Jarquez Hunter pushes for RB3 after 68-yard preseason game
Jarquez Hunter turned a quiet preseason into a positional statement, finishing with 68 yards on 5.7 yards per carry in the Rams’ 34-0 win over the Saints.
The performance reshuffles the immediate RB pecking order and compresses a handful of roster decisions before final cuts, a point highlighted in the linked preseason depth-chart analysis by Turf Show Times.
Key Takeaways
- Jarquez Hunter elevated into clear RB3 consideration after rushing for 68 yards at 5.7 yards per carry in the preseason victory.
- Kyren Williams and Blake Corum remain the team’s primary running backs and occupy the top two pecking positions on the depth chart.
- Ronnie Rivers is still listed as a likely contender for the RB3 role, but Hunter’s outing narrowed the margin for coaches evaluating the third running back.
- Roughly seven roster spots remain in contention as the Rams finalize their 53-man roster decisions ahead of final cuts.
Why Hunter’s one-cut burst matters
On tape, Hunter combined burst to the edge with a lower-body punch that allowed him to finish runs through contact against the Saints’ backups.
That blend of sudden acceleration, a decisive one-cut feel and contact balance mirrors the traits he displayed in college and is consistent with his fourth-round selection in 2025.
How the RB depth chart stacks with Ronnie Rivers
At the top of the depth chart, Kyren Williams and Blake Corum are listed as the primary backs and occupy the clear top-two roles.
Behind them the contest tightens to Jarquez Hunter and Ronnie Rivers, both labeled likely options in current projections and competing for the RB3 designation.
Dean Conners and Jordan Waters logged fewer snaps, and coaches will weigh Hunter’s game-day production alongside roster chronology and special-teams value when finalizing the backfield spots.
Preseason snap counts and roster labels
| Player | Position | Snap count | Projected roster label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stetson Bennett | QB | 51 | In |
| Ty Simpson | QB | 28 | In |
| Jarquez Hunter | RB | 40 | Likely |
| Jordan Waters | RB | 33 | Out |
| Dean Conners | RB | 6 | Out |
Roster construction and 53-man implications
Practically speaking, carrying three running backs into the regular season compresses the RB3 decision into a single roster slot that affects allocations across receivers, offensive line depth and special teams.
Hunter’s rise shifts the evaluation from roster chronology to trait-based appraisal, forcing coaches to balance offensive upside, special-teams contribution and developmental trajectory against Rivers’ familiarity with the scheme.
