Blake Corum Fantasy Forecast 2024
Blake Corum, a self-proclaimed “Country boy” from Marshall, VA, has been playing football quite well since the age of 5. He played on various high-profile youth teams up until his high school years when he and his family made the decision for him to attend St. Vincent Pallotti in Maryland, a one-way two-hour commute from his hometown. Halfway through his high school career, Corum transferred to and lived at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. In 2019, he won Gatorade Player of the Year in Maryland, and his junior and senior years are littered with examples of success.
Blake Corum, arguably the 2nd best RB in this year’s draft class behind Jonathon Brooks, is now a member of the Los Angeles Rams. Wait, what about Kyren Williams, you ask? Or at least I did. Well, there’s the rub as Hamlet likes to say. Let’s find out how this happened and where it might be going for 2024 and beyond.
Rookie Odds
Blake Corum is currently +5000 to win Rookie of the Year. I don’t think it happens for reasons that you can mostly see below. The last RB to win Offensive Rookie of the Year was Saquon Barkley in 2018, but Todd Gurley won OROY as a Ram in 2015.
Statistical and Athletic Notes
Below are the notes I made for Blake Corum before this year’s draft:
- immense balance and power on contact.
- 4 year back, especially as a workhorse in junior and senior years
- 26 TDs as a senior
- Solid vision, makes quick decisions and uses blockers effectively
- Compact build, should be able to handle a heavy workload in NFL
- Greats stats could be result of offensive system
- Ran well in a gap/zone scheme so likely best suited for such a scheme in NFL
- Harbaugh compared him to Frank Gore
- Inconsistent pass blocker
- Short arms and low route tree experience, probably not the best receiving RB, 3rd down efficiency could be an issue.
- He has a smaller frame than a typical NFLer, especially for the style of running that he does, likely a recurring injury candidate throughout career
- Knee injuries during junior year was a decisive factor in skipping the draft and playing senior year
- Already a lot of miles on this rig
The Good
The Los Angeles Rams run an outside zone blocking scheme with their offensive line, and since Corum ran in a zone scheme at Michigan, he should be able to pick up what the Rams are putting down. The Rams have Pro Football Focus’ #1 run blocker at RG with Kevin Dotson, and the rest of their line is serviceable but not top tier. Corum also displayed an ability to punch it in the end zone from the goal line, something the Rams have liked to do under HC Sean McVay. Blake Corum has also shown an ability to be a workhorse featured back, something the Rams have not really used on a consistent basis since the Todd Gurley days. However, Corum likely will not have to do that in this offense as Kyren Williams put up some nice fantasy numbers last season, which my fantasy team thanks him for.
The Bad
Kyren Williams tried to make me forget, but I did not take the bait; Sean McVay is not to be trusted when discussing his backfield. First off, Kyren Williams is still very much here. While he did show his ability to be a featured back, he also incurred injuries because of it. The drafting of Corum is a sign to me that they don’t want to run the tread off the Kyren Williams tires. While there may be some definitive short yardage and goal line work in store for Corum, the truth is that we simply don’t know how things will shake out with this backfield from a week-to-week perspective, let alone a season long one. Corum has yet to show a knack for receiving out of the backfield, so those in PPR leagues should take that into consideration. Boston Scott is also now on this team, and Zach Evans is lurking around as well, though it was clear the coaching staff did not have faith in him last year. Oh, also this…Ronnie Rivers is still here, which reminds me to put in an any time touchdown for him in week one.
At 5’8 and 214 lbs, Corum is small for the style of running that he does. He already incurred an injury significant enough to factor into him skipping the 2023 draft. Even if Corum rises into RB1 on this depth chart in this season or future seasons, injuries are a likely concern more than your average RB.
2024 Redraft Fantasy Outlook
Blake Corum is likely to have some sort of role in this offense, which will fluctuate as the season goes on. He is currently being drafted 117th overall, a 10th round pick in standard 12 team leagues. I will say this, Kyren Williams is going with the 17th overall pick, which is too high for me in 2024. While Williams had a great season last year and will likely put up fantasy points, a second round pick is too much of a gamble. Blake Corum is the 2nd highest rated RB in this year’s draft class. The Rams have likely stolen him in the 3rd round. This isn’t a 6th round Zach Evans flier type of pick, this is an indication that the Rams hope to use Corum. If you draft Williams, then I would argue that you absolutely have to nab Corum in the 9th or 10th round. That being said, I’m not sure I would draft just Corum with my 10th round selection. I probably have other needs on my team and other players I would like to protect. If you can afford to stash Corum until the second half of the season after Williams is injured, then that could work out. I just still have PTSD from McVay lying about players like Darrel Henderson and Cam Akers.
Dynasty Outlook
Blake Corum is going off at a similar ADP in dynasty leagues, around pick 100. If you’re adding to an already established dynasty league then he probably goes much higher, but if you’re starting from scratch I don’t mind this pick. Again though, I’m not overly pursuing this situation, but it’s not like production won’t be there at some point for Corum. Is he going to be a perineal fantasy producer? Probably not. He will, however, flash at points like most Rams backs do before bowing out due to injury or being traded to the Browns in a couple years.
Bold Prediction
Ronnie Rivers gets the initial goal line duties this season before giving way to Corum in….I’ll say Week 4.
Fun Fact
Corum scored at least one TD in every single game this past season, the only FBS player to do so.
