Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams was surprisingly left off this position ranking heading into the 2026 season.
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams was surprisingly left out of the top 10 in a ranking of the NFL's best running backs entering the 2026 season.
The ranking, which was compiled by NFL executives, coaches and scouts, did not include Williams as officially ranked.
Instead, he was listed as an honorable mention despite his production for the Rams.
"Really underrated. Productive, tough as s---, 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."
The 25-year-old has established himself as one of the top running backs in the past three seasons.
He has been a model of consistency for the Rams since becoming a starter in the 2023 season.
Since the 2023 season, Williams has been ranked third among NFL players with 36 rushing touchdowns, sixth with 3,695 rushing yards, and fourth in rushing yards per game with 82.1.
Over the past three seasons, Williams has recorded at least 1,000+ rushing yards and 10+ rushing touchdowns in each campaign.
Williams has become a cornerstone of Sean McVay’s offense, serving as a reliable, dual-threat playmaker and one of the primary focal points of the Rams' offensive attack.
While Williams likely deserves to be in the top 10 of his position group, he is far from a perfect back. The former Notre Dame Fighting Irish is an above-average back; he does lack some of the necessary tools the best running backs possess.
Williams' stats and production don’t lie; however, he has occasionally been under the radar for his lack of explosive and home-run hitting ability. Despite his high volume in the Rams' offense, he struggles to break long, explosive plays.
The Pro Bowl running back hasn't had a carry of 35-plus yards since 2023. His lack of explosiveness and security of the ball are certainly flaws; however, the good outweighs the bad.
Williams does everything McVay asks of his running backs. He keeps the offense on schedule, moves the chains, finds the end zone, and consistently produces at a high level.
That is one of the reasons why the St. Louis native is the top back in the Rams' offense. However, the emergence of Blake Corum adds an interesting wrinkle to the backfield.
Corum finished the 2025 season on a strong note, and if he arrives at training camp looking like the player he was down the stretch, Williams could see a dip in volume in 2026.
While Williams is expected to remain the lead back, it would not be surprising if the Rams gradually moved toward a more even workload, with a potential 50-50 split becoming a real possibility as the season progresses.
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