Los Angeles Rams DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) is back at training camp practice on Monday and is taking part in individual drills. The Rams are easing Nacua back into the fold, with Monday being the first time he's been at practice since Aug. 4 due to a bursa-sac injury in his knee. All indications are that the 23-year-old second-year pass-catcher will be ready to go in time for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sept. 8 against the Detroit Lions. Head coach Sean McVay hasn't been worried at all about Nacua's status despite missing plenty of practice time in camp. Unless Nacua suffers a setback in the next two weeks, fantasy managers should feel confident selecting him as a top-10 fantasy wideout after a breakout rookie season in 2023 in which he went for 105 catches (160 targets), 1,486 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season contests.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Xavier Smith caught four passes for 34 yards on five targets to lead all Rams receivers in Saturday's loss to the Houston Texans in the final preseason game. Smith was efficient in catching four of his five looks but didn't stretch the field much on his catches. The Rams went deep into their depth chart in the last preseason game, giving Smith a big opportunity. He did nicely with his chance but is not someone who will be on the fantasy radar this season.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett will serve as the backup for Week 1 and Week 2 of the regular season. This was expected to happen with Jimmy Garoppolo suspended for the first two weeks of the season. Bennett sat out of the preseason finale after starting the first two games. He threw for 437 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions during the preseason. Those aren't exactly great results, but Bennett isn't likely to see the field at all in 2024. Matthew Stafford should be full healthy and ready to go for the season opener. Garoppolo should take over as the primary backup once he's cleared to play, so Bennett is unlikely to play at all unless Stafford gets injured in the first two games.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (hamstring) was a full participant in Thursday's joint practice with the Houston Texans, according to head coach Sean McVay. Stafford returned to team drills at training camp earlier this week after he was limited to individual drills on Monday. Even though the 36-year-old signal-caller's hamstring issue isn't very serious, he's not expected to suit up for the preseason finale this Saturday against Houston. Stafford finished as the QB15 last year in what was a bounce-back campaign after he played in only nine games in 2022 due to injuries. He had 3,965 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 15 regular-season contests. Even with wideouts Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, the aging Stafford's fantasy ceiling and floor have come down considerably. At best, if he stays healthy, he's probably no better than a midrange QB2 at this point in his career.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (hamstring) was back in team drills on Tuesday. Stafford left a joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys with hamstring tightness last week. The Rams have remained cautious with the injury. All reports have suggested that the coaching staff was unconcerned about the injury. Stafford returned to individual drills on Monday. Tuesday's ramp-up to team drills suggests that the injury may be progressing well. Stafford threw for 3,965 yards and 24 touchdowns in 15 games in 2023. Stafford is highly important to the fantasy success of Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, and Kyren Williams as well as the Rams' success as a whole. For now, Stafford's injury should be monitored by fantasy managers to ensure that he returns to play fully healthy before Week 1.