Heading into the 2023 NFL season, not many people expected much from the Los Angeles Rams. After a tough 2022 campaign, the team focused much of its offseason on getting its salary cap situation under control. That meant saying goodbye to several key veterans who helped the team win a Super Bowl just the season before.
A lot of new faces were in prominent roles, as Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald were the only truly recognizable names left from their Super Bowl victory. But, the lack of name recognition didn’t stop the team from finding success on the field.
The Rams shocked a lot of people, going 10-7 in the regular season and earning a Wild Card spot. They gave the Detroit Lions everything they could handle during their Super Wild Card Weekend matchup, but ultimately fell short, 24-23.
One of the reasons Los Angeles found so much success was the breakout campaign of running back Kyren Williams. A fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame in 2022, his Pro Bowl 2023 season came out of nowhere.
Not much was expected out of Williams, whom many thought would share the backfield in 2023. But, he played so well, that head coach Sean McVay and his staff had no choice but to ride the hot hand and see what he could do. It was something Williams knew he was capable of if he were given the chance to produce.
“I would say I expected it because all I wanted coming into this year was a chance,” Williams told NFL.com at Friday’s Pro Bowl Games practices. “And I knew if I got a chance that I was gonna do what I do. I knew that I was this type of player and I just needed a chance to show it. And coach [Sean] McVay gave me that shot and put his confidence into me and as a player it allowed me to feel good and just be who I am.”
Williams missed five games in the regular season because of an ankle injury. But, in the 12 games he played in, he was highly productive for the Rams. He carried the ball 228 times for 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading the league with 95.3 rushing yards per game.
Not only was he productive as a runner, Williams showed off his dual-threat ability as well as a pass catcher. He caught 32 passes for 206 yards and three more scores.
Williams has established himself as one of the most productive young running backs in the NFL. His emergence, along with that of fellow Pro Bowler, rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua, has made this a dangerous unit. The team no longer has to rely solely on Kupp to get the job done, as the Rams can beat you in a number of ways offensively.
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