Blake

Corum

Corum’s rookie season has come to an end. The talented young player rushed 58 times for 207 yards, caught 7-of-8 targets for 58 yards and returned six kickoffs for 164 yards. He displayed his tackle-breaking prowess in all three phases, totaling 11 missed tackles forced as a rusher, one as a receiver and four as a returner. Corum’s promising rookie showing could earn him a larger role in 2025 but Kyren Williams did nothing to lose the starting gig and remained healthy all season. Corum is firmly entrenched in the No. 2 spot for now, although his upside is undeniable.

He’s listed as questionable to return but has next to no chance to see another snap in a meaningless game for LA. Entering the game as the Rams’ top back with Kyren Williams inactive alongside other LA starters, Corum had two carries for ten yards before leaving the game. Ronnie Rivers is in line to be the Rams’ lead back for the rest of the game.

The Rams will sit several starters in Sunday’s season finale against the Seahawks, and Corum was the first name mentioned when he was asked about players he’s looking forward to seeing in larger roles come game time. Corum has run the ball just 56 times for 197 scoreless yards in his rookie campaign, but he sounds like a lock for double-digit touches against a Seahawks defense that’s allowed the 15th-most fantasy points per game (23.1) to opposing running backs over the last five weeks. McVay also mentioned that he’d like to get a longer look at rookie Cody Schrader, but Corum sounds like a potential Week 18/DFS smash for those grinding through the final week of the regular season.

He explicitly mentioned Jimmy Garoppolo and Blake Corum as players he’s hoping to see get more playing time. Matthew Stafford-reliant managers can rejoice and move on after his three consecutive duds to end the season. The Rams have nothing to play for but pride and the difference between the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds against the Seahawks. (The Falcons can only be the No. 4 seed, while a Buccaneers win and Rams loss would give Tampa the No. 3 seed.)

Corum also had a 35-yard run called back by an illegal shift penalty. The rookie looks solid but is a distant back-up to Kyren Williams.

Corum looked good with his carries and did show the tackle-breaking ability that made him a star at Michigan. However, he continues to be used to briefly spell Kyren Williams at times, even when Williams averages just 3.0 yards per carry, like today. Corum is a solid target in dynasty leagues because of his tackle-breaking ability, but this is firmly Williams’ backfield in 2024.

Corum rotated into the game on the Rams’ second possession, getting the Rams’ first backfield carries of the game. He showed burst, averaging 5.3 yards per carry against a weak Saints run defense. In true Sean McVay fashion, Kyren Williams carried the load the rest of the game while Corum was hardly seen outside of the second possession. Nevertheless, Corum has shown he can be efficient when given chances. He continues to rank as a high-value backfield backup the rest of the season.

Corum’s six touches were tied for his second most of the season. Corum is more regularly mixing in for change-of-pace/breather back usage over the past few weeks, but nowhere close to the level that would produce standalone fantasy value. He’s a high-end insurance back who becomes a flimsier hold with each passing week between now and the fantasy playoffs. You have to play for today, not tomorrow, if you’re fighting for a spot.

Lead back Kyren Williams maintained one of the most robust backfield shares in the league in Week 10, something drafters that speculated on Corum this offseason have grown all too familiar with this season. Corum remains one of the better pure handcuff backs in the league, albeit requiring an injury to Williams to return viable counting stats.

Corum sadly did not receive the classic post-bye rookie bump in usage following the Rams’ Week 6 break. He remains just a high-end bench stash at this time and cannot be started against the Vikings in Week 8.