The LA Rams drafted Michigan workhorse Blake Corum in the third round, intending to find a No. 2 running back behind Kyren Williams. However, Corum is poised to be much more than just an RB2, making him an intriguing late-round 2024 fantasy football target.
“A lot of people have said he’s similar to Williams,” Rams GM Les Snead said to reporters. “They have a very similar play style. They both really care about football, which is crucial on that side of the ball. It’s a sophisticated side of the ball.
“We’re a relatively advanced, veteran offense, so you need to bring a high care factor to get up to speed, fit right in, and keep things humming.”
Every word Sean McVay said about Blake Corum
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) April 27, 2024
They like Kyren Williams so much that they drafted his clone pic.twitter.com/EawLf8yiKK
Corum brings substantial experience to the run game, amassing 649 carries for Michigan over the past three years. During this period, he rushed for 3,660 yards and 56 touchdowns, proving he can handle a heavy workload if Williams is sidelined.
Even if Williams remains healthy, the Rams plan to manage his workload to ensure longevity. Remarkably, Williams became the first NFL player post-merger to rank in the top three in rushing despite missing four games.
Williams and Corum are poised to be the Rams’ future 1-2 punch, aligning with the team’s long-term strategy. However, Corum’s talent, football IQ, and collegiate résumé suggest he could make a significant impact in fantasy football as a rookie.
Don’t be surprised if he challenges Williams for more than just a backup role.
KYREN WILLIAMS VS BLAKE CORUM: ELITE 2024 FANTASY HANDCUFF

Kyren Williams emerged as a league-winner in 2023 fantasy football, finishing third in the NFL in rushing yards and tied for seventh in rushing touchdowns. Despite playing just 12 games, Williams rushed for 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns. He logged significant workhorse mileage in those games, with 228 carries and 260 total touches.
“It’s a tough league; it’s a 17-game season plus playoffs, might go to 18 games one day. So we always felt like we needed to have as many quality runners as possible so we don’t just totally run down Kyren,” Snead said. “And we have one or two, or even three guys that can contribute, keep everyone fresh, and let’s go and try to impose our will.”
McVay heavily relied on Williams, despite his relatively extensive injury history for a player with only 21 games under his belt. As a rookie, Williams fractured his foot in the preseason. Last year, he missed four games due to an ankle sprain and suffered a hip contusion in Week 4. This preseason, he’s already dealing with an undisclosed foot injury, providing Corum an opportunity to get up to speed on the offense.
#Rams HC Sean McVay on Kyren Williams’ foot:
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) May 21, 2024
“Kyren’s good. He had a little foot issue that we’re gonna be smart with him… He’ll be ready to go for training camp.”
McVay has a 90% reliability rating on injury coachspeak
When McVay says there’s “nothing to be concerned about,”… pic.twitter.com/j39YAsUKqr
Corum has already been deeply immersed in Sean McVay’s complex playbook. Despite being new, he’s been entrusted with nearly three-quarters of it. Since the Rams don’t run a rookie minicamp, players are immediately integrated into OTAs with veterans, rapidly accelerating the learning process.
On Corum’s first official day, coaches handed him five extensive packets. He quickly realized how each part of McVay’s run game interconnects, building a comprehensive understanding, wrote Jordan Rodrique of The Athletic.
“Coach McVay’s offense is amazing,” Corum said. “It is a lot, though. Coming from a pro-style offense at Michigan, I feel like I’m picking everything up quickly.”
Corum will also need to contribute in the passing game. Beyond mastering routes and catching ability — areas where Rodrique said he’s already shown promise — he must learn protections, tags, and blocking responsibilities at NFL speed. These three-down elements are crucial in McVay’s offense and can significantly impact his playing time.
BLAKE CORUM 2024 FANTASY OUTLOOK
Overall, Blake Corum is a younger, more talented player who brings many intangibles to the table, which should concern Kyren Williams’ fantasy managers.
Both backs are similarly built—short and stocky—but Corum possesses significantly more athleticism than the veteran. He racked up 1,245 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns last season, even after a late-season ACL injury, carrying Michigan to the national title.
lol Blake Corumpic.twitter.com/MVE15bax2F
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) February 23, 2024
This isn’t to say Kyren Williams is being written off. McVay has clearly preferred to lean on his RB1, and Williams holds that position. However, discounting Corum’s potential impact in his rookie season would be a mistake from a fantasy perspective. Even with a healthy incumbent, the rookie has a knack for the end zone and could be a fantasy villain on the goal line with the ability to earn touches in between the 20s.
Corum is currently being drafted 124.3 overall in Underdog Fantasy Best Ball drafts and should be handcuffed to Williams if you’re targeting the veteran in the second round of redraft leagues.
Corum is ranked RB40 (+3 vs ECR) on The Wolf’s 2024 Fantasy Football Rankings, while Williams is ranked RB8 and 21 overall.