Williams and the Rams agreed to terms Tuesday on a three-year, $33 million contract extension, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Williams had been heading into the final year of his rookie contract, but the 2022 fifth-round pick now locks in a three-year extension that includes $23 million guaranteed, per Schefter. Coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing campaigns, Williams remains locked in atop Los Angeles' backfield depth chart with 2024 third-round pick Blake Corum and rookie fourth-rounder Jarquez Hunter available as backup options. Williams has proven himself a tremendous fit for coach Sean McVay's tendency to utilize a single workhorse running back, a role he's translated into 31 total touchdowns across the last two years (28 regular-season appearances). With his contract situation resolved, Williams can be considered one of the safest RB options coming off the board in the early rounds of fantasy drafts due to him having a chance to lead the league in carries. Fantasy managers may continue to exercise some caution regarding Los Angeles' offense as a whole until a specific timetable for the return of Matthew Stafford (back) is provided, though the Rams have expressed continued confidence that the veteran QB will be available for Week 1.

Williams is expected to practice after reporting to Rams training camp in the midst of contract negotiations, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Williams was a candidate to stage a hold-in until he got a new deal, but the running back himself dismissed that idea, telling Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com that he'll take the field throughout training camp and even Week 1 if a new contract hasn't been worked out. Williams remains the Rams' unquestioned No. 1 RB on the heels of back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns on the ground in which he also combined for 31 total touchdowns in 28 regular-season games. Next up behind Williams on the depth chart are 2024 third-round pick Blake Corum and rookie fourth-rounder Jarquez Hunter.

Williams reported for the start of training camp as contract extension talks with the Rams continue, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes that Williams could opt to hold-in and not actually practice, however. The running back participated in offseason activities after Rams GM Les Snead said in March that he wanted to "engineer a long-term partnership" with Williams. The team has made significant investments in the backfield recently, taking Blake Corum in the third round of the 2024 Draft and Jarquez Hunter in the fourth round this year. Williams, meanwhile, is entering the final year of his rookie contract after back-to-back seasons with at least 1,350 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns.

Rams running backs coach Ron Gould said recently that Williams is looking more explosive this offseason, Wyatt Miller of the team's official website reports.

EDGE Analysis

"The first thing that stood out to us was his explosiveness," Gould said of Williams. "One of the things (I noticed) was just his ability to stay grounded through some of his runs that was really, really evident in the work that he's put in, so really, really pleased with that." Williams averaged a pedestrian 4.1 yards per carry on a career-high 316 rushes last season. That marked a significant dip from his 5.0 YPC mark from the previous season. Williams also fumbled a career-high five times. Still, the Rams and Williams' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, have reportedly been discussing an extension this offseason, but the sides have yet to hammer out an agreement. Williams is facing more backfield competition this season in the form of second-year back Blake Corum and rookie Jarquez Hunter. He's a risky early-round fantasy pick due to the lack of big play ability and proneness to turnovers.

Rams GM Les Snead said Monday that he wants to "engineer a long-term partnership" with Williams, Gary Klein of the LA Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Williams has been a polarizing player in the fantasy sphere since his 2023 breakout, and that's unlikely to change after he dipped to 4.1 YPC in 2024 while fumbling six times (including once in the playoffs). He otherwise had another big year, ranking third in carries per game (19.8), sixth in rushing yards per game (81.2) and tied for fifth in rushing touchdowns (14), giving him 26 rushing scores and five receiving TDs in 38 regular-season games over the past two seasons. Blake Corum, a 2024 third-round pick, never made a serious push to threaten Williams last season, and it sounds like the Rams would rather give Williams a contract extension than search for his replacement. Snead said he's already exchanged initial contract terms with agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Williams rushed 19 times for 106 yards and caught one of two targets for minus-1 yard in Sunday's 28-22 NFC divisional-round loss to the Eagles. He also lost a fumble.

EDGE Analysis

Williams set the tone early by picking up a fourth-and-1 from Philadelphia's 10-yard line with a four-yard run on the opening drive to set up a Tyler Higbee touchdown catch three plays later. The standout running back added a 30-yard run in the third quarter to set up a Joshua Karty field goal that tied the game at 13-13, but Williams lost a critical fumble with the Rams driving for a go-ahead score in the fourth quarter, kicking off a run of 12 consecutive Eagles points that proved too much for LA to overcome. Williams is scheduled to play the final season of his four-year rookie contract in 2025, but the 2022 fifth-round draft pick is an offseason extension candidate after racking up 2,831 scrimmage yards and 31 total touchdowns across the last two regular seasons.

Williams rushed 16 times for 76 yards and secured all three targets for 16 yards and a touchdown in the Rams' 27-9 wild-card win over the Vikings on Monday night.

EDGE Analysis

Williams served as the ideal complement to the efforts of Matthew Stafford through the air and the Rams' stellar defensive performance, helping move the chains on the ground and opening the scoring with a five-yard touchdown catch to cap off the opening possession of the contest. Williams looked refreshed after getting Week 18 off, but he'll have his work cut out for him in Sunday's divisional-round road matchup against an elite Eagles run defense.

Williams will be held out of Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

Coach Sean McVay confirmed Friday that Williams and WRs Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp will be among the players rested Week 18, as will QB Matthew Stafford and multiple starting linemen. QB Jimmy Garoppolo, RB Blake Corum and WRs Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington may be the focal points of the offense this Sunday.

Williams appears likely to sit out or handle a limited role in Sunday's game against the Seahawks, after head coach Sean McVay acknowledged Monday that the Rams are planning to rest key players in the regular-season finale, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports. "There's a handful of guys that could come to mind immediately, but I'm excited about seeing Blake Corum get a heavy workload," McVay said, when speaking about the Rams' approach for Week 18. "I'm excited to see what Cody Schrader is about. I've loved what I've seen from him in some of these practice settings. I think Blake has flashed in some of the opportunities that he's gotten."

EDGE Analysis

The Rams are assured at least the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoffs and can clinch the No. 3 seed with a win over Seattle, but McVay suggested that the team's main priority in Week 18 will be avoiding injuries to top contributors heading into the postseason. Though McVay didn't explicitly say that Williams will be held out Sunday, the coach's comments about Corum and Schrader imply that Williams will see only light snaps, if he's not a healthy inactive for the contest. With 316 carries and 34 receptions through 16 games, Williams' touch count this season ranks second to only Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley (345 carries, 33 catches) among all running backs, so it makes sense for the Rams to build in some maintenance for the 24-year-old ahead of the playoffs. Expect Williams to reclaim his normal three-down workhorse role during the Rams' wild-card game.

Williams rushed the ball 13 times for 56 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 13-9 win over the Cardinals. He added three receptions on three targets for 16 yards.

EDGE Analysis

The Rams had a tough offensive night and ran only 54 plays while possessing the ball for just 23:05. That left Williams with unusually low volume, as his 13 carries were his fewest since Week 2. Nevertheless, he turned in an efficient performance, highlighted by his 16th touchdown of the season, which came on a one-yard plunge into the end zone late in the second quarter. He's now scored in five of his last six games. Los Angeles' playoff status will become official Sunday, news that could dictate whether Williams sees a heavy workload in a potentially pivotal divisional Week 18 matchup against the Seahawks.