Scores three touchdowns

Gurley had 22 carries for 77 yards and three touchdowns in Sunday's 33-31 win at Seattle. He also caught four of five targets for 36 yards.

Analysis: Gurley could have had four touchdowns, as he was originally awarded a nine-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. However, he was ruled down at the one-yard line after a replay review, and the Rams ultimately had to settle for a short field goal. He continues to rack up the yardage, with at least 110 yards from scrimmage in four of five games this season. Given the state of the Rams' explosive offense, he should continue to record plenty of touchdowns too, with nine scores on the year.…read more

Excels through air in Week 4 win

Gurley rushed 17 times for 83 yards and brought in four of six targets for 73 yards and a touchdown in the Rams' 38-31 win over the Vikings on Thursday night.

Analysis: Gurley went a bit underused on the ground in the shootout, but he still found his way to an impressive 4.9 yards per rush, his second-highest figure in that category this season. He also turned in a season-high total in receiving yards, getting into the end zone through the air for the first time in 2018 by hauling in a perfectly thrown eight-yard pass from Jared Goff in the first quarter. Given his typical workload and game-breaking ability in both the running and passing games, Gurley's stock…read more

Racks up 156 yards from scrimmage with touchdown

Gurley had 23 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown, adding five receptions on six targets for 51 yards in Sunday's 35-23 win over the Chargers. He also lost a fumble.

Analysis: Gurley dealt with some cramping in last week's win over Arizona, but was obviously more than fine Sunday, although he had a long run of just 14 yards. He should continue to see 20-plus touches every week as one of the most reliable and productive running backs in the league. Gurley will face Minnesota on Thursday.

Makes three end-zone visits Sunday

Gurley played 49 of 72 offensive snaps during Sunday's 34-0 win against the Cardinals. In the process, he accounted for 19 carries for 42 yards and three touchdowns to go with three catches (on three targets) for 31 yards.

Analysis: Gurley didn't have the most efficient game on the ground, averaging just 2.2 YPC, but he made up for it with three visits to the end zone. His final line was impacted by an early departure to deal with cramping, which allowed backup Malcolm Brown to post 12 rushes for 46 yards. With Gurley calling himself "fine" after the game, according to Myles Simmons of the Rams' official site, he'll take on lead duties, per usual, Sunday against the Chargers.

Dealing with cramping

Gurley is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Cardinals due to cramps, Myles Simmons of the Rams' official site reports.

Analysis: With temperatures in the mid-80s in LA and the Rams ahead 27-0 at the point of his departure in the third quarter, Gurley likely will remain on the sideline for the rest of the contest. If he doesn't make another appearance, he'll finish the day with 73 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns on 22 touches.

Back at practice Thursday

Gurley was a full participant at Thursday's practice, Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Gurley was absent from Wednesday's session due to non-injury-related reasons but does not appear to be facing any limitations going forward. There is a good chance he was simply given an extra day off after the Rams played on Monday night in their regular season opener. Gurley has a nice matchup in Week 2 against a Cardinals defense that surrendered 4.9 yards per carry to Washington running backs in their first game.

Sits out Wednesday

Gurley missed practice Wednesday for non-injury-related reasons, Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Typically, there are two reasons for sitting out practice due to a non-injury: either for maintenance purposes or due to a personal issue. Considering Gurley didn't take a snap during the preseason but still churned out 147 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown in the Week 1 win over Oakland, the 24-year-old may have been extended a courtesy day off. No matter the reason for Gurley's absence, there's no indication he's in danger of missing Sunday's divisional matchup with the Cardinals.

Tops century mark in opener

Gurley rushed 20 times for 108 yards while adding three catches for 39 yards and a touchdown on five targets in Monday's season-opening, 33-13 win over the Raiders.

