The debate surrounding Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams highlights a classic NFL divide between raw athletic traits and elite on-field production. Ahead of the 2026 NFL season, Pro Football Focus officially solidified Williams as a top-10 running back in the league. The analytical site backed up the ranking by highlighting his incredible efficiency as a high-volume weapon.
According to PFF, Williams’ 220 carries that have gone for a first down or touchdown since 2023 are second only to Derrick Henry. Furthermore, Williams ranks fifth among all running backs in that same span with 143 forced missed tackles and 2,434 yards after contact.
This praise for Williams stands in stark contrast to how league insiders view the former fifth-round draft pick out of Notre Dame. An offseason ESPN survey of NFL executives, coaches, and scouts left Williams completely outside the top 10, underscoring the perception that he lacks structural advantages.
“Really underrated,” one NFL coordinator said about Williams to ESPN. “Productive, tough as [expletive], runs hard, brings the juice, has improved as a pass catcher and really good in protection. Just doesn’t have the high-end traits of some of the others.”
Despite the lack of track-star speed, the actual career numbers paint the picture of an undeniable bell-cow back. Williams has been remarkably consistent across his four-year career. During his breakout 2023 season, he racked up 1,144 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in just 12 games. He followed that up with spectacular 2024 and 2025 campaigns, starting 23 total games and recording 575 carries for 2,551 rushing yards (4.4 yards per carry) and 24 rushing touchdowns, alongside 70 receptions for 463 yards and another four scores.
As such, Williams landed on the NFL’s top-100 player list for a third consecutive season after taking the No. 89 spot this year.
While Williams remains the clear star of the backfield, PFF notes that his running mate, Blake Corum, should not be forgotten. Though Corum missed out on the top-32 starter rankings, he earned a prominent honorable mention:
Kyren Williams is the star of the Rams’ backfield, but Corum should not be forgotten as a productive option. In 2025, he was one of just seven running backs to average at least 5.0 yards per carry. Corum also ranked seventh among that same group with an 85.8 PFF rushing grade and has yet to fumble any of his 229 career carries.
With Williams’ elite physical resilience and Corum’s highly efficient spelling ability, the Rams boast one of the most complete and dependable backfields in football entering 2026.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Kyren Williams named a top-10 running back for 2026 by PFF
Reporting by Oliver G., Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Oliver G., Rams Wire | USA TODAY Network
