Rams RB Kyren Williams: 'I don't feel like I've touched my peak yet' coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons

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Rams RB Kyren Williams: 'I don't feel like I've touched my peak yet' coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams has made quite the impact for his team already in his short career, recording back-to-back seasons of 1,100-plus yards and a total of 26 touchdowns the last two years.
But in his mind, that's nowhere near his ceiling.

"Everything," Williams said recently of what he feels he could improve, via RG.com. "I don't feel like I've touched my peak yet. I've gotten to where I wanted to be, but I'm determined to make this my best season."

Drafted by the Rams in the fifth round in 2022, Williams was buried on the depth chart his rookie year, but with the reduced usage and then trade of Cam Akers the next year, Williams stepped up. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2023 with a 1,144-yard, 12-touchdown showing, and then improved on both numbers in 2024 with 1,299 yards and 14 TDs.
Though he didn't earn a Pro Bowl accolade for the latter season, Williams brushed off what others might see as a snub, instead focusing on how he can continue to improve in his fourth campaign and onwards.

"I don't think anything differently played a part. I was a Pro Bowler and I wasn't in 2024," Williams said. "It wasn't my time, just got to get back to the drawing board and figure out how I can get back to where I was."

If Williams is correct that he has even better days ahead, this season would certainly be a good time for a further breakout. The running back is entering the last year of his rookie contract with the Rams, and could improve his value for either an extension or on the open market with a career-best performance in 2025.

But even as Williams seeks to reach the pinnacle of his own individual potential, he's also looking forward to paying it forward to younger teammates.
Williams was the RB1 last year and is set to fill that role again, but in 2024 he was backed up by then-rookie back Blake Corum, who had a modest 207 yards in that role. And then the Rams went to the draft to supplement the position group again this last week, adding Auburn's Jarquez Hunter in the fourth round.

But even though their presence will likely take away some snaps from Williams, the 24-year-old welcomes the opportunity to give them the veteran leadership he was the recipient of when in their position.

"I've been in the league since I was 21 years old," Williams said. "...Being able to be surrounded by the type of vets that I was surrounded by earlier in my career, it makes it easier. It makes it exciting to be a young leader, I can take these guys underneath my wings and show them the way.

"...Once I was able to get to where I'm at, it's only right that I put it on the people who are going to be after me. I'm just going to take from the mistakes and everything that I learned from my work here to where I'm at now, try to put them on game, just be cheerful and be happy for them for whatever they do."

After the Rams finished with the 24th-ranked rushing offense in 2024, Williams will be hoping personal bests and team success can go hand-in-hand in the year ahead.

 

[Merlin]

"Everything," Williams said recently of what he feels he could improve, via RG.com. "I don't feel like I've touched my peak yet. I've gotten to where I wanted to be, but I'm determined to make this my best season."

I love his mentality. And the other backs simply were not ready to compete with him last year in part due to that.

Also I will say that while he clearly has limitations in his explosive run ability, he doesn't get enough credit for turning runs that should be stuffs into positive gainers. All around he's been really good, the problem is the ball security fucked him. That's the one thing you simply cannot overlook in this game.

So I don't think he's going to end up a Ram long term, but like with Kupp I like the player so much that I don't want to bet against him. I would not be surprised if he wins that job and holds on to it. But I would hope the other two backs put up a bit more fight this year, which will help everyone. The rising tide of competition lifts all boats.

 

[dieterbrock]

31 total TD's the last 2 years
He's been a great back at times.
It's just really hard to get past the fumbles

 

[CGI_Ram]

He’s a hard worker and easy guy to root for.

I like him as our RB, but I am not in love with him. We need more speed back there. Someone the other team has to game plan for.

 

[RamDino]

Maybe the reason why Kyren gets so many yards is because of the O-line. While he seems to be very shifty and gets yards where there doesn't seem to be any... imagine what Todd Gurley could do with that same line. Either way... I would also like more speed and less fumbles.

 

[Loyal]

Maybe the reason why Kyren gets so many yards is because of the O-line. While he seems to be very shifty and gets yards where there doesn't seem to be any... imagine what Todd Gurley could do with that same line. Either way... I would also like more speed and less fumbles.

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LoCaQsGNlWY

 

[muggmeister]

Save the $12-14m per year he will cost and spend it on a CB next year. Draft a RB every year.

 

[So Ram]

He’s a hard worker and easy guy to root for.

I like him as our RB, but I am not in love with him. We need more speed back there. Someone the other team has to game plan for.

Well IMO - it’s always nice to have a RB stable.We can look back at past History.
Kyren Williams will get his shot,but The Rams RB room will look real nice going into 2025.Blake Corum is going to push Kyren.

If you look at how YOKED BC is it’s impressive to think about the hard work he puts in as well.

