Los Angeles Rams DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The Los Angeles Rams surprisingly selected Michigan running back Blake Corum in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft despite breakout star Kyren Williams racking up 1,350 total yards and 15 touchdowns in 2023. In a media availability, general manager Les Snead said that the decision to draft Corum was related to keeping Williams fresh. "It's a tough league. It's a 17-game season plus playoffs, so we always felt like we needed to have as many quality runners as possible... so we don't just totally run down Kyren," Snead said. "And we have one or two or even three guys that can contribute... keep everyone fresh." The organization implemented a workhorse backfield approach with 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley, and he ultimately had a short shelf life as a pro due to durability concerns. As most teams shift to a committee backfield, high-end fantasy running back producers are becoming more scarce. Williams missed five games last year on the Injured Reserve list, so the organization is being proactive and adding depth in the backfield. Williams remains an RB1 candidate, but his floor and ceiling take a hit with the addition of Corum.

Undrafted free-agent running back Cody Schrader signed a deal with the San Francisco 49ers to take part in their rookie minicamp, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The 24-year-old began his collegiate career at the Division II level at Truman State in 2018 but saw limited action until his 2021 campaign. During that season, he rushed 300 times for 2,074 yards and 25 touchdowns. He then transferred to Missouri as a walk-on and vastly exceeded expectations. In two seasons in Columbia, he racked up 2,372 rushing yards, 328 receiving yards, and 23 total touchdowns. Although he's likely a longshot to make the Niners' 53-man roster, the 2023 unanimous All-American has experience with being overlooked and counted out, so it will be interesting to see if he can make an impact in the NFL for one of the 32 franchises.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay sees similarities between rookie running back Blake Corum and Kyren Williams, which is part of the reason why the Rams took Corum in the third round of this year's NFL draft. McVay also said that Williams will be a "great mentor" for Corum as he enters the NFL. The 23-year-old Corum was a big reason why Michigan won the national championship this past season, and he finished his time for the Wolverines with 3,736 rushing yards on 675 carries for 58 total touchdowns. The 5-foot-8, 205-pounder is more of a pounder than a straight speed guy, but he should complement Williams well. Williams will remain the team's primary pass-catching back in 2024, but the addition of Corum to LA's backfield is ultimately bad news for his fantasy upside this fall after he broke out for managers in 2023.

Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus, who was reinstated last week after being suspended for all of last season for violating the NFL's gambling policies, reached an undisclosed agreement with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, according to his agents. The 26-year-old former fifth-round pick (166th overall) by the Lions in 2020 out of Wisconsin has a total of 37 receptions on 60 targets for 568 yards and four touchdowns in 22 games (six starts) in his three seasons in the league. The Bills are notably lacking receiver depth after trading Stefon Diggs to the Texans and losing Gabe Davis in free agency this offseason, so Cephus will have a chance to carve out a spot as receiving depth in Buffalo this summer in training camp. His best season came in his rookie year in 2020, when he caught 20 of 35 targets for 349 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games (two starts).

The Los Angeles Rams have selected University of Michigan running back Blake Corum with the No. 83 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The national champion is the third running back off the board following Texas' Jonathon Brooks and Florida State's Trey Benson. He totaled 2,905 scrimmage yards and a whopping 47 touchdowns over his last two seasons. He's not a major contributor in the passing game but clearly carves out plenty of work on the ground and near the goal line. Kyren Williams is still Los Angeles' top running back, but Corum should carve out a role and could even have immediate fantasy appeal given his nose for the end zone.