Kyren Williams has quietly been one of the best running backs in fantasy football over the last three seasons. The Los Angeles Rams standout has finished top-10 at his position in points per game each of those campaigns, including an RB2 finish in 2023.
He's never been the flashiest pick in fantasy drafts, but Williams has been a rock-solid option for those who load up on elite wide receivers early. That was supposed to be the case again this year, but Week 1 in Australia cast doubt on whether Williams is still that guy. Not because of how Williams is playing, but because of how the player behind him on the depth chart is.
Let's dive into the Rams' backfield after an ugly season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Blake Corum is not going away
Ever since the Rams took
Corum in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Williams doubters have said he's coming for Williams' job. It's never happened. Corum hardly made an impact in 2024 then had a modest campaign the following year, though his lack of passing-game and goal-line involvement kept him irrelevant in fantasy.
Things seem to finally be changing in the Rams' backfield. Williams had only 11 carries for 41 yards against the 49ers, catching three passes and punching in a 5-yard touchdown to salvage his day. Corum, meanwhile, had 10 carries for 54 yards, running with considerably more burst.
KYREN WILLIAMS WITH THE FIRST TD IN MELBOURNE 🇦🇺
— NFL (@NFL) September 11, 2026
SFvsLAR on Netflix pic.twitter.com/CjFycKPGBm
It's clear McVay doesn't see a discernible difference between Williams and Corum as ball-carriers. McVay trusts Williams in goal-line and third-down situations, however, so the high-value touches will continue going his way. That makes this backfield a complete mess.
What to do with Kyren Williams, Blake Corum in fantasy football
If you have Williams, continue starting him as brighter days are ahead for the Rams' offense. His ceiling is considerably lower now, though. Corum has entered low-end FLEX territory, but only trot him out in matchups against bad run defenses because he'll need significant yardage to make up for his lack of receiving and red-zone work. It's a lose-lose situation for fantasy managers as things stand now.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Is the Rams' running back tandem turning into a fantasy football nightmare?
