Is Rams 'Spark Plug' Kyren Williams as Good as Christian McCaffrey of San Francisco 49ers?
The Los Angeles Rams are in playoff contention as they hope to join the San Francisco 49ers in vaulting from the NFC West into the NFL postseason.
If they do so, young running back Kyren Williams - who survived two early-game fumbles in last week's win over Washington but lived to tell the tale - will be a pivot point.... kind of like fellow running back Christian McCaffrey is for the Niners.
Indeed, Williams has some stats that almost mirror those of McCaffrey, the NFL's most productive running back. So ...
Is Kyren as good as Christian? Almost as good? Maybe kinda?
“He’s made a huge difference,” Rams coach Sean McVay said of Williams. “When he’s in the lineup and when he is not, it’s a very different theme for us. ... He has been a big spark plug … I’m really happy for Kyren and all his success - and it’s been earned.”
A "huge difference'' doesn't make Williams the equal of the All-Pro in San Francisco. But McVay said he's "got a lot of confidence in'' Williams. And he proved that, by following up a brief post-fumble benching by giving Williams 15 second-half carries (he totaled 27 carries for 152 yards and a touchdown in the game) ... and by featuring him as the grind-out weapon who closed the game on the ground.
“If I’m getting the ball that many times, I have to have great ball security,” Williams said. “Keep it high and tight, no matter what the situation is. Be more aware. That’s on me. I’m going to fix it, and be better next week.''
"Better'' than McCaffrey? Nah. But "better'' than he was a year ago, when as a rookie he ended up rushing 35 times for 139 yards and catching nine passes for 76 yards? Yes. And good enough to post overall numbers - 186 carries for 953 yards and eight touchdowns, and 30 receptions for 192 yards and three more scores - that rival anyone.
McCaffrey has rushed for 1,292 yards, with 509 yards receiving and with 20 total touchdowns. Williams can't match that.
But in rushing yards per game? Williams averages 95.3 yards in his 10 outings vs. McCaffrey's 92.3 in 14 games.
That's why McVay, continuing on Thursday night against the Saints, will keep feeding Kyren ... not so he can be McCaffrey, but so he can be the best Kyren possible.
