Rams RB Kyren Williams Continues Impressive Season In Win Over Saints

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams became the team's first 1,000-yard rusher in half a decade during Thursday night's win over the New Orleans Saints.

Throughout the Los Angeles Rams' rebound 2023 season, second-year running back Kyren Williams is one of several players to emerge as a breakout star.

A former fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame, Williams didn't see much action as a rookie due to injuries. This season, though, he has been arguably L.A.'s best offensive player.

In a huge primetime game against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night, Williams got to show just how good he is, in front of a national audience no less. The 23-year-old gashed the Saints defense for 104 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown that wound up being the game-winning score. By himself, Williams had almost three times the amount of rushing yards the Saints did as a team.

Kyren Williams / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

In the process, Williams joined an exclusive club by surpassing 1,000 rushing yards on the season, becoming the first Ram to do so since Todd Gurley in 2018, per ESPN.

Since returning from injury in late November, Williams has been on an absolute heater. The up-and-comer has surpassed 100 yards from scrimmage in each of the five games since coming back, including two games with over 150 total yards. Williams is the first Ram to record five straight games with over 100 scrimmage yards, six including his last game before injury, in a single season since Steven Jackson had eight straight in 2009.

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In fact, the stats show that Williams has been one of the best running backs in the league this season. According to Pro Football Reference, he ranks first in rushing yards per game, second in rushing success rate (first among running backs) and fifth in yards per attempt among qualified rushers (all stats taken before Thursday's game).

After a 30-22 win on Thursday, the Rams' fifth victory in their last six games, L.A. is now in prime position to return to the playoffs. While there's no shortage of people who deserve credit for the turnaround, Williams is certainly near the top of that list.