Last season, Kyren Williams scored 255 PPR points, good for the 33rd-most overall, in only 12 games! He rushed 228 times for 1,144 yards, 12 touchdowns and caught 32 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns. As a result, he was being drafted on average with the 17th overall pick over the offseason.
But things have not gone so swimmingly to start this season. Wide receivers Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and offensive lineman Jonah Jackson have suffered injuries, and the Rams have scored a total of 30 points, tied for the fourth-fewest in the league.
Is it panic time?
Well, Williams is averaging a paltry 2.5 yards per carry and his Rush EPA of -5.2 is the 12th-worst in football. But the 30 carries are the 16th-most and he’s scored two touchdowns. Only Alvin Kamara has scored more on the ground.
Williams is dominating the snaps, playing in 91% Week 1 and 79% Week 2. He’s dominating the red zone looks with 13. No other Rams’ player has more than four. Williams would’ve likely played more than 90% of the snaps during Week 2, but the Rams got blown out. Therein lies the issue.
This Rams’ defense is not good. They are allowing a league-leading 15.2 Rush EPA and 19.7 Pass EPA. Only the porous Washington Commanders are more generous through the air. So, there could be more blowouts in the future.
However, if opposing offenses score points, then the Rams will have to be aggressive on offense to keep up. Sean McVay has a solid history of orchestrating prolific offenses. Since becoming the head coach in Los Angeles, the Rams have finished 11th or better for points in five of seven seasons.
Kupp and Nacua will likely return at some point and offense will get into a rhythm. As long as Matthew Stafford remains the starting quarterback, I would not panic, especially since Williams is one of the few bellcow running backs left in the league.
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