Hey nerds! The 2024 NFL season is almost upon us, and your boy is back to cover the Los Angeles Rams in the Dynasty Nerds Fantasy Forecast series. Los Angeles finished second in the NFC West with a 10-7 record, making the playoffs before being bounced out in the Wild Card round by the Detroit Lions. This article will focus on key additions and subtractions to the roster and how those moves affect the Rams’ 2024 NFL season.
Quarterbacks
Let’s be honest, the fate of the Rams season lies in the health and durability of Matthew Stafford. When he is under center for the Rams, they have a 24-17 win-loss record compared to 3-7 when he is not. In just three seasons with the Rams, Stafford already holds the team record for most touchdown passes, the most passing yards, and completions in a season. His 2023 Pro Bowl season saw passing numbers of 3,965/24/11 while only playing in 15 games.
The 36-year-old’s time is coming to an end sooner rather than later, but he still has fantasy relevance as long as he is tied to Head Coach Sean McVay. Contending teams should consider Stafford a QB2 option if they need an upgrade.
Following Carson Wentz’s departure to Kansas City, the backup position will be a free agent signing Jimmy Garoppolo once he returns from his two-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. However, in his ten NFL seasons, Jimmy G has only produced QB2 numbers twice, finishing QB14 and QB17. Even with McVay’s offensive mind, I would stay away from Garoppolo.
Running Backs
The Rams finished 2023 ranked tied for 11th in the league in total rushing yards with 2,045. 56% of those yards came from sophomore running back Kyren Williams, who had a breakout season. Williams rushed for 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns while also catching 32 receptions for 206 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Those numbers helped him finish as the RB7 last year. Williams was the bell cow back for the Rams in 2023, playing over 72% of the snaps in ten of his eleven games.
However, Williams did miss four games due to an ankle injury and has started 2024 sitting out OTAs with foot issues. Los Angeles needed to address the running back position, and they did so in the draft, selecting National Champion running back Blake Corum in the third round.
Corum is built like a bowling ball with a 5’8, 205 lb frame; I have compared him very similar to Doug Martin. Corum comes into the league as an older back as he turns 24 in November, but he will provide much-needed relief to Williams’ workload, which he did not have in 2023. Sean McVay has praised Corum as a standout player during OTAs. If you are a Williams owner, you need to prioritize Corum as the handcuff, but I do see fantasy value outside of a handcuff role for Corum in 2024.
Wide Receivers
The Rams led the seventh-highest-ranked offense in terms of yards per game. Much of that came from being the tenth-ranked passing offense led by rookie phenom Puka Nacua. Nacua broke rookie receiving records with 105 receptions, 1,486 receiving yards, receptions in a game (15), and the most receiving yards in a playoff game with 181. Nacua was nothing short of amazing, but one has to wonder what those numbers would have looked like if his counterpart Cooper Kupp had been healthy all season.
Kupp was limited to just seven games due to injury. Kupp finished with 59 receptions, 737 receiving yards, and five touchdowns. Those receiving and reception totals were the second lowest of his seven-year career. I believe both receivers will be fine and could be very productive in this Rams offense.
In games with Kupp and Nacua in the lineup, Puka finished with 62 receptions, 944 receiving yards, and four touchdowns. During Weeks 13-17, Kupp averaged 14.8 points per game and finished as WR11. I currently have Nacua as my WR8 in dynasty and Kupp as my WR29. It is not out of the realm of possibility for both Kupp and Nucua to finish with WR1 seasons.
The third wide receiver position is going to have some fantasy value. The battle is between DeMarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell. I currently have Robinson as the leader to win that battle, but that will be something to monitor during training camp and preseason. Robinson saw numbers of 26/371/4, which does not seem too impressive until you realize he achieved those numbers after Week 8. The Rams re-signed Robinson, but he appears to be forgotten by fantasy owners in this offense. I would throw some late-round rookie picks at the Robinson owner to see if you can get a deal done. I would also check your waiver wire, as owners may have cut Robinson to make room for their latest draft picks.
Tight Ends
As expected, Tyler Higbee will start the season on the PUP list after suffering tears in his MCL and ACL during the Rams playoff loss to Detroit. The Rams addressed that injury by signing Colby Parkinson to a three-year, $22.5 million contract.
Parkinson’s massive 6’7″, 251 lb. frame caught the eye of McVay. Parkinson could be in for a career season with the Rams, but Davis Allen is another name to watch. He will be going into his sophomore season with the Rams. I expect the Rams to utilize more 12 personnel, which will help get Allen on the field. Parkinson will be the more expensive option of the two tight ends. Check your waiver wires for Allen, or if he is on a roster, I would not be opposed to sending a fifth-round pick and stashing him away on your Taxi Squad.
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