Fantasy Football Player Notes

For the second straight week, we saw Kyren outtouch Blake Corum, yet he has the less efficient production. That said, he is clearly the lead back of this duo and remains attached to a potent offense. This offense just got hit by a wrecking ball, with Puka Nacua out for a while due to a knee injury. Without Davante Adams or Nacua, this team is desperate for pass-catching weapons. Thankfully, Kyren has dominated the backfield receiving work and should see a boost in targets for the rest of the season. Considering Puka Nacua accounted for just under 50% of the Rams' total yards, this team will need to rely on their steady RB tandem. Kyren's touchdown upside may dip as the offense takes a step back; however, his usage could skyrocket. At the end of the day, Kyren is still an RB1, especially this week against a vulnerable Cardinals defense.

Since Week 5, Blake Corum has been the RB16 in fantasy points per game, averaging 11.8 touches and 72.8 total yards. He has scored a touchdown in each game, which has helped to prop up the limited volume and hyper-efficiency. Among 45 qualifying backs, Corum is fourth in explosive run rate and 14th in missed tackle rate. Corum could see his hot streak come to an end this week, but the Rams could feed him more volume this week as Kyren Williams and Corum could be the engines of the offense. Over their last five games, Arizona's run defense has tightened up, allowing the ninth-lowest explosive run rate, the 12th-lowest rushing success rate, and ranking 15th in yards before contact per attempt.

Since Week 5, Tyler Higbee has led the tight end room with a 76.8% snap rate, a 65.6% route share, a 10.3% target share, and a 12.8% first-read share. Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen have combined for nine red zone targets during this stretch of games, and Hibee has only one. I could say he's due, but it's also clear the Rams' preference has been to use Parkinson and Allen in the red zone more. Over their last five games, Arizona has faced the fourth-fewest tight end targets, but they are allowing the 13th-most fantasy points per opportunity to the position. Higbee is on the streaming radar this week.

Without Davante Adams in the lineup the last three games, the Rams have utilized 13 personnel (three tight end sets) with 47.2-54.8% of their offensive snaps. It has left Konata Mumpfield a part-time player. Last week, Konata Mumpfield had only a 42.5% snap rate and a 44.4% route share. In Weeks 2-3, with Davante Adams active and Nacua out, Mumpfield had a 71.8% snap rate, a 66.7% route share, an 11.6% target share with 1.69 YPRR, and an 11.7% first-read share. Mumpfield isn't a high-end target earner. I expect Mumpfield to be the primary receiver with all the tight ends this week as the full-time option, based on his ascension earlier in the season and his ability to help in the run-blocking department. That's not something the Rams should be asking Tutu Atwell to do often. The Cardinals have the third-highest two-high rate in the NFL (65.5%). In Weeks 2-3, against two-high, Mumpfield saw his target-per-route run rate jump from 14% to 20% and his YPRR jump from 0.97 to 2.76. Now, this is only a 62-route sample, but it's worth noting. Over the last five games, Arizona has allowed the 14th-most yards per target to perimeter wide receivers. Zoom out to the entire season, and they have allowed the third-most yards per target and the fourth-most fantasy points per opportunity to the position. Mumpfield is a decent flex this week with a wonderful matchup. My biggest concerns for Mumpfield are his ability to earn a higher target share and Matthew Stafford's passing volume.

Tutu Atwell might only be a part-time player this week. I expect the Rams to lean on the run a ton. Since Week 7, Atwell has had only a 40.2% snap rate, a 52.5% route share, and a 9.3% target share. Konata Mumpfield is likely the full-time receiver, with the Rams' three tight ends on the field a ton.