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2026 NFL backfield

Los Angeles Rams running backs

The current roster, the published replacement plan and the production behind each player’s role.

The published backfield plan

Published starter

Kyren Williams

Preferred handcuff

Blake Corum

Corum inherits the Rams backfield if Kyren sits

Committee uncertainty: an absence could spread work across several backs.

View Kyren Williams’s handcuff breakdown

Week 7 analysis published .

This analysis is over 24 hours old. Confirm current roles and availability before making a move.

The game covered by this analysis has started or finished. This is a record of that window, not a recommendation for the next game.

How the work could change

Fact: the official Raiders-Rams Week 7 inactive list posted Oct 25 at 11:55 AM local time (page prints no timezone; released 90 minutes before the 1:25 PM PT kickoff) includes no Rams running back, so Kyren Williams, Blake Corum and Dean Connors are all active; Ronnie Rivers is carried as out. Projection: Corum has the clearest claim to every-down and goal-line work if Williams could not play. He is widely rostered and already gone in many leagues; the best lower-rostered fallback in this room is Dean Connors, free almost everywhere, but he sits third with an unverified role and would need both Williams and Corum unavailable before he saw meaningful touches, so his path is far thinner.

No Rams back appears on today's official inactive list and Williams carries no Week 7 designation. Ronnie Rivers is out, leaving Williams, Corum and Connors. Corum has been working as the change-of-pace back and would be the volume beneficiary; Connors' role behind them is unverified.

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The full backfield depth chart

Every running back and fullback assigned to Los Angeles Rams, including reserve and practice-squad entries. Chart order and replacement opportunity answer different questions: a passing-down specialist can sit ahead of the back most likely to inherit the carries.

Source: nflverse depth-chart feed · Feed dated Tue, Oct 27, 2:01 AM EDT. Equal ranks are ties. Unlisted backs are not assigned an invented rank. FB ranks are separate from RB ranks.

Los Angeles Rams full running back depth chart
Feed orderPlayerScouting roleDraft investmentRoster status
RB1
Kyren WilliamsPublished starter		Three-down back2022 · Round 5 · Pick 164active
RB2
Blake CorumPublished handcuff		Change-of-pace back2024 · Round 3 · Pick 83active
RB3
Dean Connors		Role under review2026 · Undraftedactive
RB4
Ronnie Rivers		Change-of-pace backUndraftedinjured reserve
Unlisted
Jordan Waters		Role under reviewDraft history unavailablepractice squad

Every back: role, upside and obstacles

The player assessments below explain the skills that could earn work and the assignments that might go to someone else. Role labels describe scouting assessments; they are not confirmed snap shares. “Three-down” means a skill set for rushing and passing situations, not a guarantee of every down.

RB1 · Three-down back

Kyren Williams

Age 26 · 5 years of NFL experience · active

Back to depth chart
Three-down outlook: Capable in saved assessmentPass protection: Positive assessment
Saved scouting assessment — source review needed

The feared even split has not materialised: Williams out-touched Corum 26-6 in the Oct. 4 win over Philadelphia, rushing 16 times for 80 yards and catching a career-high 10 passes for 66 yards. McVay's trusted every-down back with goal-line work and dependable protection. Preseason reporting pointed to a near 50-50 share, but current usage says he is still a bellcow.

Scouting assessment saved Mon, Oct 5, 3:53 AM EDT. This assessment is older than 14 days or has an invalid date; current-role review is needed.

Path to more work

He is the starter in the dated board above. For fantasy purposes, the question is how much of the rushing and passing work he keeps when the whole room is available.

Why the work could go elsewhere

A starter can still lose third downs, short-yardage work or change-of-pace touches to specialists. His role assessment describes the skill set, not a guarantee that every assignment stays with him.

The saved assessment credits his pass protection, which can help a back earn passing-down trust. It does not guarantee a three-down assignment.

Draft investment

2022 · Round 5 · Pick 164

Drafted by LA; not necessarily his current team.

A later-round selection describes his entry point. It does not rule out a lead role; demonstrated production and a trusted assignment matter more than draft position alone.

Draft record source

What the recorded workload tells us

In 2026, his 7 recorded games include 96 carries and 32 receptions on 41 targets. He has recorded work both on the ground and in the passing game; those totals alone do not establish pass-protection ability or a three-down role.

Confirm the latest game-day designation. General active-roster status does not certify that he will dress or receive work.

Player research sources

RB2 · Change-of-pace back

Blake Corum

Age 25 · 3 years of NFL experience · active

Back to depth chart
Three-down outlook: Capable in saved assessmentPass protection: Positive assessment
Saved scouting assessment — source review needed

Material change in usage, not in value: Corum was used as a pure breather back on Oct. 4, held to five carries for 14 yards and a seven-yard catch while being out-touched 26-6 by Williams, and an Oct. 2 beat report said the Rams need more from him. Still the premium handcuff in the league - durable, decisive, trusted on all three downs, and one Williams injury from an every-down role.

Scouting assessment saved Mon, Oct 5, 3:53 AM EDT. This assessment is older than 14 days or has an invalid date; current-role review is needed.

Path to more work

The dated board selects him as the preferred replacement behind Kyren Williams. That is a projection of the replacement role, not a promise that he gets every touch.

Ahead on the feed’s RB chart: Kyren Williams. Their roles and availability shape how much work could open up.

Why the work could go elsewhere

A change-of-pace role can create useful touches in a limited package. It does not automatically transfer to the starter’s workload; another back may fit the early-down or short-yardage assignment better.

The saved assessment credits his pass protection, which can help a back earn passing-down trust. It does not guarantee a three-down assignment.

Draft investment

2024 · Round 3 · Pick 83

Drafted by LA; not necessarily his current team.

