Rams should go all-in on the run game with receiver room depleted

The Los Angeles Rams were once affectionately famous for running the football under head coach Chuck Knox in the 1970s and again in the early '90s. Nicknamed 'Ground Chuck', he relied on a strong ground game and stingy defense to win games.

In 2026, that formula could keep LA's playoff hopes alive.

Earlier this season, the offense was predominantly a pass-centric operation. Still, after nine games, running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum have leveraged 213 carries into 1,040 yards and 10 touchdowns. There are no signs that the duo is slowing down. There shouldn't be, as Williams and Corum are averaging nearly 5.0 yards per carry.

With a depleted receiver room and tight ends struggling to pick up the offensive slack, the Rams' best hope is to pivot to its potent running backs. Not only are Williams and Corum powerful runners, they've teamed up to catch 46 of 64 passes for 357 yards and two more TDs. Even as fans hope for new weapons, the RB room already boasts a pair of elite producers.

It's time to let them run wild.

As the weather cools, Rams running backs should heat up

The LA Rams can run. The offense has gotten back to doing so in the last three games. For the season, Williams is on pace to rush for 1100+ yards, while Corum is on track to exceed 900. Ironically Corum has been more efficient, averaging over 5.2 yards per carry. That's been particularly apparent lately.

Can LA's offensive line sustain a shift to the run game? Well, the team will be forced to commit to 12- and 13-personnel for the near future, anyway, with all the receiver injuries. While the Rams can pass out of those formations, they lend themselves to the running game. And as long as Matthew Stafford is in the pocket, defenses cannot sell out to stuff the run.

The Rams get a bye in Week 11. Before that they face the Arizona Cardinals, and the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday the week after. For their remaining games, it's worthwhile to assess which defenses are effective against the run, as measured by rushing yards allowed per game:

• Week 10 - @ Arizona Cardinals | 121.9 yards | 19th
• Week 11 - BYE
• Week 12 - Green Bay Packers | 109.0 yards | 15th
• Week 13 - Kansas City Chiefs | 97.5 yards | 10th
• Week 14 - @ San Francisco 49ers | 80.9 yards | 2nd
• Week 15 - Dallas Cowboys | 147.4 yards | 31st
• Week 16 - @ Seattle Seahawks | 89.1 yards | 4th
• Week 17 - @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 79.1 yards | 1st
• Week 18 - Seattle Seahawks | 89.1 yards | 4th

The 49ers, Seahawks, and Buccaneers present a challenge, as do the Chiefs. Against the Cardinals, Packers, and Cowboys the run game should have a real opportunity.

The Rams don't need to be the top rushing offense all year. They're hopeful that both Puka Nacua and Davante Adams will heal up before season's end. Adams could return as soon as Week 13. As long as the Horns have a healthy receiver corps for the final three games, they have a chance to stack enough wins to make the postseason.

Corum could absolutely be a 1000-yard rusher this season; over his last three games he's averaging 74.7 yards per contest. To reach the millennium mark, he would have to average 69.1 from here on out.

He simply needs ample carries. Without a truly dominant receiver for the time being, Corum should have a decent shot at getting them.

As always, thanks for reading.

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