The Rumors on Jarq Hunter on how much he squats,shows what he might bring to the Rams as well.
Cody Schrader was a special teams guy & Ronnie Rivers was resigned.

 

[Alaskan Ram]

You simply can't replace KW with a JAG and expect more Ws than Ls. The offense is simply not productive when he's out on game day.

We all know he doesn't have break away speed in the open field. And that is a bummer. But I'll take his agility and vision in space to get first downs and touchdowns over the occasional house call any day. Nothing more i hate in a football player than a very fast running back running into the wall very fast. KW is productive. He makes the team better.

And he looks to be improving as a leader from this interview. We can't afford to have set backs when it is 'next man up' at the running back position.

 

[OntarioRam]

Very good RB. Not great. You can't be great, let alone elite, with that many fumbles plus no breakaway speed. His yards expected yards vs. yards gained was literally an exact match, as per the underlying stats. In short, not a game breaker. But he fits the offense well though, I like his attitude, and his short immediate cuts are among the best in the biz. That specific trait of his IS elite and a huge need in this offense. I like him long term but only as part of a committee and his pay should reflect that. If he wants more I'd move on.

 

[muggmeister]

You simply can't replace KW with a JAG and expect more Ws than Ls. The offense is simply not productive when he's out on game day.

We all know he doesn't have break away speed in the open field. And that is a bummer. But I'll take his agility and vision in space to get first downs and touchdowns over the occasional house call any day. Nothing more i hate in a football player than a very fast running back running into the wall very fast. KW is productive. He makes the team better.

And he looks to be improving as a leader from this interview. We can't afford to have set backs when it is 'next man up' at the running back position.

Points well taken, but is 4.2 yards per carry (3rd worst among top 20 runners), 2 big runs (25 yards or more), fewest amont top 20 rushers, and the untimely fumbles (2nd most among RBs) worth $12-14m per year? What is he worth per year? He's a good, well rounded back who knows where the first down marker is but he's overall just an average back. But he'll, it's just my opinion.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Points well taken, but is 4.2 yards per carry (3rd worst among top 20 runners), 2 big runs (25 yards or more), fewest amont top 20 rushers, and the untimely fumbles (2nd most among RBs) worth $12-14m per year? What is he worth per year? He's a good, well rounded back who knows where the first down marker is but he's overall just an average back. But he'll, it's just my opinion.

I'm of the thinking that he's a very good slightly higher than above average back but I too think we can do much better. I'm in the boat of not paying him and moving on because I'm guessing his price tag will go up based in his production. I say keep drafting them. The next back I'm hoping for is Love from Norte Dame. Fast as fuck homerum hitter.


View: https://youtu.be/lIAw99u6kzI?si=kamKiSz_oHNGcw7z

 

[Ram65]

The Rams are in a good spot at RB, whether Williams gets a new deal early on. We all know he is a hard runner with some issues. Rams now have two others that can be rotated in. It's going to be interesting to see how it all works out. Rams made a solid move getting Hunter in the draft. McVay knows he needs the run to set up play action. Let's hope he stays with it a little more with the O Line returning and the young RBs ready to go.

 

[Flatlyner]

Save the $12-14m per year he will cost and spend it on a CB next year. Draft a RB every year.

Exactly. Can't be paying non elite backs anywhere near that amount. We will desperately need a RT next season also, rather use that for a RT that a non elite RB. I think we are in excellent shape with Corum and Hunter for next season. We also have drafted a back in every McVay draft, so we likely add another.

 

[tempests]

Will we be any more happy with the running back that replaces him? Most players in this league have some limitations.

I admit I don't really get it. You're not supposed to draft a RB high or pay him big money, without incurring the wrath of the analytics crowd.

The Rams didn't with Kyren. He's far outperformed his draft status and the Rams are paying him next to nothing on top of that. That's a success story AFAIC. But we're still not happy.

 

[Ram Ts]

KW is great and I’m very happy having him be the main RB. The problem is paying him on a 2nd contract. He’s not so much better than others to be worth paying him $8-10M more than his replacement.

 

[snackdaddy]

Other than the Eagles how many Superbowl champs had elite running backs? We did not have much of a ground game in our championship. In Brady's Superbowl years the run game was average. The Chiefs had ok running backs but I don't recall any being pro bowl caliber.

We can win with Kyren William and Blake Corum. We don't have to have an elite running back. Just a couple good ones. Enough of a run game to take heat off of Stafford and open up the play action threat.

 

[gogoat1]

Just hold on to the damn ball Kyren and all will be well.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Denzel, in Remember the Titans, telling the team what he will do if they fumble the football ...

 

[kurtfaulk]

.

I've really soured on him after the Eagles game.

Getting tackled from behind after running free inside the 30 yards. A sure td became a fg. Frustrating.

Then the fumble after the rams d willed the team back into the game and gave them the ascendancy with the safety. He blew it all.

.