Ian Hartitz presented the Los Angeles Rams team preview and offers the fantasy football outlook for the 2025 NFL season.

The Rams were 5-6 after 12 weeks of last season due to a mix of key injuries on offense as well as dealing with life in the post-Aaron Donald world.

And then something cool happened: Matthew Stafford and Co. got hot. Five consecutive wins down the stretch clinched the NFC West for the first time since 2021, and a surprising playoff beatdown over the Vikings gave Sean McVay's squad the opportunity to take on the eventual Super Bowl champions in Philadelphia. While that contest didn't wind up going the Rams' way, man, they seriously had a shot there at the end. 

Los Angeles Rams in 2024:

  • Points per game: 21.6 (20th)
  • EPA per dropback: +0.11 (14th)
  • EPA per rush: -0.07 (15th)
  • Points per game against: 22.7 (17th)

Enter: The 2025 Rams, who should look fairly similar to last season's edition. Yes, longtime stud Cooper Kupp took his talents to Seattle, but the addition of Davante Adams gives Stafford another longtime great to pair with rising third-year star Puka Nacua. Throw in some natural growth from the team's young defensive stalwarts, and it makes sense that Los Angeles carries top-10 Super Bowl odds ahead of next season.

This brings us to today's goal: Answering key (mostly fantasy-related) questions about the Rams ahead of their 2025 season.

As always: It's a great day to be great.

Los Angeles Rams 2025 Fantasy Football And Team Preview

How much gas does Matthew Stafford have left in the tank?

The 37-year-old gunslinger hasn't managed to replicate his initial 2021 highs in Los Angeles, but he's also seldom had his top two WRs healthy at the same time in recent years. From Puka missing six games last year, to Kupp sitting out a whopping 18 times since 2022: Far too many weeks had things like Tutu Atwell and Demarcus Robinson sitting atop the passing-game pecking order.

Now, we can't guarantee perfect health from all involved parties; just realize Stafford has still managed to put forward at worst average efficiency numbers during the twilight of his career—something that couldn't always be said during the dog days in Detroit.

 

Unfortunately the fantasy numbers have indeed been below average. 2021 (QB11 in fantasy points per game) was cool and all, but we've seen Stafford fail to crack the position's top-15 performers in 2022 (QB29), 2023 (QB16), and 2024 (QB27) alike. Of course, a big part of this is reality that Stafford is a complete zero on the ground at this point in his career; he needs high-end production through the air to even come close to providing solid fantasy production—something that seems a bit unlikely inside the league's reigning seventh-most run-heavy offense in terms of dropback rate over expected.

Matthew Stafford Fantasy Football Outlook

There's an argument to be had that the disparity in ADP between guys like Jared Goff (QB14), Tua Tagovailoa (QB22) and Stafford (QB24) is too wide, but then again none of these guys are exactly the sort of fantasy archetypes we should be going out of our way for. I'm perfectly fine with tacking Stafford on to a best ball or superflex lineup as a later-round QB3, although even then I prefer guys like Geno Smith (more rushing upside) and Michael Penix (higher weekly shootout potential) at similar price tags unless we're specifically trying to build a stack. 

Is Kyren Williams that good and does it even matter?

On the one hand, Kyren has racked up 2,831 total yards and 31 TDs over the past two seasons, scoring more PPR points per game than any RB not named Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, or Jahmyr Gibbs.

On the other hand, you'll be hard pressed to find an efficiency stat from 2024 that paints Williams as anything other than a bad RB.

Williams among 31 RBs with 150+ carries in 2024:

  • Yards per carry: 4.1 (25th)
  • Yards after contact per carry: 2.7 (27th)
  • Tackles avoided per carry: 15.8% (23rd)
  • Explosive run rate: 5.7% (29th)
  • Yards per route run: 0.52 (28th)

And that's not even including ball-security concerns: Williams put the ball on the ground six times last season—tied for the second-highest mark of any RB.

That said: Williams' efficiency numbers were quite a bit better in 2023. PFF's reigning 14th-ranked offensive line dealt with all kinds of injuries throughout the year. And the biggest thing when looking ahead to 2025: it's tough to assume Sean McVay will just magically decide to start playing Blake Corum or Jarquez Hunter more often considering he's largely refrained from utilizing committee backfields during his time with the Rams.

Maybe Hunter is simply a different beast (the explosiveness is certainly unique in the position room), although I'd be hesitant in putting too much stock in glowing offseason coach speak considering the Rams were also largely saying great things about Corum this time last year as well. Reminder: The Rams have drafted an RB in eight consecutive drafts; I wouldn't assume their latest Day 3 selection is anything more than a depth piece, particularly with GM Les Snead, McVay, and even Kyren himself hinting that a contract extension is on the horizon throughout the offseason.

Kyren Williams Fantasy Football Outlook

The fantasy world is seemingly (again) too low on Mr. Williams. If he wasn't going to lose his job last season, why would 2025 be any different? Top-five treatment should be reserved for RBs capable of combining high-end efficiency with elite volume, but Williams' standing as the RB6 in Utilization Score reflects the reality that he more than makes up for any deficiencies in the former category with flying colors in the latter. Ultimately, I moved Kyren up to RB10 in my rankings ahead of guys with less sure-thing workloads like Bucky Irving and Chase Brown after writing this section—I'm now the highest on the rising fourth-year back than any of the Fantasy Life rankers.

Feel free to throw a LATE-round dart at either Corum or Hunter. I lean toward Corum having the first crack at the job should anything happen to Williams due to familiarity, but it's not a strong enough certainty to warrant earlier-round treatment next to clear-cut handcuffs like Tyler Allgeier, Ray Davis, and Trey Benson among others.

Can *both* Puka Nacua and Davante Adams put up WR1 numbers in 2025?

Watching Puka Nacua play football is a joy. The competitiveness after the catch stands out at a position full of divas, and I'd argue nobody is better when it comes to finding a way to get both feet down inbounds along the sideline.

The results through two seasons have accordingly been nothing short of masterful in fantasy land. Overall, Nacua has averaged 18 PPR points per game since 2023, trailing only Odell Beckham Jr., Randy Moss, Ja'Marr Chase, Bob Hayes, and Justin Jefferson when it comes to per-game fantasy production during the first two seasons of a career in the Super Bowl era.

Somehow the per-route efficiency numbers have been even more ridiculous.

And then we have Mr. Davante Adams. The first question you probably have: Is Adams still even that good anymore?

Answer: Yes. Does this look like a washed WR to you?

 

It took Adams a bit to catch his groove with Aaron Rodgers last season, but things actually went quite nicely down the stretch. Overall, only Ja'Marr Chase (151.3) and Brian Thomas (137.2) scored more fantasy points (PPR) than Adams (136.6) during the final six weeks of 2024. The 17-game pace was ultimately quite fantastic: We're talking 104 receptions, 1,320 yards, and 11 TDs—numbers that would have produced 17.7 PPR points per game (WR8 status last year).

While there has been some sign of decline when it comes to Adams' ability to separate, even a lesser version of the longtime stud is still pretty damn good relative to most players at the position.

Davante Adams "Open Score" since 2020:

  • 2020: 99 (1st)
  • 2021: 85 (6th)
  • 2022: 81 (8th)
  • 2023: 71 (15th)
  • 2024: 77 (14th)

Turning 33 next December, Adams doesn't profile as the same game-changing alpha he was three or so years ago; just realize the three-time All-Pro still appears to offer the sort of savvy route-running ability and underrated after-the-catch goodness to boost any passing game in the league, particularly one that has proved to be quite adept at creating bunches of opportunities for its receivers in recent years.

Ultimately, it's not just a bet on Puka or Adams at this point. This is arguably the single-most fantasy-friendly offense for WRs in the NFL: Rams WRs as a whole rank second in both receptions and receiving yards since McVay and Stafford joined forces in 2021.

Obviously Nacua will still see plenty of targets, but don't discount Adams' ability to also flirt with something like 140 or so targets across a 17-game season. After all, Kupp (100 targets in 2024) and Demarcus Robinson (64) are leaving behind plenty of pass-game opportunities, and de facto No. 3 WR Tutu Atwell is more of a field-stretching specialist than someone ready to actively challenge Adams for targets.

Puka Nacua and Davante Adams Fantasy Football Outlook

You don't need more than one hand to count the number of WRs you'd rather have than Puka this year, and I'm only taking the big-three RBs over him when deciding who to take in Round 1.

