The article identifies potential dynasty fantasy football ADP mistakes, highlighting Kyren Williams as overvalued due to decreasing production and the increased role of Blake Corum. It suggests tiering down from Williams to other running backs like Cam Skattebo, Travis Etienne, Javonte Williams, Bhayshul Tuten, Derrick Henry, or D'Andre Swift. Luther Burden is also mentioned as a polarizing prospect with flashing potential despite a concerning junior season
A coach’s playcalling tendencies should not, under any circumstances under the sun, be your guiding light in valuing one player over another for fantasy football purposes. My spreadsheets are not certain on much, but they’re certain on this: There are a bunch of factors to consider before you get to playcalling as a determining factor in building a fantasy roster. It is something to consider though, and it can serve as a tiebreaker in the middle or later parts of a draft. In that way playcalling trends — especially where it counts the most (the red zone) — is similar to considering which players ran cold last season. Below is a look at five NFL offenses that were among the league’s pass-heaviest units inside the 20 (red zone) and inside the 10 (green zone), and how that trend might carry over in 2026 and affect players’ touchdown-based upside. I used teams’ pass rate over expected in the red (and green) zones in neutral situations, or when the game is within one score outside the final two minutes of each half. We like touchdowns. We want as many of them as we can get, for they supercharge a player's best-case scenario and serve as deodorant for the less-than-efficient players. RELATED: 2026 Sunday Night Football schedule for NBC and Peacock Neutral pass rate over expected inside the 20: 6.4 percent (1st) Neutral PROE inside the 10: 7.2 percent (4th) Sean McVay has established the dang pass near the goal line during his run with Matthew Stafford under center. Those who drafted Davante Adams last season — and those who faced Adams — know this well. McVay’s commitment to the pass inside the 20-yard line turned a lot of low-volume target days into big statistical outings for Adams. The thing we nerds should remember about a good offense is that even a pass-heavy approach where it counts the most doesn’t leave the team’s running backs without scoring opportunities. The Rams in 2025 had the third most inside-the-five rushing attempts. Kyren Williams ranked fifth among all running backs with 30 inside-the-10 carries while Blake Corum saw 16 green zone opportunities. McVay’s Rams offense is one of the rare units that can produce bountiful touchdown opportunities for both the team’s pass catchers and rushers. If either LA back misses time in 2026, the one left standing should have as much touchdown-based upside as anyone in the NFL. Neutral pass rate over expected inside the 20: 3 percent (3rd) Neutral PROE inside the 10: 0.1 percent (10th) This isn’t a stunner for anyone who has watched Andy Reid get weird with red zone playcalling in recent years. Handing the football to the big running back and letting him trundle into the end zone seems beneath Reid. That’s been excellent for the statistical upside of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ pass catchers (at least it was excellent before the KC became one of the game’s most vanilla and boring offenses). Kansas City last season ranked 20th in inside-the-five rushes, with Kareem Hunt seeing 13 of those 20 attempts and scoring seven times. Meanwhile, Mahomes ranked third in red zone pass attempts before his season-ending knee injury — not at all an unusual spot for him. Chiefs officials and coaches have hinted this offseason that the team might mess around and get more balanced on offense to help Mahomes get back to full health before, I suppose, letting it rip with the pass-heavy checkdown system Reid has deployed over the past few years. If that’s the case, Kenneth Walker III might not see anything close to a big number of high-value green zone rushes in 2026. Walker has been fine as an inside-the-ten runner. Over the past two years he’s turned seven of his 25 green zone chances into touchdowns. The hope for Walker drafters is that the Seahawks ’ refusal to use him near the goal line over the past couple seasons was a unique decision and does not carry over into his first season in Kansas City. Neutral pass rate over expected inside the 20: 2 percent (7th) Neutral PROE ins
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This year’s backfield split between Kyren Williams and Blake Corum could be the most shared workload we’ve seen over Sean McVay’s time with the Los Angeles Rams. It’s one of the most interesting dynamics across this refreshed roster. In his early years, McVay seemed adamantly opposed to a shared backfield. Todd Gurley shouldered an outsized burden on his way to an Offensive Player of Award in 2017. The Rams ran Gurley’s wheels off, and 2019 concluded his career with the team. Even as Gurley’s effectiveness dipped in his last season in Los Angeles , the Rams were committed to giving him a larger workload. By necessity LA varied its approach in 2020-2o22. Sony Michel , Darrell Henderson , Cam Akers , and Malcolm Brown all took turns to prove they were the guy, and ultimately none were successful in the long term. The Rams returned to a stable backfield in 2023 a year removed from identifying Williams in the fifth round. LA loved Williams so much they drafted his clone in the third round of the 2024 class in