Rams among best teams in NFL on 4th-and-1 since 2023

With Matthew Stafford under center, the Los Angeles Rams have virtually no threat of a quarterback sneak in short-yardage situations. You can be sure opponents are well-aware of that, too.

Thus, Sean McVay has to come up with other ways to move the chains in these critical situations, whether it’s by putting the ball in Stafford’s hands on passing plays or handing it off to Kyren Williams.

Though the Rams do often let Stafford throw it on fourth-and-short, Williams provides a ton of value as a runner in those situations. Despite being a smaller back, Williams runs incredibly hard and most times, he picks up the first down.

Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis recently ranked every team based on their fourth-and-1 conversion rate since 2023 and the Rams are fifth (76%). Every team ahead of the Rams has a quarterback with at least some mobility threat: Chiefs, Eagles, Broncos and Buccaneers.

4th & 1 conversion rate last 3 years:

88% - KC
85% - PHI
83% - DEN
82% - TB
76% - LAR
75% - SF
74% - WAS, BAL, NO
73% - MIN
72% - CLE, DET
71% - DAL, CAR, GB
70% - ATL
69% - JAX
68% - TEN, NE, PIT, LV, NYG
64% - BUF
63% - IND, LAC
62% - CIN
59% - HOU
58% - NYJ
57% - SEA
56% -…

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 3, 2026

Stafford is plenty big and strong enough to run the quarterback sneak, but given his age and value to the Rams as a passer, it's better that they don't risk any sort of injury by plowing him into a pile of players to pick up 1 yard.

Having the luxury of a guy like Williams allows the Rams to simply hand the ball off on fourth down and trust their offensive line to move defenders off the ball and clear space for their running back.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: This Rams stat shows how valuable Kyren Williams is on 4th down