While there are certainly some exceptions, NFL teams typically don’t put their best players on special teams. That’s what made Sean McVay announcing Kyren Williams as the Rams’ punt returner Tuesday so shocking.
And also a little bit concerning for anyone who’s high on Willimas as a running back.
Williams isn’t known as some prolific punt returner. He returned just 14 punts in college and has returned only three in the NFL, so his experience in that role isn’t exactly extensive. The Rams have struggled to find a reliable return specialist in recent years and they hope that Williams can solve that problem, but putting your workhorse back on punt returns is risky.
From a fantasy perspective, this is an owner’s worst nightmare. How many other starting running backs are their team’s primary punt returner? I can’t think of one. Granted, the Rams only had 28 punt returns last season, 10th-fewest in the NFL, so it’s not as if Williams will be constantly taking big hits on special teams. But still. He’s supposed to be your bell cow running back who touches the ball 20 times a game.
Not only is Williams at greater risk of injury, but it’s also additional wear and tear on his body when he does actually attempt a return. It’ll be an additional three to five plays per game for him, all coming right before an offensive series, too.
McVay cited the Rams’ confidence in Blake Corum and Ronnie Rivers as players he’s confident in behind Williams, indicating that they could both get opportunities in the backfield. That only makes the fantasy outlook for Williams even worse and naturally raises the stock of Corum as a rookie this year.
Kyren Williams is going to be our punt returner,” McVay said. “It’s another opportunity for him to get touches and impact the game. You feel comfortable with that because of the confidence in Blake Corum and Ronnie Rivers being able to spell him if need be. So that was what has made it tough for ‘X’. He didn’t do anything not to win the punt return job. It’s just Kyren is a guy that we want to continue to have different ways that he can impact the game and that’s one going to be reflected.”
Williams is being drafted as a first- or second-round pick in fantasy drafts, projecting as one of the best running backs available this year. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, they get nothing out of Williams returning punts unless he takes one to the house for a touchdown. They don’t get points for his punt return yards and if this new role takes away from his running back duties, it’s obviously terrible news.
Seeing the reactions to this news on social media, it’s obvious that fantasy owners are panicking about what this means for Williams’ value.
“Do most teams use expendable players as punt returners? Yes. Is Kyren Williams most players? No! This is actually a good thing! It’s not bad. It’s seriously probably good. It’s also maybe bad. Okay, it’s both good and bad. Maybe it’ll be good! Could be bad though.” pic.twitter.com/uiEbwSle8h
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) August 28, 2024
"Kyren Williams will be the Rams' punt returner this season" pic.twitter.com/mezB6Y0Uh1
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) August 27, 2024
2023 : I lost not drafting Kyren Williams
2024 : I lost drafting Kyren WilliamsI love fantasy football
— Mason Dodd (@MasonDoddFFN) August 28, 2024
How are all our Kyren managers feeling about this? #FantasyFootball https://t.co/O2TCvicEHl pic.twitter.com/ynHEobul1S
— Fantasy Life App 📱🏈 (@FantasyLifeApp) August 27, 2024
There’s no denying Corum’s potential in this offense and he’s certainly lurking behind Williams, earning first-team reps throughout training camp before getting the preseason off as a precaution. If you drafted Williams, hopefully you picked up Corum as a handcuff, too.
If not, well, look at it this way: Cooper Kupp returned punts for the Rams at various times between 2018 and 2021 and he remained fantasy-relevant.
