Kyren Williams deserves to be within the dialog among the many NFL’s finest operating backs and the stats assist his case past a shadow of a doubt. For instance, if Saquon Barkley is a consensus alternative for being within the elite class, then why not Williams?
In spite of everything, Williams has been extra constant than Barkley over the previous three seasons, he has scored 10 extra touchdowns than Barkley since 2023, and the distinction in yards per carry and receiving yards between them is negligible.
If Williams isn’t higher than Barkley, a operating again who virtually each fan says is elite, he’s not less than on the identical stage. Simply have a look at these comparisons over the previous three seasons:
By these uncooked speeding and receiving stats, Williams clearly holds his personal towards the 2024 Offensive Participant of the Yr, which can be the season through which Barkley received half of his whole speeding yards over the previous three seasons.
With completely different offensive line combos and schematic modifications by Sean McVay yearly, Williams has remained constant by speeding for not less than 1,144 yards and 10 touchdowns each season since 2023.
However it doesn’t cease there. By another key speeding stats for operating backs, Williams holds his personal towards a participant who many consider will get into the Corridor of Fame in the future.
One of many statements we preserve listening to throughout Rams broadcasts is how necessary it’s to select up optimistic yardage on a first-down carry, one thing Williams does persistently. McVay stresses optimistic yardage on first down and 5, 4, and even 3 yards utterly modifications the sequence of play calls going ahead in that sequence. Getting stuffed on the line of scrimmage is the same as an incomplete cross and getting tackled behind it is sort of a sack. Williams avoids these damaging performs at an elite stage.
Kyren Williams has had a decrease share of runs for a loss than Saquon Barkley in every of the previous three seasons and the distinction final season was stark:
In 2025, Williams was stopped 4.63% of the time, significantly better than Barkley’s 14.64%.
No yards? Misplaced yards? Williams is among the finest at avoiding these, making McVay’s job as OC a lot simpler.
In 2025, Williams led all starters with had an astounding 50.19% success charge, in comparison with Barkley’s 37.5%.
A profitable play for a operating again is outlined as follows:
On first down, gaining 40% of the required yards.On second down, gaining 60% of the required yardsOn third down, gaining 100% of the required yards.
As a result of Success % focuses on consistency moderately than simply explosive, lengthy breakaway performs, it’s glorious for measuring an offensive line’s impression and a again’s reliability in protecting the chains transferring.
Whereas McVay could love the explosive performs and dials them up incessantly, the Rams are designed to facilitate a methodical, grind-it-out type of play. He’d moderately have a clock-controlled win than a shoot-out.
The operating type of Williams offers him the perfect probability for that, and if the bottom sport isn’t there, the outlet passes often are. With 13 personnel coming in sturdy, I can see a rise in Kyren’s targets within the cross sport, not less than within the brief run.
Kyren Williams led the league within the share of instances his carries resulted in a primary down, with a exceptional 29.34% of them hitting the mark. Saquon Barkley had simply over 17%.
This one speaks for itself. As with aim to go performs, Williams finds a method to get it finished. He’s so good on the aim line that typically he’s directing teammates to the place they should run to attain:
Extra Stats Kyren Excelled In
Williams had a median carry of 4.83 yards in ‘25 and 10 touchdowns. Barkley had a 4.07 avg and seven scores.
Explosive plays were the one metric where Saquon had a better number than Kyren last season, but a surprisingly small gap where Barkley had 7.14% success to Williams’ 6.95%
Lastly, Barkley noticed a dramatic enhance in his metrics throughout his loopy 2024 season however got here again to Earth in 2025 when the Eagles offensive line was far much less efficient and cohesive as a unit.
Clearly, an excessive amount of any operating again’s success has to do with the offensive line, together with Williams and Blake Corum, each of whom profit from L.A.‘s improvement in that area recently. There’s no query that Williams is healthier due to the Rams offensive line. However how good may Williams have been in 2024 if he had performed in Philadelphia’s offense as a substitute of Barkley?
Perhaps he wouldn’t have finished a backwards hurdle over a defender, however certainly he may have rushed for a career-high variety of yards.
The Rams don’t get credit score for having an All-Professional operating again. That doesn’t imply they don’t have an important one. It’s all a matter of perspective.
