Volume is king in fantasy football. It’s one of the game’s most sound and effective strategies today, especially at running back.
Today, we discuss two “kings” within their offense, Los Angeles Rams RB Kyren Williams and Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor, and help you decide which player is fantasy gold. Their average draft position (ADP) is close, as Taylor resides at 11th overall, and Williams is 17th.
Their consensus rankings mimic that proximity, too. Both offenses have a high ceiling to them and allow these running backs a chance to dominate within the scheme. It’s a close battle but only one running back can provide more of an advantage. Let’s break down both players to help you navigate that decision.
2024 Fantasy Outlook for Kyren Williams
Williams burst onto the scene last year, becoming the workhorse back for a Sean McVay offense. His 228 rushing attempts were the 13th-most in the NFL. On those carries, he produced the third-most rushing yards (1,144). He also fell into the endzone 12 times, the seventh-highest total among running backs.
Williams dominated the stat sheet in every way possible last year, making him the steal of fantasy football and one of the game’s most impressive stories.
According to TruMedia, Williams landed in the top 10 for rushes per touchdown by scoring once every 19 rushing attempts. He also finished 15th in third down conversion rate. You couldn’t ask for more from the running back position, especially at his draft-day cost.
However, the latest news has us hesitant about Williams, as McVay talked about using him as a punt returner more. That takes away from his per-touch upside while opening him up to more hits.
2024 Fantasy Outlook for Jonathan Taylor
When looking at Taylor’s stats, we must remember that he missed the first four weeks of the season and three games in the middle of the season. Taylor was struck with the injury bug last season, but that didn’t stop him from making his mark when healthy.
Taylor was the 15th-best running back by yards per attempt (4.4_. He also ranked 14th with his seven touchdowns. He scored a touchdown every 24.14 rushes. His advanced stats reinforce what we already know: Taylor is one of the best backs in the league.
Our only fear with Taylor is injury and opportunity stolen by his mobile quarterback, Anthony Richardson. Injury can happen to anyone, so that’s often not worth worrying about.
On the flip side, Richardson’s rushing ability is top-notch and can dent Taylor’s production in the red zone. Taylor managers are banking on Richardson elevating the offense enough to write off the stolen touchdowns.
Who Should I Draft in 2024?
We should be drafting Taylor in 2024. The Colts have no competition for their workhorse back this year. It’s Taylor and Trey Sermon—that’s it for relevant running backs in that Indianapolis room. Meanwhile, Los Angeles’ starter must deal with Blake Corum, who has higher draft capital attached to his name than the Williams truthers would appreciate.
The biggest issue when drafting Taylor is that you must deal with his Week 14 bye week, but that risk can be mitigated by his reward for the rest of the season. Take him with confidence at the end of Round 1.
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