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Kyren Williams deserves to be in the conversation among the NFL’s best running backs and the stats support his case beyond a shadow of a doubt. For example, if Saquon Barkley is a consensus choice for being in the elite class, then why not Williams?
After all, Williams has been more consistent than Barkley over the past three seasons, he has scored 10 more touchdowns than Barkley since 2023, and the difference in yards per carry and receiving yards between them is negligible.
If Williams isn’t better than Barkley, a running back who almost every fan says is elite, he’s at least on the same level. Just look at these comparisons over the past three seasons:
By those raw rushing and receiving stats, Williams clearly holds his own against the 2024 Offensive Player of the Year, which is also the season in which Barkley got half of his total rushing yards over the past three seasons.
With different offensive line combinations and schematic changes by Sean McVay every year, Williams has remained consistent by rushing for at least 1,144 yards and 10 touchdowns every season since 2023.
But it doesn’t stop there. By some other key rushing stats for running backs, Williams holds his own against a player who many believe will get into the Hall of Fame one day.
One of the statements we keep hearing during Rams broadcasts is how important it is to pick up positive yardage on a first-down carry, something Williams does consistently. McVay stresses positive yardage on first down and 5, 4, or even 3 yards completely changes the sequence of play calls going forward in that series. Getting stuffed at the line of scrimmage is equal to an incomplete pass and getting tackled behind it is like a sack. Williams avoids these negative plays at an elite level.
Kyren Williams has had a lower percentage of runs for a loss than Saquon Barkley in each of the past three seasons and the difference last season was stark:
In 2025, Williams was stopped 4.63% of the time, much better than Barkley’s 14.64%.
No yards? Lost yards? Williams is one of the best at avoiding these, making McVay’s job as OC so much easier.
In 2025, Williams led all starters with had an astounding 50.19% success rate, compared to Barkley’s 37.5%.
A successful play for a running back is defined as follows:
On first down, gaining 40% of the required yards.
On second down, gaining 60% of the required yards
On third down, gaining 100% of the required yards.
Because Success % focuses on consistency rather than just explosive, long breakaway plays, it is excellent for measuring an offensive line’s impact and a back’s reliability in keeping the chains moving.
While McVay may love the explosive plays and dials them up frequently, the Rams are designed to facilitate a methodical, grind-it-out style of play. He’d rather have a clock-controlled win than a shoot-out.
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