Rams Backfield Fantasy Football Breakdown | Can You Start Kyren Williams in Week 12? Are Any Other Backs Rosterable Still?

The Los Angeles Rams backfield has been an evolving one as the season has progressed.

Cam Akers began the year as the team’s starter, but Kyren Williams took over in week 2 and was a fantasy star between then and week 6, when he was injured. Since then, Royce Freeman and Darrell Henderson have held things together.

Williams is expected to return in week 12, so will he immediately regain the workhorse role he held most of the season? Will any other backs even be rosterable for fantasy purposes? Let’s discuss.

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Williams’ Return

Williams is still on injured reserve as of Wednesday (when this story was written), but his return seems all but set in stone after the Rams waived Henderson earlier in the week.

In his five starts this season, Williams topped 100 scrimmage yards three times, and had at least 50 scrimmage yards in each contest. Along with finishing each contest with between 12-28 touches, he scored five total touchdowns. 

Even in his backup role in week 1, Williams had 54 scrimmage yards and a pair of touchdowns.

In Williams’ starts, other running backs were barely even on the field. In week 2, Williams got 14 rushing attempts, with no other RB even getting a carry. The same was true in week 3.

Ronnie Rivers finally got some work in week 4, rushing nine times. Williams still dominated the touches, with 25 carries and three catches in that contest. It appeared to be a one-week blip, as Williams had 15 touches to just one for Rivers the next week. 

In the game that Williams was hurt, he had 20 touches to just four for Rivers and Zach Evans.

Life Without Williams

The Rams’ backfield figures to go back into Williams’ control, but the backfield picture as a whole got a lot more clear when Henderson was waived.

In the team’s first game without Williams, Henderson had 19 touches to 12 for Freeman. Henderson had 15 touches to Freeman’s nine the following week. Both backs had 12 touches on a tough offensive day against the Green Bay Packers.

Seeing those numbers might make you wonder why Henderson was waived over Freeman, but last week, Freeman got 17 touches to just 10 for Henderson. Freeman has also been a much better ball carrier, averaging 4.3 yards to just 2.4 for Henderson. Freeman still hasn’t caught any passes, so they do lose that in their probable backup (Freeman).

Week 12 Backfield Outlook

It’d be hard to imagine Williams returning and immediately be given 20+ touches. If I had to guess, he will serve as the lead back and get the most touches, but they’ll probably cap him at 16 or so touches.

The Rams have the Arizona Cardinals in week 12, and that’s a favorable matchup on paper for any running back. Arizona’s defense allows the third-most points to running backs, giving up an average of 111 rushing yards and 28 receiving yards. Running backs have scored 15 total touches.

With my guess of a cap of 16 touches, that should leave some work for Freeman. Arizona should keep the contest close, but I expect the Rams to prevail. I wouldn’t be surprised if Freeman also gets double-digit carries in the contest.

The Rams might alternate possessions between the two backs, or the two may be interchangeable on each drive. Whatever ends up taking place, I think both guys are going to play a good amount of snaps and finish with 10 or more touches.

How to Proceed with the Rams’ Backs

Beginning with how to proceed in week 12, you can start by dropping Henderson. He maybe gets a shot with another team, but it likely won’t be anything more than a reserve role. You could hang on to him until his future is more known if you’d like, but then you are wasting a roster spot you could be using on someone who could help you this week.

I’d hang on to Freeman for now, and feel pretty solid about starting him in week 12. As the weeks roll on, I’d expect Williams to regain the workhorse role he had for several weeks, which would make Freeman another player you could drop. 

Freeman could regain some value late in the season if the Rams fall out of the playoff picture and the Rams decide not to burn out Williams. So with that in mind, and knowing another injury to Williams could happen, I’d hang on to Freeman for the rest of the season, unless you absolutely need that roster spot for somebody else.

I know it’s not always wise to throw a fantasy player fresh off IR into your starting lineup, especially at this critical juncture of the season, but seeing the matchup, I’m confident in Williams as a starter in all formats this week.

Going forward, he should continue to remain a fantasy starter, and if he can keep up the touchdown production levels he had at the start of the season, he could again be one of the best fantasy options every week. I think those weeks won’t happen as frequently as before, but I believe he’s got a couple more in him.