The Rams don’t need to keep pretending this has to be a pass-first operation right now. With the receiver room thinned out and the tight ends not picking up the slack, the clearest path for Los Angeles is sitting in the backfield.
Kyren Williams and Blake Corum have already made the case. Through nine games, the pair has turned 213 carries into 1,040 yards and 10 touchdowns, and neither back looks like he’s running out of steam.
They’re also doing damage as receivers, combining for 46 catches on 64 targets for 357 yards and two more scores. For a team waiting on reinforcements elsewhere, that’s a pretty sturdy foundation.
Williams and Corum have helped push the offense back toward the ground over the last three games, and the numbers back up the shift. Williams is on pace for 1,100-plus rushing yards, while Corum is tracking toward more than 900.
Corum, in particular, has been the more efficient runner, sitting at over 5.2 yards per carry. That has shown up lately, too.
The Rams may not have much choice but to lean into it. With the receiver injuries piling up, the team is likely to live in 12- and 13-personnel for the near future.
Those looks can still support the passing game, but they naturally open the door to more rushing volume. And with Matthew Stafford in the pocket, defenses can’t simply crash down and ignore the threat of the throw.
That matters with the schedule ahead. Los Angeles has a bye in Week 11, but before that comes Arizona, and then Green Bay on Wednesday the following week.
Looking further down the line, the Rams will run into several defenses that are tougher against the run, including the 49ers, Seahawks, Buccaneers, and Chiefs. On the other side, the Cardinals, Packers, and Cowboys offer a much better chance for the ground game to pay off.
The Rams don’t have to lead the league on the ground for this to work. They’re still hoping Puka Nacua and Davante Adams can get healthy before the end of the season, with Adams potentially back as soon as Week 13. If the receiver group is whole again for the final three games, Los Angeles can give itself a real shot to pile up enough wins to reach the postseason.
Corum, especially, has a chance to hit 1,000 yards. Over his last three games, he’s averaging 74.7 yards per contest, and he would need to average 69.1 the rest of the way to get there. That kind of finish is well within reach if the carries keep coming.
For now, that’s the formula: feed the backs, keep Stafford upright, and let the run game carry the load until the rest of the offense gets healthy again.
In Other News...
Rams Suddenly Have A Receiver Question Fans Didn't Expect
A receiver shakeup could be coming sooner than expected, and Marquise Brown is suddenly at the center of it. According to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, the Philadelphia Eagles are expected to waive the veteran wideout, with both sides agreeing it would be beneficial to move on. Brown has only played in four games this season, but his track record and speed still make him a name worth watching as teams around the league monitor the situation.
For the Rams, the fit is easy to understand. Los Angeles has been mentioned among the clubs that could have interest, alongside the Chiefs and Steelers, and the appeal is obvious for a team always looking to keep its pass-catching room flexible. What happens next will depend on how the market develops, but Browns availability gives the Rams another unexpected option to consider as they weigh their wide receiver depth. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Just Created Flexibility They May Need Very Soon
The Rams have carved out a little breathing room at a time when they could use it. By restructuring the contracts of Kyren Williams and Kamren Curl, Los Angeles created $3 million in salary cap space, a modest move on paper but one that gives the front office a bit more room to maneuver as injuries and roster issues continue to pile up heading into Week 10.
The mechanics matter here, too. Portions of both players base salaries were converted into signing bonuses, with two void years added to stretch the cap hits down the road and push charges through 2030. It is the kind of bookkeeping teams often do when they want flexibility now without closing the door on future moves, and for the Rams, the timing suggests they may not be done adjusting the roster just yet. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Suddenly Need Help At Receiver Again
The Rams have turned back to the receiver market again, adding Tyler Scott to the practice squad after placing Puka Nacua on injured reserve and elevating Brennan Presley to the active roster. It is another reminder of how quickly the depth chart can shift in Los Angeles, where injuries have pushed the team to keep shuffling bodies at a position that has suddenly become a concern.
Scott, who was waived during August roster cutdowns, gives the Rams another experienced option while they sort through the damage in the receiver room. He has bounced around the NFL before and brings some value as both a receiver and return specialist, the kind of versatile depth piece teams often need when the injuries start piling up. [Read more 🡒]