Day-two draft investment adds prospect context. His current role, availability and competition still decide whether he gets the next opportunity.

Draft record source

What the recorded workload tells us

In 2026, his 7 recorded games include 64 carries and 10 receptions on 14 targets. He has recorded work both on the ground and in the passing game; those totals alone do not establish pass-protection ability or a three-down role.

Confirm the latest game-day designation. General active-roster status does not certify that he will dress or receive work.

Player research sources

RB3 · Role under review

Dean Connors

Age 23 · Rookie · active

Back to depth chart
Three-down outlook: Not establishedPass protection: Not established

Individual scouting research is pending. The recorded workload and draft history below provide the available context.

Path to more work

His path begins with an opening behind Kyren Williams. The dated board currently prefers Blake Corum for the lead replacement role. Being next on a depth chart would not by itself guarantee the carries, third downs and goal-line work.

Ahead on the feed’s RB chart: Kyren Williams, Blake Corum. Their roles and availability shape how much work could open up.

Why the work could go elsewhere

A clear role assessment is not available. Rushing experience, receiving usage and protection responsibilities need checking before treating him as a direct replacement.

Pass protection has not been established in the saved assessment. Missing information is not evidence that he cannot do it.

Draft investment

2026 · Undrafted

He entered without draft investment. That says how he arrived, not what he can become; current usage and coaching trust carry more weight now.

Draft record source

What the recorded workload tells us

In 2026, his 3 recorded games include 0 carries and 0 receptions on 0 targets. Receiving volume is not established by these records. Do not read that as proof he cannot catch or protect the quarterback.

Confirm the latest game-day designation. General active-roster status does not certify that he will dress or receive work.

RB4 · Change-of-pace back

Ronnie Rivers

Age 27 · 5 years of NFL experience · injured reserve

Back to depth chart
Three-down outlook: Not establishedPass protection: Positive assessment
Saved scouting assessment — source review needed

Special-teams-first third back who has been in the building for years. Emergency depth only — the Rams' plan behind Kyren Williams starts and ends with Corum.

Scouting assessment saved Thu, Sep 10, 5:29 PM EDT. This assessment is older than 14 days or has an invalid date; current-role review is needed. Underlying citations lack publication dates; treat team-role and injury statements as historical notes pending review.

Path to more work

His path begins with an opening behind Kyren Williams. The dated board currently prefers Blake Corum for the lead replacement role. Being next on a depth chart would not by itself guarantee the carries, third downs and goal-line work.

Ahead on the feed’s RB chart: Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Dean Connors. Their roles and availability shape how much work could open up.

Why the work could go elsewhere

A change-of-pace role can create useful touches in a limited package. It does not automatically transfer to the starter’s workload; another back may fit the early-down or short-yardage assignment better.

The saved assessment credits his pass protection, which can help a back earn passing-down trust. It does not guarantee a three-down assignment.

Draft investment

Undrafted

He entered without draft investment. That says how he arrived, not what he can become; current usage and coaching trust carry more weight now.

Draft record source

What the recorded workload tells us

In 2026, his 1 recorded game include 5 carries and 1 receptions on 1 targets. He has recorded work both on the ground and in the passing game; those totals alone do not establish pass-protection ability or a three-down role.

His roster feed status is injured reserve. He needs the relevant roster or availability change before this becomes an immediate pickup opportunity.

Player research sources

Unlisted · Role under review

Jordan Waters

Age 25 · 1 years of NFL experience · practice squad

Back to depth chart
Three-down outlook: Not establishedPass protection: Not established

Individual scouting research is pending. The recorded workload and draft history below provide the available context.

Path to more work

His path begins with an opening behind Kyren Williams. The dated board currently prefers Blake Corum for the lead replacement role. Being next on a depth chart would not by itself guarantee the carries, third downs and goal-line work.

Why the work could go elsewhere

A clear role assessment is not available. Rushing experience, receiving usage and protection responsibilities need checking before treating him as a direct replacement.

Pass protection has not been established in the saved assessment. Missing information is not evidence that he cannot do it.

Draft investment

Draft history unavailable

A verified draft record is not available here. Missing data does not mean he went undrafted.

Draft record source

What the recorded workload tells us

No recorded NFL regular-season production is available in the two seasons shown. That is an evidence gap, not a zero or a judgment of his ability.

His roster feed status is practice squad. He needs the relevant roster or availability change before this becomes an immediate pickup opportunity.

The production behind the names

2026 regular season. Recorded production, not a projection. A missing stat line is not a zero.

Player comparison for the 2026 regular season
PlayerGames with statsCarriesReceptionsTotal yardsPPR / game
Kyren Williams
7963273119.6
Blake Corum
764104159.9
Dean Connors
30000.0
Jordan Waters
—————
Ronnie Rivers
151243.4
Kyren Williams: recent touches

Carries + receptions, last 6 recorded games in 2026

Wk 214 touches
Wk 321 touches
Wk 426 touches
Wk 522 touches
Wk 613 touches
Wk 718 touches
Blake Corum: recent touches

Carries + receptions, last 6 recorded games in 2026

Wk 213 touches
Wk 38 touches
Wk 46 touches
Wk 58 touches
Wk 611 touches
Wk 718 touches
Dean Connors: recent touches

Carries + receptions, last 3 recorded games in 2026

Wk 30 touches
Wk 40 touches
Wk 50 touches
Ronnie Rivers: recent touches

Carries + receptions, last 1 recorded games in 2026

Wk 16 touches

Totals include all teams played for that season. Per-game averages use games with recorded stats. Source: nflverse player statistics.

Evidence behind the backfield analysis

Compare your next bench move

A handcuff is an opportunity to hold, not a projected starter for this week. Compare the room with other teams, then choose a game window that fits your league’s rules.

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