Williams rushed 35 times for 139 yards and caught nine passes for 76 yards during the 2022 season.
What it means:
The fifth-round rookie's season was defined by a pair of injuries that kept Williams from unlocking his full potential. In June, Williams suffered a broken foot that cost him most of the preseason. Then, in Week 1, Williams caught the injury bug again with a high-ankle sprain that kept him off the field until Week 10. While Williams was given a fairly high snap share through the first few weeks after his return, a resurgent Cam Akers quickly sapped the usage rates of all other backs on the roster, culminating in Akers finishing Week 18 as the only back to see offensive snaps. Williams returns for his sophomore campaign as the current No. 2 back on the roster, but Akers has played his way into the clear starting role for 2023, which may limit the upside of the Notre Dame product.
Williams rushed twice for six yards during Sunday's 31-10 loss to the Chargers.
What it means:
Williams set a season low in snap count, with just three offensive snaps during a game where Cam Akers continued to rejuvenate his career with a stellar 19-123-0 rushing line. More concerning for fantasy managers, Akers is also taking over as the passing down back in recent weeks, an area where Williams was expected to excel. Williams has just two receptions for 13 yards in his previous five games combined, while Akers boasts eight receptions for 75 yards in the same span. The Rams will be looking to play spoiler to the Seahawks in the season finale, but Akers will likely retain his role as a three-down back, relegating Williams to a pittance of touches once again.
Williams rushed six times for 18 yards and caught his only target for three yards during Sunday's 51-14 victory against the Broncos.
What it means:
Williams saw just eight snaps on offense, yet earned seven touches on those limited snaps. A second-quarter drive saw the rookie get his number called on three consecutive plays, highlighted by a seven-yard run up the middle. Williams was a clear second fiddle to a resurgent Cam Akers (23-118-3), and with the Rams wanting to give Akers the opportunity to claim the backfield for his own in 2023, Williams will likely continue to see little playing time through the Rams' final two games.
Williams rushed twice for seven yards in Monday's 24-12 loss to the Packers.
What it means:
Williams only took the field for four snaps in another forgettable performance for the rookie, while Cam Akers tallied 100 total yards of offense between his 15 touches. Any optimism for a Williams breakout during the latter half of the season has been dashed with Akers reclaiming his role as the lead back, and a Week 16 matchup against an imposing Denver defense will make it a tall task to trust Williams in fantasy lineups.
Williams rushed three times for 19 yards and secured one of two targets for 10 yards in Thursday's 17-16 victory against the Raiders.
What it means:
Despite only seeing eight less snaps than fellow running back Cam Akers, Williams was utilized far less and also ceded playing time to Malcolm Brown. Akers did commit a costly fumble in the second quarter that squashed a lengthy drive for the Rams, and that coincided with Williams getting his first touches of the game on the Rams' first drive of the second half. The Rams get one of the softest run defenses in the league in Green Bay for Week 15, which combined with Akers having another lackluster rushing performance (12-42-1) may give Williams some hope for brighter days ahead.
Williams rushed three times for nine yards and failed to secure his only target during Sunday's 27-23 loss against the Seahawks.
What it means:
The Rams saw six different players record a rushing attempt on Sunday, and Williams finished fifth on the team in rushing yardage, only besting backup quarterback Bryce Perkins, who only took the field for a single snap. Cam Akers led the team with a 17-60-2 line and was on the field for 72 percent of the Rams' offensive snaps, compared to just 28 percent for Williams, who has seemingly fallen to the clear No. 2 role in one of the weakest offensive units in the league. This development makes it difficult to trust the rookie running back in fantasy lineups, with the Raiders next on the docket for a Thursday night matchup in Week 14.
