Despite already having Kyren Williams and Blake Corum locked in as their top two backs last year, the Los Angeles Rams still traded up 10 spots to select Jarquez Hunter in the fourth round of the 2025 draft. In his rookie season, Hunter had zero carries and didn't even play a single snap on offense, being a healthy scratch multiple times last year.
It was a disappointing development for the promising running back, and the outlook hasn't gotten much better this year. He's still the No. 4 option behind Williams, Corum and Ronnie Rivers, and he could even be in danger of losing that role.
That's because undrafted rookie Dean Connors showed a lot of promise in the Rams' preseason win over the Chiefs on Saturday. And it's not so much that Connors put up better numbers, but it's the skill set he brings to the table.
Connors was a solid runner in college, but he was also a very good receiver out of the backfield. In the last three years (two at Rice, one at Houston), he caught 139 passes for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns.
And sure enough, the two touchdowns he scored against the Chiefs in his preseason debut on Saturday were through the air. He caught a 9-yard screen pass from Ty Simpson, split two defenders and punched it into the end zone for the game's first touchdown.

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