​Matthew Stafford and Kyren Williams have established one of the most efficient quarterback-running back connections in the NFL, according to new Pro Football Focus data that measures EPA per play among pass-catching backs. Among all qualifying running backs with at least 18 targets, the Stafford-Williams duo sits second in the league at 0.51 EPA per play, trailing only the Justin Fields-Breece Hall pairing with the New York Jets. The Rams have produced this efficiency with substantial volume behind it: Williams was targeted 53 times by Stafford—more than double Hall’s sample size—yet still maintained an elite per-play efficiency.
Williams secured 44 of those 53 targets for 351 yards and five touchdowns, and the pairing did not commit a single turnover-worthy play all season. PFF labeled it the safest high-end connection at the running back position in 2025, and the numbers support that assessment: Stafford posted a 125.7 passer rating when targeting Williams, a mark that would rank among the league’s best if it applied to a full-season sample.
The touchdown rate stands out in particular. Five scores on 53 targets equate to a touchdown roughly every 10.6 throws Williams receives—an achievement typically associated with featured wide receivers rather than running backs operating primarily out of the backfield. This reflects the Rams’ ability to scheme Williams into scoring opportunities, whether on wheel routes, check-downs near the goal line, or designed swing passes that place him in space against slower defenders.
The efficiency also highlights Stafford’s continued precision at age 37. The fact that Williams has produced zero turnover-worthy plays on 53 targets—despite facing a variety of throws and adjustments that come with being a running back—speaks to the clean decision-making that has kept the Rams’ offense functioning smoothly even as other parts of the lineup have evolved year to year.
For a Rams offense that has leaned on Williams as both a runner and a receiving weapon, the data makes clear that his value in the passing game goes beyond mere volume. It’s about what happens when the ball actually reaches him, and the result is a backfield connection that delivers meaningful production with remarkably few mistakes. In a league that prizes efficient, low-mistake play, this Stafford-Williams partnership represents a rare blend of high output and careful ball handling.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire.