In the 19th of a 32-part series, we are featuring all National Football League teams with a prediction of where each team will finish within their division, key off-season acquisitions and their top fantasy stars. Here are the Los Angeles Rams.
Key Off Season Acquisitions
The Rams made three significant free agency acquisitions in the offseason. They signed guard Jonah Jackson, tight end Colby Parkinson, and cornerback Darious Williams.
Jackson, a native of Media, Pennsylvania, has played the last four seasons with the Detroit Lions and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2022. In 57 games, he has had one solo tackle, and played left guard. Jackson signed a three-year deal worth $51 million with the Rams.
Parkinson, a native of San Ramon, California, signed a three-year deal worth $22.5 million with the Rams. He has played the last four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. In 2022, Parkinson had 25 catches for 247 yards and two touchdowns.
Williams of Jacksonville, Florida, signed a three-year deal worth $22.5 million with the Rams. Williams previously played with the Rams from 2018 to 2021. He also played with the Baltimore Ravens in 2018, and the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022 and 2023. While with the Rams the first time, Williams won a Super Bowl. In Super Bowl LVI, a 23-20 Rams win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Williams had eight combined tackles (three solo tackles and five pass deflections), and one pass deflection. In 2023, Williams had 53 combined tackles (44 solo tackles and nine assisted tackles), three tackles for a loss, four interceptions for 72 yards, one interception for a touchdown, 19 pass deflections and two forced fumbles. The pick six was for 61 yards and came in a 23-7 Jaguars win over the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley Stadium in England on October 1.
Fantasy Stars
The Rams have one running back and one wide receiver ranked in the top 10 at their fantasy positions.
Kyren Williams of Greece is ranked eighth among running backs. In 2024, he had 228 rushes for 1144 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, along with 32 catches for 206 receiving yards and three touchdown catches. Williams also led the NFL with 95.3 rushing yards per game.
Puka Nacua of Las Vegas, Nevada is ranked ninth among wide receivers. Last year as a rookie, Nacua had 105 catches for 1486 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Projected Finish
The Rams are trying to figure out their identity a little since winning the Super Bowl two years ago. Do they have the nucleus of talent to contend for a title, or should they consider rebuilding? From what we saw in 2023 is progression from their younger offensive stars in Williams and Nacua. This gives the Rams some formidable youth to blend with their veteran stars (Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp). A second place finish in the NFC West is a safe prediction of where the Rams will end up.
