No one could have predicted that Kyren Williams would have the impact on the Rams offense that he has. Not even the coaching staff saw him as a starter in Week 1, going with Cam Akers instead in the season opener.
Since taking over as the workhorse back, Williams has turned into a star. He leads the NFL in rushing yards per game (96.1) and he’s scored 12 total touchdowns in just 11 games. If not for an ankle injury that sidelined him for four games, it’s entirely possible Williams would be leading the league in rushing.
Since he returned from IR in Week 12, he and the Rams offense have been stunningly good. Williams has rushed for at least 100 yards in four of his last five games and topped 100 yards from scrimmage in all five. The Rams offense leads the NFL in EPA, according to TruMedia, making it the most efficient and top-performing unit in the league since Week 12.
The next-closest team is San Francisco, whose EPA is 6.39 points lower than the Rams (56.94).
NFL Offensive EPA, per TruMedia
Last 5 Weeks*1. @RamsNFL (56.94)
2. SF (49.55)
3. DAL (45.66)
4. GB (39.41)
5. BUF (25.49)*Corresponding with return of RB Kyren Williams pic.twitter.com/u5FQzZH9y2
— J.B. Long (@JB_Long) December 27, 2023
Williams has become the catalyst of this offense and while he isn’t more important than Matthew Stafford, he’s established himself as one of the three most valuable players on the Rams’ roster.
As a former fifth-round pick, that was entirely unexpected, but he’s earned all the praise he’s received in 2023.