The Rams don’t need to overthink this one. Week 7 brings a matchup with the Raiders that practically begs Sean McVay to lean into the run, and that’s exactly where Los Angeles should start.
That approach would also serve Kyren Williams, who seemed frustrated by his limited involvement late in Week 6 against the Cardinals. The Rams’ offensive inconsistency can’t be pinned entirely on a lack of carries, since the passing game hasn’t generated explosives on its own. Still, getting the ground game going is one of the cleanest ways for this offense to settle in.
The timing could hardly be better. Las Vegas has given up the fifth-most rushing yards per game at 134.3, making it a strong spot for the Rams to commit early, not just around the goal line. The red zone is one obvious place where the run can pay off, but the Raiders’ numbers suggest it should be a bigger part of the plan from the opening series onward.
There’s also the matter of the Rams’ injury situation. With no Davante Adams, still no Terrance Ferguson, and possibly no Puka Nacua while he deals with a calf injury suffered in Thursday’s practice, Los Angeles may be forced to simplify things a bit. A productive run game would also help keep the Raiders’ offense, which ranks sixth at 27 points per game, on the sideline.
Blake Corum’s recent uptick adds another reason to press forward. He posted nine carries for 42 yards last week, his best rushing line since Week 2 against the Giants, and the Rams need both backs involved if they want the run game to truly click. Williams finished with 10 carries for 50 yards against Arizona, bringing him to 393 rushing yards on the season at 4.9 yards per carry, plus 217 receiving yards.
The workload doesn’t have to be all Williams, but he should be getting touches in some form. His 13 touches in Week 6 were the fewest he’s had all season.
The Raiders’ defense has been more steady than suffocating, aside from Week 1 against the now-0-6 Chargers. They also had a rough day in Week 4 against the Chiefs, when Kenneth Walker III ran wild, but for the most part they’ve allowed consistent rushing production rather than one huge explosion after another.
Outside of Maxx Crosby, there isn’t much that demands major concern. Nakobe Dean has been good, and that’s about the extent of it.
The chance is there for Williams and Corum. Now it’s on McVay to take it.
In Other News...
Puka Nacuas Rams Future Suddenly Feels Far Less Certain
Puka Nacua has already become one of the defining young pieces in the Rams offense, but his long-term place in Los Angeles is suddenly coming into sharper focus for all the wrong reasons. The team is reportedly reconsidering whether to move forward with a contract extension for the wide receiver, a reflection of both his injury history and concerns about how much availability he can guarantee over time.
Nacua has missed multiple games this season, and the Rams are weighing the financial risk of a major commitment at a time when the roster is already under strain. With an aging core, a pile of pending free agents and more injuries to manage, Los Angeles may be inclined to wait before making a decision on one of its most important young players. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Suddenly Have A Puka Nacua Decision They Cant Get Wrong
With several wide receivers around the league dealing with injury uncertainty heading into Week 7, Puka Nacua has become one of the names to watch for the Rams. He is questionable with a calf injury, a development that matters even more given how important he has been to Los Angeles offense and how quickly the rest of the receiver landscape has shifted across the NFL.
The weeks injury report has already knocked several notable pass-catchers out, while others are trending toward returns after practicing fully. For the Rams, the focus is less on the wider league picture and more on getting Nacua right, because his availability could shape both the game plan and the teams margin for error in a way few other injuries would. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Face A Week 7 Matchup That Could Expose One Big Problem
Week 7 brings a matchup that should give the Rams a clearer read on where they really stand after six weeks, and the matchup card is crowded with issues worth watching. The quarterback comparison is part of it, but so are the injuries and availability questions on both sides, along with how each team stacks up in the trenches, on defense and in the kicking game.
For Los Angeles, this is the kind of game that can sharpen the picture of a roster still trying to show its best version across every phase. The Raiders present enough strength in a few spots to make the Rams earn it, and enough uncertainty elsewhere to keep the focus on whether Los Angeles can clean up the same recurring weakness before it turns into a bigger concern. [Read more 🡒]