It will take time for Rams running back Kyren Williams to move on from how the 2024 season came to an end. Despite rushing for 106 yards in the Divisional Round loss to Philadelphia, Williams was "dwelling on" his fourth-quarter fumble.
"I haven't fully gotten over the fact of what happened during the game," Williams said on Monday. "Just coming up short and not being able to perform in a way that I wanted to."
In the regular season, Williams carried the ball 316 times (third in the NFL) for 1,299 yards (seventh). He also ranked fifth in rushing success rate (45.3%) among running backs, according to Next Gen Stats. Still, despite staying healthy all year for the first time in his career, Williams expected more from himself.
Until the late fumble, Williams' Divisional Round performance against the Eagles was one of his best of the season. He accumulated his third-best yards per carry (5.6), tying his season-high in missed tackles forced (seven) and longest rush (30 yards). He also set a new season-high in breakaway yards with 50. But, that one costly mistake meant he wasn't satisfied.
That's just who Williams is. No matter how much he does well, he'll always be striving to improve on shortcomings. But, the third-year back's success in his first full season isn't to be overlooked.
Williams was especially effective in the red zone, as all 14 of his touchdowns came inside the 20-yard line and his 51.4% red zone success rate ranked sixth in the NFL. His 85 first down rushes were the second-most in the NFL behind Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, and he forced 61 missed tackles, ranking ninth.
Williams had five 100-yard rushing games, four of which came in his final seven games including the playoffs. The Rams' rushing attack really came alive in the second half of the 2024 season, and Williams was the centerpiece. He received 80.7% of the Rams' running back carries throughout the regular and postseason, and 83.6% without the Rams' inconsequential Week 18 game. That's the volume of a true workhorse.
Something that can't be measured on a stat sheet, however, is how Williams' infectious energy ignited his teammates. Players and coaches repeatedly praised his authentic excitement on the field throughout the year.
"Kyren is an absolute stud," said head coach Sean McVay on Dec. 23. "He brings a toughness and physicality. The energy that he plays with I think is uplifting to everybody that he's around. He has been a catalyst."
Added offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur a day later: "There's an energy about that guy that all the guys feed off. I think we're seeing his best ball right now and I know he even feels like there's even more out there."
That vitality could be recognized by all thanks to Williams' emphatic celebrations after big plays or frustrations when he got tripped up.
Williams was the only back in the league to have his total rushing yards match his expected yards exactly, according to Next Gen Stats. That means, on any given carry, Williams gained exactly as many yards as the average NFL running back would be expected to. His ranked 194 breakaway yards ranked 25th and his nine rushes of 15 or more yards ranked 22nd during the regular season. He also fumbled five times, which was the second-most for a running back.
None of that was good enough for Williams. This offseason, he won't have any major injuries to rehab from, so those are the areas Williams plans to work on.
"(I'll work on) my ball security, my long field speed to get out of there and really just continuing to just stay strong and continuing to keep working on my body," Williams said, "because I was able to play a full season this year so continue to just keep racking those up and having those seasons."
