The Los Angeles Rams’ Week 17 just got a lot less exciting. After the San Francisco 49ers won on Sunday Night Football, the NFC West officially became a two-team race. Despite quarterback Matthew Stafford chasing an MVP and a significant portion of the season atop the standings, the Rams cannot win the division.
As they hit the road for Monday Night Football against the Atlanta Falcons, the Rams may play with a little more caution than initially anticipated.
What Is Kyren Williams’ Status for Monday Night Football?
Despite a division title being out of reach, the Rams are expected to play their starters in Atlanta. There’s naturally a risk involved. An injury to Stafford, wide receiver Puka Nacua, or running back Kyren Williams could shift the balance of power in the NFC. Still, there are short- and long-term reasons for the Rams to win on Monday.
For one, the NFC’s cast of division winners is not created equal. The NFC West has three Super Bowl contenders, while the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles bring both flaws and feistiness to mid-January football. A loss on Monday could eventually sentence the Rams to a date in Chicago or Philadelphia.
A win, though, would help cement the Rams as the NFC’s fifth seed (if the Seattle Seahawks beat San Francisco in Week 18). That would send the Rams back east to play either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Carolina Panthers.
Neither team looks the part of a playoff contender and largely offers the worst two quarterbacks of the NFC’s playoff teams. Even after losing to Carolina in Week 13, the Rams would be legitimate favorites against either squad.
Subsequently, it makes sense for the Rams to start Williams and the full assortment of healthy starters. The Falcons are beatable on defense, ranking 18th in PFSN’s Defense Impact metric, 26th in rushing EPA, and 27th in rushing success rate.
The stage is set for Williams to have a big day and solidify the Rams’ playoff standing.
Doing so would also help the Rams in April. Last year, the Falcons traded their 2026 first-round pick to trade up with the Rams and take edge rusher James Pearce Jr. That pick currently sits at No. 11 overall, so a Rams win could push it into the top 10, arming a Super Bowl contender with ammo meant for cannon fodder.
Williams currently ranks sixth in PFSN’s Running Back Impact metric, posting 1,100 rushing yards and 10 scores through 15 games. All things considered, Williams is expected to be a full-go for Monday Night Football, although the Rams could have a quicker trigger if things get out of hand.
