Williams’ history makes the issue particularly noteworthy.
Advantage: Corum
Conclusion
Perhaps the answer isn’t simply Kyren Williams or Blake Corum. The Rams could potentially maximize both players by giving them different responsibilities. Blake Corum could be the RB1 on first and second down.
His speed, agility, decisiveness and explosive potential could give the Rams a different element early in the series. He could attack running lanes, create yards after contact and be utilized in the screen game.
Kyren Williams could then become the primary third-down back while also spelling Corum at various times on first and second down if he is the hot hand.
This change means that Williams is not removed from the offense but simply reconfiguring their approach for using the tandem. It would mean the Rams are using both backs according to their strengths.
After two weeks, Corum has already demonstrated that he can produce when given opportunities. The next step may be finding out what happens when the Rams give him more of them.
