Los Angeles Rams News

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is not listed on his team's initial injury report ahead of its season opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday. Nacua dealt with a psoas muscle injury towards the end of the preseason, but it appears that he is fully ready to go heading into Week 1. The 25-year-old put together a dominant season in 2025, recording 129 catches for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns on 166 targets across 16 games. Across the first 44 games of his professional career, Nacua is the NFL's all-time leader in receiving yards per game (95.3). As long as he's on the field, Nacua profiles as an elite fantasy wide receiver who could finish the year as the overall WR1.

Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson is not listed on the injury report ahead of Thursday's game against the San Francisco 49ers, Josh Dobow reports. Ferguson is ready to go after being sidelined during recent practices due to an ongoing soreness issue. The 23-year-old is one of the more intriguing tight end stashes this upcoming season. The Rams used a second-round pick on Ferguson during the 2025 draft. He saw limited usage last season, but is expected to take a step forward in 2026. The Rams do have a handful of options at tight end, but Ferguson is looking like the best of the bunch. He could pay off big time for fantasy managers if they're willing to be patient with him

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett (knee) will be "ready to go" against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday for the Week 1 season opener, according to Benjamin Royer of The Orange County Register. The Rams will have Garrett ready to make his debut with the team, but defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who came out of retirement this year to rejoin the Rams, will have to wait at least another week for his much-anticipated return. The Rams held Garrett out for the majority of training camp this summer due to swelling in his knee, but it was never considered serious, and he will be active this week. It means that fantasy managers should have him locked into their starting lineups in IDP formats, even if his workload is a little limited in Week 1. The 30-year-old former first overall pick in 2017 is coming off a historic season in 2025 in which he set the record for most sacks (23) in a single season in 17 starts for the Cleveland Browns.

Los Angeles Rams All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who came out of retirement this year to join forces with star defensive end Myles Garrett, is not quite ready and will not travel to Melbourne, Australia, for the team's Week 1 contest on Thursday against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Donald is back on the field and continues to work himself back into football shape, but he is doing it with the long term in mind and not just Week 1. When the 35-year-old future Hall of Famer and 10-time Pro Bowler does make his season debut, potentially in Week 2 versus the New York Giants, he is expected to be in a rotational role on the interior of L.A.'s defensive line, which will make him much more boom/bust as a fantasy asset in IDP formats. Donald is in phenomenal shape, though, and will certainly be a force to be reckoned with on the interior after amassing 111 career sacks in 10 seasons with the Rams, and his presence in 2026 will only make an already strong Rams defense even more attractive in fantasy.

Los Angeles Rams All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald has been non-committal on whether he will play in the Week 1 season opener in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers, according to Vincent Bonsignore of The California Post. "We're taking it day by day," Donald said on Monday. The 35-year-old veteran was already believed to have traveled with the Rams to Australia, but that is uncertain now. After coming out of retirement to join All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett in L.A. in 2026, Donald is expected to be more of a situational pass-rusher to maximize his effectiveness, and he might not make his season debut until Week 2 or 3 as he continues to work his way back into football shape. The former 13th overall pick in 2014 from Pittsburgh is a future Hall of Famer and has been a Pro Bowler in all 10 of his NFL seasons with the Rams, racking up 111 sacks in his 154 regular-season games played. With more of a limited role in his return in 2026, though, Donald will be more of a boom/bust fantasy asset in IDP formats.

Los Angeles Rams second-year tight end Terrance Ferguson might have gone undrafted in many single-year fantasy football formats, but that does not mean that he will not be a factor in 2026. The second-round pick from Oregon finds himself in a crowded Rams tight end room again in 2026 alongside Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen, and rookie Max Klare, but he arguably has the most pass-catching upside among the group. And when we are talking about upside players in an already explosive Rams offense, you should pay attention. Ferguson had only 11 receptions on 25 targets for 231 yards and three touchdowns in his first 14 NFL games in 2025, but he came alive late and scored two of his three touchdowns in his final two regular-season contests. It would not be a big surprise to see Ferguson emerge as quarterback Matthew Stafford's third option by the end of the 2026 campaign behind receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. And if Nacua faces any kind of NFL suspension this year, Ferguson could quickly become a must-start TE. The 23-year-old is only rostered in 24% of Yahoo leagues right now and is worth a pickup if you need extra depth at the position.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, there is a "real possibility" Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua does not face any suspension during the 2026 season. This news comes after the star wideout was not placed on the Commissioner Exempt List the past week. The 25-year-old is facing a civil lawsuit and was subject to potential discipline from the league. However, it appears Nacua will avoid any missed time due to legal issues ahead of the new season. Schefter also noted that Nacua is progressing well from the psoas soreness that sidelined him at times during the later stages of camp. Last season, Nacua turned in a dominant effort, catching 129 passes for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns, and should carry this momentum into his season opener on Thursday against the 49ers. When active, Nacua carries elite WR1 upside and has a clear path to finishing the season as the top fantasy asset.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell has a path to being a starter to begin the season. The Rams recently acquired Atwell in a deal that sent running back Jarquez Hunter to the Miami Dolphins. The 26-year-old will return to Los Angeles after spending the first five years of his career with the team. He signed with the Dolphins over the offseason, but was traded to the Rams because he likely wasn't going to make the 53-man roster. Now, Atwell has a chance to be the third wideout in this offense. However, that role might not mean too much with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams ahead of him on the depth chart. Atwell did very little as a receiver last season, so he's probably best left on the waiver wire until he proves he can do something consistently.