Adams is also someone I've been happy to buy at his affordable WR19 ADP. He's my WR14 (highest of the Fantasy Life rankers) and someone I prefer over guys like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, Mike Evans, and Terry McLaurin due in large part to plenty of trust in the Stafford-McVay partnership as well as faith that Father Time isn't coming for the man just yet. The Rams did just sign up to give the man $46 million across the next two years after all; don't let Allen Robinson ghosts distract from one of the cheapest opportunities to draft Adams—AKA one of the game's very best WRs—in years.

I'm also not entirely against throwing a LATE-round, like literally the final round, dart at Tutu Atwell. The pint-sized speedster won't be stealing targets from either of the team's big-two receivers, but as Eleanor Roosevelt once said: "America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, bad-ass speed." There also simply aren't many players at the position making eight figures this late in drafts—I believe Dyami Brown and Darius Slayton are the only other qualifiers—and we did see McVay give Atwell a true every-down role early in last season when both Puka and Kupp were sidelined.

Is this still Tyler Higbee's job to lose?

The Rams' 32-year-old veteran didn't suit up until Week 16 last season after 2023's brutal season-ending knee injury. And yet, Higbee didn't look any worse for the wear during his five appearances, scoring 3 TDs in limited snaps while posting 5-58-0 and 7-54-1 receiving lines in the playoffs. His 11.2 PPR points per game (including playoffs) was good for TE9 status—ahead of guys like Mark Andrews and Dallas Goedert!

Of course, this was before the Rams used the 46th overall pick of the draft on Oregon TE Terrance Ferguson, who was Thor Nystrom's pre-draft TE3 and earned a reasonable Cade Otton comp.

This sure sounds like the sort of pass-catching talent at the position capable of stealing targets from Higbee, even if the veteran manages to keep his starting job:

"A smooth mover with prototypical size, Ferguson is experienced and proven. Ferguson has been contributing since his true freshman season, logging 2,050 career snaps. He split his time between inline and slot with the Ducks.

"Ferguson is a strong route runner, quick off the line and sudden in his route breaks. He uses his body well at the catch point. Ferguson has good ball skills. He has reliable hands, and endears himself to quarterbacks by spearing balls outside his frame. Ferguson posted a strong 5.0% drop rate over 183 career targets.

"The 6-foot-5, 247-pound Ferguson stole the show at the NFL Combine, besting the TE group with a 4.63 40, 1.55 split, and 39-inch vertical. His 10-foot-2 broad finished No. 3.

“Ferguson is one of the more well-rounded tight ends in this class, offering an inline option who will add value to your passing offense.”

Bottom line: Ferguson profiles as a rather awesome late-second or early-third-round pick in rookie dynasty drafts—particularly in TE premium. I've been very happy with scooping him up after the other Day 1 and 2 talents are already off the board.

That said: I wouldn't expect much from either TE in redraft land this season. The TE position has never been a major factor in McVay's offense, as only the Packers, Giants, and Panthers have delivered fewer overall targets to the position since Stafford took over in 2021.

Does Jared Verse already deserve to be mentioned among the league's best EDGE defenders?

The reigning defensive rookie of the year tallied only 4.5 sacks and 11 tackles for a loss in 2024, but two additional sacks along with a scoop-and-score in the playoffs make it tough to deny the 2024 NFL Draft's 19th overall pick deserves recognition as a serious problem on the line of scrimmage.

Verse's pass-rush efficiency numbers relative to the rest of the league's EDGE defenders are already pretty awesome. Ninth in PFF pass rush grade (83.7) and sixth in pass-rush win rate (19.6%): You can certainly already pencil in the rising second-year talent as one of the top-10 best players at his position.

Here's the real scary part: Verse joins Micah Parsons, Chop Robinson, and Will Anderson as the only rookie defenders to register a pressure on at least 15% of their pass rush snaps since 2020. Some might say that's pretty good company!

Prediction For The Rams 2025 Season

The Rams enter 2025 with a 9.5 win total inside an NFC West that doesn't exactly seem to be fully trending in as positive a direction as usual. Accordingly, give me the over for a squad with the right mix of veteran diference-makers and maturing youngsters—a bit better injury luck this season could have Los Angeles sitting pretty as real contenders come next January.

As for my bold fantasy prediction: Both Puka Nacua and Davante Adams will finish as top-12 fantasy performers thanks in large part to Matthew Stafford largely ignoring everyone else in this passing game.