Analysis: Gurley took a shovel pass to the house for a 19-yard receiving score in the first quarter, but he saved his best rushing work for later. With Los Angeles protecting a 10-point lead on what turned out to be the team's final offensive drive, Gurley picked up 41 yards on five carries, highlighted by a punishing 23-yard run. The Rams looked terrific on both sides of the ball once they finally got going in the second half, suggesting the team will often be milking the clock late and giving Gurley…read more

Won't play in preseason

Coach Sean McVay confirmed Thursday that Gurley will not play in the preseason, ESPN's Lindsey Thiry reports.

Analysis: The running back can now focus on staying healthy and preparing for the coming season, without risking injury in either of the Rams' final two preseason games. Following a 2017 season in which he carried 279 time for 1,305 yards and 13 TDs, while catching 64 passes for 788 yards and six TDs in 15 games, Gurley profiles as RotoWire's No. 1 ranked fantasy running back.

Not playing Saturday

Gurley won't suit up for Saturday's preseason game against the Texans, Rich Hammond of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Analysis: Gurley has yet to play this month, so getting ruled out for preseason Week 3 all but ensures he won't see game action until the regular-season opener. The decision is a logical one after he handled a career-high 343 touches last year en route to being named NFL Offensive Player of the Year. After racking up 321 touches in 2016, he's as safe of a bet as any running back to maintain his floor into the coming campaign.

Gets $45 million guaranteed

Gurley has reached an agreement with the Rams on a four-year, $60 million extension with $45 million guaranteed, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Analysis: The extension covers 2020-23, as Gurley is entering his fourth NFL season and the Rams have already picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. The deal makes a lot of sense for both parties, giving Gurley financial security while presumably allowing the Rams to keep his cap hit in check for a few more seasons. This does create some potential for hostility down the road, as the deal could look like a huge bargain by 2021 or 2022 if Gurley is still a superstar and the NFL salary cap…read more

The Rams have picked up Gurley's fifth-year contract option, USA Today reports.

Analysis: The running back is thus under contract with the team through the 2019 season. Keeping Gurley around was a no-brainer for the Rams, following a stellar 2017 campaign in which the 23-year-old carried 279 times for 1,305 yards and 13 TDs while adding 64 catches for 788 yards and six receiving scores in 15 games. Heading into the draft, Gurley's top backups are Malcolm Brown and Justin Davis, neither of whom presents a major threat to his workload.

Gurley rushed 14 times for 101 yards and caught four passes for another 10 yards during Saturday's 26-13 loss to Atlanta in the wild-card round.

Analysis: Gurley joined historic company this season by leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage and total touchdowns, and while he struggled to get going early Saturday, his numbers at the conclusion of the game were up to his usual standard. Unfortunately, Los Angeles turned the ball over twice on special-team returns in the first quarter, and it put the offense in a tough spot. While the Rams stuck around until late in the fourth quarter, those turnovers proved to be too much to overcome, and Gurley…read more

Won't play Week 17

Gurley will be held out for Sunday's regular-season finale against the 49ers, Rich Hammond of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Analysis: With his team destined for either the No. 3 or 4 slot in the NFC, head coach Sean McVay determined that keeping his stars healthy is more important than the minor difference in seeding. He might've decided otherwise if Carson Wentz (knee) were still healthy, as the No. 3 seed can't face the No. 1 seed in the divisional round. In any case, Malcolm Brown figures to lead the Rams backfield this weekend, with Lance Dunbar, Tavon Austin and Justin Davis also candidates to get work. While MVP voters…read more

Could sit out Week 17 for rest

Rams head coach Sean McVay suggested Tuesday that Gurley and several other key starters could be rested for the regular-season finale Sunday against the 49ers, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Regardless of the outcome of Sunday's game, the Rams will finish the regular season as the NFC's No. 3 or 4 seed, which grants the team a first-round home playoff game in either scenario. Competing for the No. 3 spot isn't as important of a priority for McVay as keeping the Rams' core contributors healthy for the postseason, so it appears Gurley's run of late-season dominance will come to an end Week 17. Even if active Sunday, Gurley, who led many fantasy owners to championships with eight…read more

Gurley rushed 22 times for 118 yards and added 10 catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns on 13 targets in Sunday's 27-23 win over the Titans.