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee is likely to see reduced playing time this upcoming season. He signed a two-year deal with the Rams in March, but that doesn't guarantee that he's going to be a significant part of the offense. The Rams have Terrance Ferguson, Colby Parkinson, and rookie Max Klare all fighting for playing time as well. Higbee hasn't exactly been much of a threat in the offense since his 2022 season. The 33-year-old was likely just brought back as depth, but he'll probably struggle to remain relevant in the passing attack. It's probably best to leave Higbee on the waiver wire to begin the season.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (groin) is expected to play in the season opener in Australia, head coach Sean McVay said, according to Nate Atkins. Nacua has been facing the possibility of discipline under the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy, but no suspension has been announced. McVay also expects offensive tackle Alaric Jackson, who has been dealing with his own potential discipline, to play. Nacua caught 129 passes for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns across 16 games last season, leading the NFL in receptions. The Rams open against San Francisco in Melbourne on Sept. 10. McVay's comments are a strong sign that Nacua will be available for Week 1, though there has been no public indication that the NFL's review of his situation is finished.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams didn't play in the preseason, but he generated plenty of buzz because of his performance throughout training camp. Adams has had a dominant camp alongside fellow starting receiver Puka Nacua, as the two continue to form the best one-two punch in the NFL. The veteran is coming off a WR9 finish in PPR leagues. He has been a top-12 wide receiver in each of his last six seasons, as well as a top-14 receiver in nine of his last 10. The great news for Adams is that he plays in an offense where multiple players can thrive. After all, Nacua was the WR1 in PPR leagues last year, and Adams still turned in his best fantasy finish since 2022. We expect that trend to continue in 2026 and for as long as Matthew Stafford remains the Rams' quarterback. For now, the big question is whether Adams will replicate last year's 14 touchdowns on 60 catches, or if he'll come back to the mean and catch more passes with fewer touchdowns. The other note on Adams is that he could spend a portion of the season in the No. 1 receiver role as a potential suspension lingers for Nacua. If that happens, Adams would jump from a low-end WR1 to a high-end WR1. At the moment, he has an ADP of 52.8, which corresponds to the fifth round of fantasy drafts. He's a steal at that current price tag, especially given his nose for the end zone.

Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson is coming off the best season of his career, but his grip on the receiving work looks shakier heading into 2026. Parkinson caught 43 passes for 408 yards and a franchise-record eight touchdowns last year, production that leaned heavily on his work near the goal line. The Rams still use enough multi-tight-end sets to keep him involved, but Terrance Ferguson made a strong push for more this summer. The second-year tight end flashed throughout camp, drew praise from Sean McVay for his versatility and playmaking, and now shares first-team billing with Parkinson on the Rams' unofficial depth chart. Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen and second-round rookie Max Klare only make the room deeper. Parkinson isn't being pushed out of the offense, and he had his own good moments in camp. The concern is how many routes and red-zone looks are left once the snaps get spread around. After scoring eight times on only 56 targets last season, Parkinson looks much more touchdown-dependent than his 2025 finish suggests.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said on Friday that wide receiver Puka Nacua (groin) is "making good progress," according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN. "Been hitting some high-speed yards at a really good clip with Reggie [Scott] and his group," McVay said. "And when we get back out there, it'll be fun to have him." The 25-year-old has been dealing with a psoas injury in his groin, and although his status for the Week 1 game in Australia against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers is up in the air, it looks like Nacua is heading in the right direction and should be active to kick off the regular season. Fantasy managers will have a better idea of Nacua's Week 1 status when the Rams begin to release their official practice reports on Monday. Nacua's groin injury should not cause fantasy managers to avoid him as a top-tier wideout in the first rounds of drafts this weekend. The two-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro last year had a career-high 1,715 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 regular-season games last year, leading the NFL with 129 receptions. In a Rams offense that is as explosive as any, Nacua is RotoBaller's No. 2 fantasy wideout, behind only Ja'Marr Chase.

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams is coming off another highly productive season in 2025, recording 1,533 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns on 295 touches across 17 games. Since 2023, Williams has recorded three consecutive seasons with at least 1,350 scrimmage yards and 13 scores. However, the emergence of fellow Rams back Blake Corum has led to questions around Williams' workload entering 2026. While sharing the backfield with Corum in 2025, Williams averaged just 17.4 touches per game after averaging 21.9 touches per game in 2024. Over the final eight games of the regular season, Williams recorded more than 13 carries just twice. Williams remains a borderline fantasy RB1 entering 2026, but his production upside may be limited as long as both he and Corum are healthy.