Blake Corum. While Corum was relegated to the bench for most of the 2024 season before suffering an injury that held him out of the playoffs, he bounced back in a big way during his second year. 2025 brought the most mixed backfield we’ve seen in the McVay era outside of injuries forcing their hand. Season Primary Running Back Share of Total RB Carries 2017 Todd Gurley 78% 2018 Todd Gurley 69% 2019 Todd Gurley 75% 2023 Kyren Williams 73% 2024 Kyren Williams 76% 2025 Kyren Williams 54% Split backfields provide an inherent advantage in real football. If your primary back is injured, your offense won’t change much because it’s already used to the other guy. While Williams and Corum are overall similar players, they are just different enough that things feel varied when the more fleet of foot Corum steps onto the field. It took the Rams and McVay a long time to finally reach a modern NFL backfield. They’ve now arrived. This approach is certain to play dividends and keep Williams and Corum fresher than they’d otherwise be into the postseason. That is important for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. But fantasy football heads hate split backfields. Despite rushing for more than 1,200 yards, 10 touchdowns, and hauling in 30 receptions in each of his last two seasons, Williams enters 2026 as just the 17th ranked back for fantasy football purposes . Corum remains one of the best bargain gambles in all of fantasy with a #38 ranking. This projects him as one of the best backups across the NFL. Will the backfield of Williams and Corum in 2026 be the most mixed we’ve seen since Sean McVay joined the Rams in 2017?
Los Angeles Rams running back Jarquez Hunter had a disappointing rookie season in 2025. Despite having solid draft capital as a fourth-round pick, he played exclusively on special teams last year and did not register an offensive snap. That doesn't bode well for his long-term outlook in dynasty fantasy football, especially since the Rams already have a dominant one-two punch of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum out of the backfield. Even if Hunter does secure the third-string role heading into the season -- and that's far from guaranteed -- he faces an uphill battle to earn meaningful snaps once again. If he goes two years without any sort of significant role on offense, his dynasty value will essentially be non-existent. It's already trending that way, as Hunter has fallen to RB84 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. He can be dropped in shallower leagues, and he belongs at the bottom of the bench in deeper leagues
The Los Angeles Rams have released their 2026 schedule, aiming for another strong season after an MVP performance from Matthew Stafford and a 12-5 record in 2025. Despite a challenging schedule, the Rams have made key offseason moves, including acquiring Trent McDuffie and re-signing Kamren Curl. Tickets are available for their home games at SoFi Stadium
I’m taking a risk by writing this before the official schedule drop, but are you happy with the drop? Did you enjoy the social media video(s)? There was a video right!??! Was there more than one video? Which team handled their schedule release the best? You don’t have to answer any of these questions, but I asked them anyways! I know many fans are not thrilled about all the international games, and I think you are allowed to feel that way. In theory, it’s nice the Rams get their international game out of the way in Week 1, and then they are in the U.S. the rest of the way, baby. The NFL is changing whether we like it or not, and it’s always changing I suppose, but the international games are picking up, so I get why it’s such a hot topic. I don’t think this is a hot take, but the NFL likely wants at least one international game per week (or as many as they can handle), and it’s seemingly headed that direction. It’s all quite interesting. For me, I love the sport (it’s not perfect), I love talking with friends about it, writing about it (how lucky am I?), commenting with fellow commenters here on this site, and I do love fantasy football (I do). So, the international games don’t ruin it for me, but I know for some, it’s lame, and I get it. What does all that mean? I don’t know, but thank you for checking out Turf Show Times, and please comment on whatever you want! Is it Friday yet? It is. “McVay’s Rams are coming off a 12-5 campaign in which they advanced to the NFC Championship Game. Thus, they enter 2026 with a Super Bowl-or-bust outlook. Los Angeles is rife with talent such as wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams , running back Kyren Williams , pass rusher Jared Verse and cornerback Trent McDuffie , a prized offseason addition via trade with the Kansas City Chiefs . The 38-year-old Stafford is coming off his best season statistically, having thrown for an NFL- and career-high 46 touchdowns while also leading the league with 4,707 passing yards. Regardless of his age, Stafford possesses some of the best arm talent in the game and so too does his Week 12 counterpart, Love.