NFL Draft Profile: Kyren Williams, Running Back, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
#23
Pos: RB
Ht: 5090
Wt: 194
Hands: 0900
Arms: 2858
40: 4.65
Vertical: 32
Broad Jump: 908
DOB: 8/26/_
Eligible: 2022
Saint Louis, MO
Saint John Vianney High School
Kyren Williams
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
One-Liners
Kyren Williams flashes with physicality and relentlessness throughout his game. He will be able to fight for a primary role in a running back room when he gets drafted.
Pros:
The way Kyren Williams blocks as a running back is something special. He seeks out blocks and gives all of his effort in each and every block. The mentality that he brings is special. Brings good technicalities to his game, looks like he’s always doing everything correct. Good ball protection and contact balance when he approaches defenders looking to make a tackle. Always fights for extra yards. Finishes every play with his legs churning forward. Once he advances to the second level, Williams definitely flashes some elite speed that elevates his ceiling as a player. He is not afraid to get physical whatsoever, as a blocker and runner. Knows how to read his blocks and make his body smaller to slither through traffic.
Cons:
Lacks the consistent burst and elusiveness at the line of scrimmage to get consistent yardage. Gets caught in the backfield much too often. Not extremely successful as a runner between the tackles. Leaves some questions to be asked of his athleticism in terms of his explosiveness and long speed. Sufficient as a receiver, but won’t be anything more than a safety valve in the NFL. Would like to see some more sense of urgency with the ball more consistently.
Summary:
Kyren Williams is coming off his first full season starting for the Fighting Irish. He has turned heads because of his ability at the forefront of that running back room. Williams flashes because of the physicality and dawg mentality that he possesses. He can contribute in all three phases of the game for his position as a ball carrier, receiver and blocker. Something to look for regarding improvement in his game is more of a consistency running through the tackles and showing some more urgency to hit gaps hard and have more home-run plays.
Background:
Hometown is St. Louis, Missouri. Attended St. John Vianney HS. 247Sports ranked him a four-star prospect and a top 25 running back in the nation. 2018 Missouri Football Coaches Association Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-State. Helped his school to win the Class 5 State Championship.
Grades
Current Player Value/Potential Player Value
8.0 / 8.3
Quotes:
"I’m a football player, not a track star. If you turn on the tape, you can see who I really am. You’ll see that I don’t get caught from behind and I have the speed to make things happen. I’ll definitely improve that time, but I’m not worried what people have to say about it." -- Kyren Williams on his disappointing forty-yard dash time
2022 Kyren Williams Fantasy Football Overview:
Size matters in the NFL, especially for running backs. The majority of the top fantasy rushers are 210-pounds or more. Kyren Williams comes in at 5-foot-nine 195-pounds, making him a candidate for a third-down and change-of-pace role. The good news is he should be outstanding in this role.
The last two seasons have been productive for the former Notre Dame rusher. Williams amassed 2,792 combined yards with 31 touchdowns, including 77 receptions out of the backfield. Williams can make defenders miss and has enough speed to make the occasional big play. In addition to being a great pass-catcher, he is also an excellent blocker, a skill that will attract many teams in April.
2022 Kyren Williams Draft Strategy:
Despite being an ideal third-down back, Williams is likely a day-three pick. Running backs under 200-pounds tend to fall in the draft. The hope is that he does not fall too far. Dynasty managers need to pay close attention to the landing spot for the four-star prospect. The ideal location for Williams will be a team that is not deep at running back. One guy above him on the depth chart is fine, but more than that will kill his value. If he lands in a good spot, he will be a solid second-round pick in rookie drafts. But if he lands in a crowded backfield, he could fall to the third round.
Best Case Scenario:
The teams with a glaring hole at running back are great options for potential lead backs; Miami, Buffalo, and Seattle, to name a few. Williams could excel for those teams, but his skill-set increases the number of good landing spots. Tennessee, Las Vegas, and Cincinnati have excellent primary backs but could be looking for someone to share some of the workload. Williams will have solid fantasy value if he can be top two on the depth chart regardless of who drafts him.
Worst Case Scenario:
Falling to the fifth round or later would not be ideal for Williams. Getting drafted by a team with two good rushers would relegate Williams to a depth-chart stash. Minnesota, Green Bay, and New England have crowded backfields, making them awful for running backs. If one of these teams selects Williams, he will not have any value unless a player above him gets injured or signs with another team in free agency.
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