Blake Corum Start or Sit Advice for Week 1
Blake Corum was terrific as a rusher last season, ranking sixth among running backs in yards per carry (5.1). Twenty-five of the Michigan product’s carries went for over 10 yards, and he popped off for 10 or more yards on an excellent 15% of his rushes.
Corum started the season as the clear backup to Kyren Williams, but this backfield became a closer split following the Rams’ bye in Week 8. Williams out-rushed Corum 107-41 before the bye. Afterward, Williams out-rushed Corum 196-130, including the playoffs.
Corum’s passing game role remained small, seeing just 11 targets on 107 routes, but with the notable increase in his rushing workload, Corum supplied 8.8 FPTS per game in the Rams’ 13 games post-bye. The back scored double-digit FPTS in five of his final 10 contests. Most notably, he erupted for 29.1 FPTS in Week 14 against the Cardinals, rushing for 128 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries.
Corum’s workload should continue to grow in his third season. With Los Angeles being a 3.5-point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook for Thursday’s season opener against the 49ers, Corum should see plenty of carries against this San Francisco defense that gave up the ninth-most yards per rush last season (4.4).
Corum’s lack of involvement in the passing game hurts his upside, but him rushing for 50-plus yards is a strong possibility. His finding the end zone is also within reach; Corum carries short +160 odds to score a touchdown on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Corum isn’t the most exciting play, but he is a viable RB3/FLEX play for season-long leagues that could crack double-digit FPTS.