The reigning NFL MVP, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, is coming off a season in which he completed 65.0% of his pass attempts for 4,707 yards, 46 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Entering 2026, it's reasonable to believe that the 38-year-old's numbers are poised to regress. Stafford's touchdown rate spiked to a career-high 7.7% last season, well above his career mark of 4.8%. Still, Stafford remains in an ideal situation for success in Los Angeles. The Rams have a solid offensive line, an elite wide receiver duo in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, and arguably the NFL's best play-caller in head coach Sean McVay. At his average draft position of a low-end fantasy QB1, Stafford profiles as a high-floor pick with some upside for fantasy managers.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that he expects every player on the team to make the trip to Melbourne, Australia, for the Week 1 tilt next Thursday against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers, which includes star defensive tackle Aaron Donald, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Although Donald, who came out of retirement to return to the Rams for the 2026 season, is with the Rams heading overseas, he is still TBD on playing in the regular-season opener. It is more realistic for the 35-year-old to make his debut in Week 2 or 3 as he continues to work back into football shape. If Donald does appear in next Thursday's game in Australia against the 49ers, it will likely be on a very limited number of pass-rushing snaps. The 10-time Pro Bowler and three-time Defensive Player of the Year has 111 sacks in 10 seasons with the Rams, but in more of a part-time pass-rushing role in his return in 2026, Donald is not going to have the same type of fantasy upside in IDP leagues that he had back in his prime.

Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum saw his workload increase over the back half of the 2025 season, and there was a case to be made that he was a more explosive runner than veteran Kyren Williams. With both backs again healthy heading into the 2026 season, there is an expectation that they could share something closer to a 50/50 workload split, and while ESPN's Dan Graziano acknowledges that Williams is likely to begin the year in a nominal lead back role, he believes that if Corum can improve as a pass protector, he could emerge as the Rams' 1A to William's 1B by year end. Both players performed as top 17 fantasy running backs over the final six weeks of the regular season, so there is obvious room for both to succeed, but with Corum going nearly six rounds later in 2026 drafts, he would prove to be a league-winner should Graziano's prediction bear out.

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald is more likely to debut in Week 2 or Week 3 than Week 1, per Dan Graziano of ESPN. Donald retired from the NFL following the 2023 season, but he officially announced his decision to come out of retirement and return to the Rams on Sunday. Given that Donald is 35 years old, missed most of training camp, and has not played in over two years, it appears the Rams will opt to bring him along slowly. Los Angeles will also travel to Australia for its season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, which could be factoring into the decision of whether or not to play Donald as well. The last time Donald was on the field, he was one of the best defensive players in the history of the NFL. A three-time Defensive Player of the Year and nine-time first-team All-Pro, Donald recorded eight sacks and 16 TFLs across 16 games for Los Angeles in 2023. While Donald could easily be a dominant force on a per-play basis once he's back on the field this season, the Rams may choose to limit his workload throughout the year to keep him fresh for the stretch run.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua remains under NFL review as Week 1 approaches, and another off-field story surfaced Tuesday. According to the New York Post, Nacua's former girlfriend Hallie Aiono discussed experiencing betrayal, abuse and neglect during a past relationship while explaining why she is seeking professional help. She did not describe a specific incident or explicitly accuse Nacua of committing abuse in the video. Separately, Nacua is facing a civil lawsuit from Madison Atiabi, who alleges he bit her shoulder during a New Year's Eve gathering. Nacua's attorney has disputed allegations in the suit and characterized the biting as consensual horseplay. The NFL has not announced a suspension, and Nacua was not placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List over the weekend, though his situation remains under league review. He caught 129 passes for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 games last season. Until the league makes a decision, his availability for the Rams' Sept. 10 opener against San Francisco remains something fantasy managers need to watch.

The Athletic's Nate Atkins writes that Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams and Blake Corum will be "in a timeshare of carries," with Ronnie Rivers serving as a versatile special-teams player who is adequate as a rusher, receiver, and pass protector. Williams is still the clear lead back in L.A. and is coming off his third straight 1,000-yard rushing season in 2025 in which he ran for 1,252 yards and 10 touchdowns on 259 carries, adding a career-high 36 receptions for 281 yards and another three TDs as a receiver in 17 regular-season starts. Corum could have an even bigger role alongside Williams, though, after the Rams used the two more interchangeably down the stretch in 2025. The 26-year-old Williams will continue to be utilized near the goal line and as a pass-catcher, but it could be a much tougher ask for him to finish as a top-12 fantasy back in 2026. If you can get Williams as a high-end RB2 in upcoming drafts, you will be looking good at the RB position. But if you are forced to use Williams as your RB1, you could be worse off than with a highly productive running back in one of the best offenses in football.