“ “With nearly 90 hours of news and sports programming every week, CBS LA is uniquely positioned to deliver more Rams coverage than any other media outlet in the market,” said Tim Wieland, regional president and general manager of CBS LA and CBS Colorado. “This partnership is about serving fans, celebrating Los Angeles and extending our shared commitment to the community. We’re proud to once again be the Home of the Rams.” “Maybe I’m getting old in my upper 40s…but the NFL is doing it’s best to not respect it’s fans time and make the league increasingly obtuse. Sunday ritual is great, we give you that time. Greedy though – as you look to make us own multiple streaming accounts, and be actively ready for games 5+ days a week now, moving into holidays and even HOLIDAY ADJACENT time slots. It certainly smells like greed…Problem they have – they grew so big they don’t know where to go. It’s why the pick artists for SB halftime that most fans probably don’t care for, or EVEN KNOW. It’s an effort to draw in. I can tell you, nobody new is coming. Women will watch the halftime gimmick and then gladly look away for 12 months. Minus my lady – she bleeds Blue and Yella:)” -Dr.Ram “Festivus for the rest of us. Two games leaked. Both primetime in the US. I’m thinking about McDonald’s, because I’m loving it ! Keep them primetime games coming. The less times I have to get up in the middle of the night to watch my beloved Rams play live the better.” -RammingSpeed
The Los Angeles Rams having to give up a home game to travel across the world in Week 1 to face the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia has been called the worst case scenario for Sean McVay. Given that disadvantage, then perhaps an extra day of rest and a home game against the New York Giants to follow is the “best case scenario” under those circumstances. The Rams are rumored to be hosting the Giants on Monday Night Football in Week 2, which John Breech of CBS Sports called the “best case scenario” because L.A. will have slightly more rest than if they played on Sunday and will be at home against a team that had to fly across the country. And of course, the Giants were one of the worst teams in the NFL last year and for the past decade. The Giants have a new head coach, the highly-respected John Harbaugh, but how much franchise development will he have been able to accomplish in one week? Quarterback Jaxson Dart was better than expected as a rookie in 2025, but has a long ways to go to establish himself as a long-term NFL starter. It is also improbable that star receiver Malik Nabers will be back from a torn ACL at the beginning of the season. The Giants had the 32nd-ranked run defense last season in terms of yards per carry allowed. It could be an ideal setup for Kyren Williams and McVay’s 13-personnel heavy offense. Facing the 49ers in Australia in Week 1 was the last thing that McVay wanted. But without any choice in the matter, then a team that has lost at least 10 games in 10 of the last 12 seasons is the NFL’s way of saying, “We’re sorry”
The NFL will announce its international game schedule on May 13, ahead of the full 2026 schedule release. Nine international games are planned, with the 49ers playing the Rams in Melbourne and the Cowboys facing the Ravens in Rio already confirmed. Other teams involved include the Jaguars (twice in London), Commanders (London), 49ers (Mexico City), Falcons (Madrid), Lions (Munich), and Saints (Paris)
The NFL announced that the 2026 regular-season schedule will be released on Thursday, May 14, with two games already known: 49ers-Rams in Australia and Ravens-Cowboys in Brazil
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams has finished as the fantasy RB9 or better in each of the past three seasons, and for most of that run, managers could rely on a weekly volume floor that made him nearly bust-proof. By the end of the 2025 season, however, second-year back Blake Corum had taken on a meaningful role in the Rams' offense, and the Athletic's Nate Atkins believes we could see even closer to a 50/50 workload split in 2026, with Williams still serving as the primary between the tackles runner and third down back, but leaving the field with greater frequency in favor of the more explosive Corum. For the first time since 2016, the Rams did not add a running back through the draft, so the formula from last season is expected to be repeated and potentially amplified, with 2025 fourth-round pick Jarquez Hunter again unlikely to see much of a role without an injury ahead of him. Williams finished 2025 as RB9 while Corum was the RB17 over the final six weeks of the season. Williams is currently RotoBaller's dynasty RB17, with Corum still several tiers below at RB32, making him a potential steal if Atkins' projections come to fruition
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams has finished as the RB9 or better in each of the past three years, and a league-winning season looked inevitable had he not missed significant time in his 2023 breakout campaign. For the first time since 2016, the Rams did not add to the running back room through the NFL Draft, and yet the 25-year-old Williams continues to slide in dynasty rankings, currently slotting in as RotoBaller's RB17. Concerns of Blake Corum's expanding role are justified after the team seemed to make a concerted effort to keep Williams fresh down the stretch, and with Corum's five rushing touchdowns trailing only Derrick Henry over the final six weeks of the season, he has rightfully earned more touches moving forward. That said, Williams' contract runs through 2028, and even 55-60% of the running back snaps and the bulk of the receiving work in what again projects to be one of the most high-powered offenses in the league could result in another RB1 finish, making him a smart buy at his current cost
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Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.
