The reason why Kyren Williams wasn’t ranked as a top-10 RB

Despite ranking sixth in rushing yards last season, Kyren Williams only got an “honorable mention” on a recent top-10 running backs list at ESPN, an order determined by a survey of execs, coaches, and scouts. But it could be less of an indictment on Williams and more of a credit to the Rams offensive line. Williams did rush for 1,252 yards and only five backs had more in 2025, but the offensive line ranked first in a key stat.

The L.A. Rams ranked first in Adjusted Line Yards by a wide margin, per FTN Fantasy:

What are adjusted line yards and how do the attempt to separate OL contributions in the run game from running backs?

What are ALY?

Adjusted Line Yards (ALY) is a rushing metric created by Football Outsiders to estimate how much credit (or blame) an offensive line deserves for a team’s rushing production, rather than simply looking at yards per carry.

The core idea is that not all rushing yards belong equally to the offensive line. The line has much more influence on the first few yards of a run than on a 50-yard touchdown, where the running back’s vision, speed, and broken tackles matter much more.

The formula weights rushing yards like this:

Portion of run and Credit given to offensive line”
– Losses are 120% (extra penalty)
– 0-4 yards are 100% credited to OL
– 5-10 yards are 50% credited to OL
– 11+ yards are 0% credited to OL

Suppose a running back has four carries:

• -2 yards
• 3 yards
• 8 yards
• 30 yards

Adjusted Line Yards would calculate:

• -2-yard run: counts as -2.4 (120%)
• 3-yard run: counts as 3
• 8-yard run: first 4 yards count fully (4), next 4 count half (2), total = 6
• 30-yard run: first 4 yards count fully (4), next 6 count half (3), remaining 20 count 0, total = 7

Although the back rushed for 39 actual yards, the offensive line receives credit for only:

-2.4 + 3 + 6 + 7 = 13.6 Adjusted Line Yards

It limits an explosive back’s ability to over-credit an offensive line as a “great” run-blocking offensive line based solely on total rushing yards, which most people do. Which one thing we know about Kyren Williams…

What this means for Kyren Williams

Everyone knows that Kyren isn’t the most explosive back, which is why he was drafted in the fifth-round instead of the second or the third. It would also help explain why some fans think that Williams’ 1,252 yards and 4.8 yards per carry is maybe even a little underwhelming given the offensive line he has in front of him.

Here’s what an NFL coordinator said about Williams:

“Really underrated. Productive, tough as s—, runs hard, brings the juice, has improved as a pass catcher and really good in protection. Just doesn’t have the high-end traits of some of the others.” — NFL coordinator

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