LA Rams RB Kyren Williams 2024 17-game projections are worth checking out

New chapters. In many ways, the LA Rams team must embrace the uncomfortable sensation that accompanies turning the page to a new chapter. And that has made some people, well . . . uncomfortable. I include myself among that group of people who are uncomfortable right now. This team has a lot at stake right out of the gate. And there is a shroud of uncertainty hanging over the team, despite ending the 2023 NFL season on such a high note.

That can be said about feature running back Kyren Williams in 2024. Did you know that he started off 2023 not as the feature back, but as the RB2 behind then featured running back Cam Akers. In that season opener, Williams ran 15 times for 52 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Akers rushed 22 times for 29 yards and one rushing touchdown. Following the game, and some drama, Cam Akers would be traded to the Minnesota Vikings and Kyren Williams would take over as the lead running back.

He would go on to end that season having played 12 games, rushed 228 times for 1,144 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. Not bad for a runner who expected to backup Cam Akers, eh? So what should fans realistically expect from Kyren Williams in 2024? Let's run down a list of realistic expectations:

(1) - The secret is out about RB Kyren Williams

While Williams seemed to sneak up on the NFL in 2023, he will not benefit from anonymity this season. But it was no mere coincidence that his first 100+ yard rushing in 2023 was the first game that the Rams inserted IOL Kevin Dotson in as the team's starting right guard. Dotson is already installed as a starter at the right guard position to open the 2023 NFL season.

Perhaps that is why Williams has been getting high marks on projections for this season:

Williams averaged rushing for 1.0 touchdown and 95.3 yards per game in 2023. But he was an effective receiver too, catching 32 of 48 passes for 206 receiving yards and three more touchdowns.

(2) - Kyren Williams could lead a devastating rushing attack in 2024

The goal for 2024 is to keep Willams upright throughout the 2024 NFL season. If the Rams can accomplish that, what does a 17-game season look like from Williams? Well, that works out to 19 carries, 96 rushing yards, and 1.0 rushing touchdown per game. Over 17 games, that is 323 runs, 1632 rushing yards, and 17 rushing touchdowns. But let's back down those numbers to 260 carries for the season.

That projection places him at 260 carries, 1,330 rushing yards, and 14 rushing touchdowns for 2024. That is still a very impressive season. But is there anything left for rookie RB Blake Corum? In a word? Yes.

If we factor in Corum averaging 9.0 carries per game, he projects to come in at approximately 150 carries this year. If we project him to average 5.0 yards per carry (Kyren Williams' average in 2023), he comes in at 150 carries, 750 rushing yards, and approximately eight rushing touchdowns this season.

Combined, the pair is on track to put up over 2,080 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns. But what about this punt returning role?

(3) - Kyren Williams was the starting punt returner to open 2023

When Rams HC Sean McVay named Kyren Williams as the punt returner for the 2024 NFL season, that seemed to come out of nowhere. But there is a precedence for Williams to return punts. As the backup running back in 2023, he was assigned to open the 2023 NFL season as the team's punt returner, a role that he held through the first three games of the year:

ESPN Senior NFL writer Mike Clay breaks that all down for you:

Over the first three games, Williams returned three punts for 21 yards in total, with his longest punt return coming in at 11.0 yards in Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers. So yes, he has been in this role before.

Will he remain as the starting punt returner throughout 2024? I have mixed feelings about that. He has the experience to secure the role in 2024. But with durability concerns that linger, does it make sense to dilute the quality of his offensive carries by expanding his touches elsewhere? If he fades into a backup role behind rookie RB Blake Corum, then certainly keep him there. But with four running backs on the roster, another should take over as the punt returner.

Still,. a very solid season awaits Kyren Williams and Rams fans. Hopefully, the team will get a 17-game season plus a full set of NFL Playoff games out of Williams this season.

As always, thanks for reading.