Fantasy managers, rejoice. King Kyren Williams is back in action after spending four weeks on the shelf with an ankle injury. During those four weeks, his fantasy owners missed a gaping hole of 17.5 fantasy points per game, along with 95 total yards per game from their starting running back.
With an expected workhorse role, a full bill of health, and a smash spot mashup, Williams is set up to succeed in his Week 12 return.
KYREN WILLIAMS WEEK 12 FANTASY OUTLOOK
Based on their actions, Sean McVay and the Rams have made it clear that Williams is ready to roll.
When Williams was designated for injured reserve, the Rams added old friend Darrell Henderson Jr. to its stable of running backs. Henderson contributed fairly significantly, handling 56 touches across four games, alongside Royce Freeman.
Since Williams returned to practice, the team has since released Henderson. Going from 12+ touches per game to being released is a phenomenal sign that Williams is in line to handle a large workload when he returns.
Speaking of Williams’ usage, he had one of the best roles for a running back before he was injured.
Regarding running back work in Los Angeles, Williams handled almost everything and was a true workhorse in McVay’s system.
However, this insane workload may not hold up following the injury. Royce Freeman has played a significant third down and goal line role in recent weeks, handling over 50 percent of running back carries in two straight games. But, the role before the injury and the release of Henderson indicates that Kyren will be involved early and often.
Sean McVay, a reliable coach per the guys over at The Coachspeak Index, said he would get the “normal workload” in his return. According to TCI, McVay is trustworthy 75% of the time regarding usage and workload coachspeak.
THE MATCHUP
To keep things simple, the Cardinals are a dream matchup for any running back. The Cardinals allow 26.6 fantasy points per game to RBs, the third-most in the NFL. They’ve also allowed a running back to have 80+ total yards in every game this season, excluding Week 1.
This included an explosion from Williams, where he took 20 carries for 158 yards, and a trip to the endzone back in Week 6.
Williams has been highly productive throughout the season and has a premium matchup on Sunday. Following the release of Henderson, it appears to be wheels up against this soft front-seven.
SUMMARY
In the perfect matchup for his return, fire up Kyren Williams in his return. He’s been full-go at practice this week and is set for a significant workload, likely in the 70-80% snap range.
Williams checks in at RB12 (+6 vs ECR) in The Wolf’s Fantasy Week 12 Rankings. He’s an RB1 this week and should be treated as such in fantasy lineups. Don’t overthink it.