Analysis: The Gurley from his first two years would likely have struggled against Tennessee's third-ranked run defense, but his improvement as a receiver out of the backfield allowed the third-year running back to thrive against the Titans' 25th-ranked pass defense. He found paydirt on a three-yard catch in the first quarter and scored again on an 80-yard screen pass in the second. Gurley's jump from zero receiving touchdowns in his first two years to six this season is a big factor behind his team's…read more

Gurley ran 21 times for 152 yards and three touchdowns while reeling in all three passes directed his way for 28 yards and another score in Sunday's 42-7 defeat of the Seahawks.

Analysis: Gurley rumbled in from the one-yard line in each of the first two quarters, went virtually untouched on a 57-yard run with less than a minute remaining in the first half, and added his receiving touchdown as the icing on the cake in the third before sitting out the rest of the contest. He had five rushes for nine or more yards on the day. Despite facing another tough rush defense Week 16 at Tennessee, Gurley remains a matchup-proof automatic start for fantasy purposes.

Gurley carried 13 times for 96 yards and a pair of touchdowns Sunday against the Eagles. He also caught three of five targets for 39 yards in the 43-35 loss.

Analysis: Gurley gashed the stout Philadelphia front for 7.4 yards per carry, but the flow of the game resulted in his second-lowest carry total of the season. He still made a strong impact as a pass catcher, finishing second on the team in receiving while eclipsing 100 scrimmage yards for the seventh time in the last eight games. He also has six touchdowns during that span and will remain an elite fantasy option next week against the Seahawks.

Gurley rushed 19 times for 74 yards while catching six of seven targets for 84 yards during Sunday's 32-16 victory over the Cardinals.

Analysis: Gurley was the victim of bad luck when the Rams decided to pass from the one-yard line in the first quarter. Fortunately for fantasy owners, the Georgia product made up for it through the air, ultimately finishing the day as the team leader in practically every significant receiving category. After notching 43 passes for 327 yards and zero touchdowns in 2016, Gurley is already up to 48 catches, 563 receiving yards and three touchdowns through 12 games in 2017. The only running back that's been…read more

Gurley racked up 17 carries for 74 yards and four receptions (on seven targets) for 54 yards during Sunday's 26-20 win versus the Saints.

Analysis: Gurley is enjoying a resurgent campaign under the direction of first-year head coach Sean McVay. With another 100-plus yards from scrimmage, Gurley has now accomplished the feat in eight of 11 games this season. Unfortunately for the running back, he was unable to pad his stat line with a touchdown, as the Rams' three visits to the red zone ended with a pair of Jared Goff TD throws and a Greg Zuerlein field goal. Gurley will now feast his eyes on a Week 13 matchup with the Cardinals, who he ran…read more

Gurley rushed 15 times for 37 yards and a touchdown while also hauling in three of four targets for 19 yards in Sunday's 24-7 loss to the Vikings.

Analysis: Gurley saw the abundant running room that he'd benefitted from in three of the prior four games largely evaporate Sunday, as the Vikings clearly came in with a focus on slowing down the talented third-year back. The 23-year-old did manage to score his fourth touchdown over the last three games and notch multiple catches for the fourth straight contest. Gurley has actually encountered tough sledding on the ground in two of his last three games, leading to his longest stretch without a 100-yard…read more

Gurley gained 68 yards on 11 carries and 68 yards on six receptions (seven targets) in Sunday's 33-7 win over the Texans.

Analysis: Gurley didn't do much on the ground until early in the fourth quarter when he ripped off a 34-yard gain that briefly looked like it might go for a long touchdown. He did lead the Rams in every major receiving category in the first half, but Robert Woods ended that with a massive third quarter. The Seahawks (in Week 5) are the only team that's managed to shut down Gurley this season, with the third-year back otherwise producing 96 or more scrimmage yards in every game and leading the league with…read more