- Head Coach: Sean McVay (ninth season)
- PFF projected win total: 9.5
- 2024 Record: 10-7 (first in NFC West, lost in NFC divisional round)
Biggest Strength: Pass Catchers
The Rams carried the NFL’s highest-graded wide receiver unit last season and could be even better in 2025. Puka Nacua led the NFL in PFF receiving grade despite missing six games. Los Angeles let Cooper Kupp depart but picked up Davante Adams, who earned a 76.8 PFF receiving grade last season. Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington are also viable options, as is a deep tight end room that features Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson and second-round rookie Terrance Ferguson.
Biggest Weakness: Pass Protection
The Rams’ pass protection, or lack thereof, was often the biggest determinant of their success in 2024. They ranked 30th as a team in PFF pass-blocking grade and lost seven of the 11 games in which they earned a sub-62.5 PFF pass-blocking grade. Their center position should be more stable with Coleman Shelton in the fold, but they need improvement from their guards and Alaric Jackson to be healthy for as many games as possible.
Quarterback Spotlight: Matthew Stafford
- 2024 PFF Grade: 74.7
- Key Stat: 14 turnover-worthy plays under pressure (tied for most in NFL)
Even at 37 years old, Matthew Stafford is still perfectly capable of making any throw on the field when he is given a clean pocket. His 26 big-time throws in 2024 were a top-10 mark, while his 90.6 clean-pocket PFF passing grade ranked seventh.
Stafford's lack of mobility and suspect decision-making caused him to post a paltry 33.3 PFF passing grade under pressure. His ongoing back injury could exacerbate that issue, which furthers the need for the Rams to improve their pass protection.
Offensive Player: WR Puka Nacua
Nacua missed six games last season but still produced as if he hadn’t missed any time. His 92.6 PFF receiving grade and 3.23 yards per route run both led all qualified wide receivers. Nacua also ranked fourth in the NFL with 23 missed tackles forced and was nearly unstoppable in the 10-19-yard range. Only Houston’s Nico Collins bested Nacua’s 99.8 intermediate PFF receiving grade in 2024.
Defensive Player: EDGE Jared Verse
Verse had a rookie season for the ages in 2024, as he led the NFL with 89 pressures, postseason included. He also ranked among the top 10 qualified edge defenders in PFF pass-rush grade and pass-rush win rate. As if that weren’t enough, Verse joined Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt as the only edge defenders to earn 80.0-plus PFF grades as run defenders and pass rushers. The one aspect of his game left to clean up is his tackling, but Verse is already a superstar.
Rookie to Watch: EDGE Josaiah Stewart
Behind starters Jared Verse and Byron Young, the Rams lack proven pass-rush depth off the edge. Third-round pick Josaiah Stewart spent his entire college career making life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. The former Michigan Wolverine ranked third among qualified FBS edge defenders with a 92.3 PFF pass-rush grade in 2024. He also ranked second among the group with an absurd 27.7% pass-rush win rate. He could quickly carve out a valuable situational pass-rush role in Los Angeles.
Fantasy Spotlight: WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
Nacua averaged 0.216 receptions per route and 0.3 targets per route over the past two seasons, which both rank the best among wide receivers. His 37.1% target rate last season was the highest among all wide receivers with at least 75 routes run in the past 19 years. His 3.56 yards per route run ranks third best, behind Steve Smith in 2008 and Tyreek Hill in 2023.
It was difficult for Nacua and Cooper Kupp to have fantasy value in the same game over the past two seasons, with one wide receiver often shining while the other struggled to hit 50 yards. This could be even more of a problem with Davante Adams set to replace Kupp.
Best Bet: RB Kyren Williams to go over 1,000.5 rushing yards (-110)
Williams has quietly been one of the most productive backs in the NFL over the past two seasons. His 1,300 rushing yards in 2024 ranked seventh in the NFL, marking his second consecutive season of surpassing 1,100 yards. As Williams enters a contract year, expect another hefty workload at the head of the Rams' backfield.
Bottom Line
The health of Matthew Stafford and Alaric Jackson could be the keys to the Rams’ season. They need their starting quarterback on the field and for their offensive line to keep him healthy. If that happens, they can be Super Bowl contenders. If either or both of those things falter, they could miss the postseason entirely.
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