Ranking Rams’ biggest NFL draft gems of the last decade

VIII - This Round 5 rusher is too legit to quit

When the LA Rams selected RB Kyren Williams with the 164th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the team was seeking a replacement for oft-injured RB Darrell Henderson. Williams checked all of the boxes, a player who was as effective running the football as catching the football. He was even a very effective blocker, able to neutralize blitzers dead in their tracks as they raced to tackle quarterback Matthew Stafford.

For his rookie season, it appeared that the Rams had over-valued the young Notre Dame running back.

But Williams proved to be worth his weight in gold in his second NFL season. The team had to face another dispute with RB Cam Akers, a dispute that ultimately led to the team trading him to the Minnesota Vikings for nothing. Once Akers was off the roster, the Rams turned to Kyren Williams, who promptly responded with an incredible season. If not for an injury that benched him for four weeks, Williams may have claimed the NFL rushing title in just his season season. As it was, with only 12 games under his belt, Williams rushed 228 times for 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Williams also caught 32 of 48 passes for 206 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

His performance resulted in his being the third most prolific rusher in the NFL in 2023, ending up just behind San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (1,459 yards, 14 TD) and Tennessee Titans RB Derrick Henry (1,167 yards, 12 TD).

While durabilty may be an ongoing concern, there is no question that the Rams got incredible value by drafting RB Kyren Williiams. Now the only question is how will this team manage his workload so that he is as fresh for the NFL Playoffs as he is for opening day.