Davante Adams undoubtedly needs to see Matthew Stafford (again) return to follow sooner relatively than later. That is as a result of Adams does not have an important historical past with Rams backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
The 2 have been along with the Raiders in 2023, and Adams had a irritating expertise when Garoppolo was the quarterback to say the least. Adams was featured on the Netflix sequence “Receiver,” and he supplied this commentary on the state of affairs throughout that point.
“I gotta get the f— out of right here earlier than I lose my f—ing life,” Adams stated. “I ain’t by no means been hit this many f—ing instances in my profession. Each sport, I get f—ed up.”
Adams additionally agreed that Garoppolo needs to be benched in favor of Aidan O’Connell throughout that season.
“Properly, my opinion on that was that I signed off on that, and that is simply the truth of it,” Adams stated.
The 2 are reportedly wonderful now — Garoppolo stated he was “pumped” to be reunited with Adams in Los Angeles — and that is essential. There’s an opportunity Garoppolo might begin some video games if Stafford’s again damage lingers into the season.
On Saturday, Rams coach Sean McVay said that Stafford is week-to-week with the again damage he has been coping with for the reason that begin of coaching camp. He was anticipated to return Monday, however the Rams need to be cautious and ensure Stafford is prepared for Week 1.
“He is nonetheless good,” McVay stated by way of the NFL Community. “Speeding him again, the place you might probably have an pointless setback, you understand, does not make sense.”
For now, we’re not going to panic on the Rams talent gamers. Stafford was all the time a late-round decide in deep, one-quarterback leagues, and he is a mid-round choice in Superflex and two-quarterback codecs.
The addition of Adams is a plus for Stafford, however he solely averaged 15.9 Fantasy factors per sport in 2024 and hasn’t been above 19.4 Fantasy factors for the previous three seasons. He is a backup in one-quarterback leagues coming into the season and nothing extra, particularly since he is 37 and now banged up.
Puka Nacua is value drafting in Spherical 1, and he ought to nonetheless be the No. 1 receiver for the Rams. He averaged not less than 17.6 PPR factors per sport in every of his first two seasons, and I am not nervous about his manufacturing if Stafford is wholesome, even with the addition of Adams.
Adams is value drafting in Spherical 3 as a high-end No. 2 receiver in all leagues. The most important concern for Adams is his age (32), however he is proven no indicators of slowing down but. And he is an important addition for the Rams because the working mate to Nacua.
Final season, after becoming a member of the Jets by way of commerce from the Raiders, Adams regarded like a star once more. He closed the 12 months with not less than 17.6 PPR factors in 5 of his last six outings, together with three video games with not less than 20.8 PPR factors over that span. Stafford ought to lean on Adams, and McVay ought to hold Adams closely concerned.
Now, so far as how Adams did with Garoppolo, it was blended outcomes. In six video games along with the Raiders in 2023, Adams averaged 15.1 PPR factors over that span. However he had two video games with not less than 20.4 PPR factors and three video games with 8.5 PPR factors or much less.
Adams and Nacua would see their worth decline with Garoppolo below heart — together with secondary choices like Tutu Atwell, Tyler Higbee and Terrance Ferguson — so let’s hope Stafford is OK for 17 video games. And I would not change the outlook a lot for the working backs regardless of who begins at quarterback.
Kyren Williams stays a low-end No. 1 working again value drafting towards the top of Spherical 2 or starting of Spherical 3 in all leagues. Williams would possibly lose some work to Jarquez Hunter or Blake Corum, however Williams averaged 21.9 touches per sport in 2024, which was third within the NFL final season. And Williams has averaged not less than 17.0 PPR factors per sport in two seasons in a row with the Rams, which is tough to miss.
Hunter or Corum are value a late-round flier in all leagues, however we have to see who wins the backup job to Williams. I am hopeful that it is Hunter, the fourth-round rookie from Auburn, who simply had 187 carries for 1,201 yards and eight touchdowns and 21 catches for 155 yards and a landing in 2024. Hunter is an explosive runner, and he had extra rushes of 10-plus yards final season at Auburn (42) than the Rams did as a staff (37) on 450 makes an attempt.
The Rams offense has immense upside due to McVay and a proficient forged of characters. However Stafford must be wholesome, and we hope his again is prepared for Week 1. It is one thing we’ll proceed to watch over the subsequent a number of weeks.