3 running back options for Rams if Malcolm Brown joins Lions

1. Increased role for John Kelly

Last April, the Rams knew they had nothing to lose by selecting John Kelly in the sixth round of the draft since if anything, the rookie provided depth at the running back position.

However, when it came to the biggest surprises from the preseason, Kelly’s impact ranked near the top of the list, and made it seem like he would be in for a larger role as a rookie than originally expected.

Unfortunately, this was far from the case for Kelly after only seeing action in four games while rushing for just 74 yards on 27 carries, although the main reason behind this was due to the fact that McVay preferred to use Gurley and Brown more on offense.

As frustrating as this was for Kelly to deal with, keep in mind that McVay is most likely playing the long game with the young running back, and realizes that it’s only a matter of time before his role increases on offense since he of all people knows the talent is there.

Just look at what Kelly was able to accomplish last preseason for the Rams, and it’s clear the potential is there for him to eventually have a key role on offense for McVay’s squad. Plus, with McVay having a history of getting the best from his players, this could benefit Kelly even more down the road.