Los Angeles Rams RB Kyren Williams has now missed multiple weeks with an ankle injury, but when can fantasy football managers expect him back? The Rams return to action this week after their bye, but we’ll have to wait a little bit longer to see Williams on the field. Let’s take a look at the latest injury update for Williams when he can return, and his potential fantasy value when he returns.
Latest Injury Update on Kyren Williams
Things had been a little bit quiet in regards to injury updates on Williams since he was placed on injured reserve, but the most recent news from head coach Sean McVay appeared to be positive.
Last Monday, McVay told reporters, “Coming after Seattle, then we expect to get Kyren Williams back.” The Rams face Seattle in Week 11, which puts Williams on pace to return in Week 12 when they head to Arizona.
That is in line with the timeframe McVay outlined when Williams was first placed on IR with a high ankle sprain. That positivity would suggest that Williams has not suffered a setback since his original injury back in Week 6.
There are still another couple of weeks to navigate but so far so good. We may get more updates this week from McVay, but with Williams not able to return to practice this week, it may be we won’t hear anything further until next week. This would be a case where no news would be considered good news and we may only hear if there is a setback.
When Can Williams Return?
The earliest that Williams can return is Week 12 when the Rams face the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale. He can return to practice ahead of that game, which will open a 21-day window to activate him to the 53-man roster.
When the Rams placed Williams on IR, it mandated a minimum four-game absence. That was exacerbated by the bye week being in the middle, meaning he would be gone for five weeks, albeit one of those we knew about at the start of the season.
The game against Seattle will be his fourth game on IR, so he’s eligible to be designated to return immediately following that.
What Is Williams’ Fantasy Value?
When Williams got injured, he had firmly established himself as a starting RB for fantasy managers. In the three games preceding the injury, he had 301 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, and 28 receiving yards. So far, we haven’t seen anyone do anything in his absence to push him out of a starting role.
Los Angeles signed Darrell Henderson, who has 111 rushing yards, 75 receiving yards, and a touchdown. He has worked alongside Royce Freeman, who has 142 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
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With neither having made a significant mark thus far, there is every chance we see Williams back as the starter when he returns.
The only thing to watch for is any potential timeframe for ramping up. It’s possible that Williams sees a reduced workload in his first game back in Week 12 before returning to a starting role in Week 13. That is something fantasy managers will need to be aware of.
In terms of how you should treat him, it depends on your situation. If you need wins now, it might be smart to trade Williams if someone is willing to offer you starting-RB value. Yet, if you’re in a good spot, he could be a great asset to bring back into your lineups for the run to the fantasy playoffs.
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