The Los Angeles Rams find themselves with a legitimate decision to make regarding their backfield rotation. While Kyren Williams remains the starting running back and has continued to produce for the team, rookie Blake Corum has made a strong case for an increased role after the first two games of the season.
In the Rams' recent 28-6 victory over the New York Giants, both running backs received exactly 12 carries. Williams finished the game with 85 rushing yards, while Corum recorded 79 yards on the ground and added 13 receiving yards. While their on-field production in that game was similar, the team is evaluating their contrasting skill sets.
Williams has proven his effectiveness as an NFL running back, consistently contributing and serving as an important part of Sean McVay’s offense. However, at times, Williams has appeared to lack an additional burst of speed and can be hesitant to quickly attack running lanes, which can allow defenders to close gaps. In contrast, Corum appears more willing to exploit openings rapidly.
Corum’s explosiveness offers an intriguing dimension. Against New York, he averaged 6.6 yards per carry with a long run of 18 yards, while Williams averaged 7.1 yards per carry with a 20-yard long. Beyond raw numbers, Corum’s combination of acceleration, agility, and elusiveness could provide the Rams with another element. He possesses the ability to make the first defender miss, potentially turning a small crease into a significant gain.
The Rams are not necessarily looking to move away from Williams entirely, but Corum has demonstrated enough to warrant consideration for a larger share of early-down carries. Corum also caught one pass against the Giants, turning it into 13 yards. This suggests McVay could potentially expand Corum’s role through the screen game, getting him into space with blockers to maximize his agility and acceleration. Such a move could also force defenses to adjust their approach when Corum enters the game.
In fairness to Williams, his value in the passing game includes his willingness to protect quarterback Matthew Stafford. Williams is known for his commitment to blocking against linebackers in the pocket.
A potential scenario being considered involves utilizing Corum more on first and second downs, focusing on a run-pass balance that could include screen plays on second down. Williams could then transition into a primary third-down role, while also spelling Corum on earlier downs if he demonstrates a hot hand.
This consideration becomes particularly relevant when addressing ball security. Williams lost a fumble against the Giants, which gave New York a short field leading to a field goal. While one fumble does not erase his production, ball security has been a recurring concern for Williams. He is noted as the NFL running back leader in fumbles lost since 2023, with past turnovers occurring in games against Philadelphia in 2024 and San Francisco in 2025. Corum also fumbled against New York, but he was able to recover it. While this indicates ball security is not a completely one-sided issue, Williams' history makes the concern particularly noteworthy for a Rams offense that anticipates competing in close games, where possessions are crucial.
The team's ultimate goal could be to maximize both players by assigning them different responsibilities. Corum, with his speed, agility, decisiveness, and explosive potential, could offer a distinct element early in series, attacking lanes, creating yards after contact, and being utilized in the screen game. Williams could then serve as the primary third-down back, protecting the quarterback, and offering relief on earlier downs. This approach would reconfigure the Rams' usage of their running back tandem, ensuring both players are deployed according to their strengths.
After two weeks, Corum has already shown he can produce when given opportunities. The next step for the Rams may be to explore what happens when he receives more of them.
