Rams’ Running Back Fantasy Football Breakdown | Who to Add with Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers Injured
The Los Angeles Rams have a bit of a dilemma in their running back room as they get prepared for week 7.
Starter Kyren Williams has an ankle sprain, and will likely miss the contest. Backup Ronnie Rivers has a Grade 3 PCL strain that might put him on injured reserve.
So who exactly is left to run the ball for Los Angeles? Might they add another back? Let’s discuss.
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The Numbers So Far
Williams has been the Rams’ starting running back since week 2. He’s been a workhorse since, carrying the ball 97 times for 456 yards and six touchdowns. Williams has added 13 receptions on 24 targets for 105 yards and another score.
After Cam Akers was traded, Rivers was vaulted into the backup role for the Rams. He’s played in six games, rushing 13 times for 57 yards. Rivers had four catches on as many targets for 18 yards.
The only other running backs currently on the roster are Zach Evans and Royce Freeman.
Evans has appeared in two contests, rushing only four times for 10 yards. Freeman is on the practice squad currently and hasn’t played a single offensive snap, instead playing only special teams in his three contests.
Williams has the most offensive snaps by a wide margin, playing 337 total snaps. Rivers sits at 40 snaps, while Evans has just six.
Week 7 Fantasy Outlook
For the remainder of this discussion, let’s assume that Williams is out just for week 7 and that Rivers does indeed get placed on IR. Let’s also assume the Rams roll with the running backs they currently roster, or make a small move for week 7 only, with that back solely being brought in to provide depth and special teams play.
Los Angeles will be taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers this upcoming week. It’s a matchup that favors Rams’ running backs, as Pittsburgh is allowing 23 fantasy points a game to backs, which ranks in the bottom half of the league.
Seeing as to how things have played out so far this season, one would expect Evans to serve as the starter against the Steelers, and then for Freeman to be added to the active roster as a backup option.
As a team so far, Los Angeles has attempted 153 rushes, while throwing 227 times. The passing attempts mark is the fifth most in the entire league. Los Angeles will likely lean a little more heavily on the pass against Pittsburgh, although they’ll need to run at some point to at least keep the defense honest.
Who to Add/Who To Start
If the Rams don’t make a trade or big-time running back acquisition - which I wouldn’t think would happen if Williams’ injury is only going to keep him out a week - then Evans appears poised to start and lead the position this week.
Our charts show that Evans is not owned in many leagues, and he’s the one you’ll want to add. If you are simply looking for a one-week fill in, I wouldn’t prioritize Evans too high on your priority list, as you can likely find another player out there that will produce as much as he could this week. If you are in a deeper league and roster Williams and Rivers, then maybe Evans should be bumped a couple spots up the priority list. This is likely only going to be a one-week fantasy asset, so again, don’t get too upset if you can’t land Evans.
Being the top option the Rams have available and expected to play the majority of snaps, Evans should at least get some consideration for a potential starting spot in week 7. He’ll likely be part of start/sit conversations at the end of the week, so check back for those.
Freeman likely will serve as the backup, but I wouldn’t envision him playing too many snaps or getting a ton of touches, so he’d be pretty low on my priority list in deeper leagues. I wouldn't have him on my priority list in typical redraft leagues. The only way Freeman carves out a big role on offense is if Williams misses extended time, and Evans were to also go down with an injury.
So to sum things up: week 7 will likely see Evans start and lead the Rams’ backfield, while Freeman backs him up; I’d only target Evans on the waiver wire; this is likely just a one-week band-aid before Williams comes back. Proceed accordingly.
