2022 Team Previews: Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles Rams Fantasy Preview 2022

All ADP data is courtesy of Fantasy Pros.

** = target in drafts at this ADP

Top 120

Cooper Kupp, WR (ADP: 5): Everyone liked Kupp entering 2021, and probably had high hopes for him with Matthew Stafford joining the team, but no man alive could’ve fathomed what a monstrous season Kupp would give us. He won the WR Triple Crown, leading the NFL in receptions (145), yards (1,957) and touchdowns (16). He averaged 114.5 yards per game, and only had one game with fewer than 90 yards. Kupp’s 2021 was the stuff dreams are made of, and that’s why his ADP is where it is. It would be ludicrous to expect him to repeat this level of dominance, but he doesn’t need to achieve this level again to justify a Top 5 pick or being the WR1 overall. Sean McVay is still calling the shots, and Stafford, who apparently has his brain linked to Kupp’s, is still throwing the football. It’s worth reading Kupp’s write up on Reception Perception, but essentially he plays a brand of football no other WR does. Because of that unique role, and his skill set which makes him nearly unstoppable in that role, I don’t care if you decide to take Kupp 1st overall. I wouldn’t, but it wouldn’t be a bad pick. Barring injury, Kupp is one of the safest picks possible.

Cam Akers, RB (ADP: 32): Aside from Kupp, and maybe Stafford, the rest of the Rams carry some big risk, including Cam Akers. He had a lot of hype behind him last season before sustaining a torn Achilles, long a death knell for a RB’s career. Akers has complicated the perception of that injury, because he defied the odds and returned from it for Los Angeles’ Super Bowl run. Impressive as that is, it’s debatable how much he helped, because he had no explosiveness upon his return and averaged 2.6 yards per carry in the postseason on 22 attempts per game. That volume was encouraging, and is probably what is keeping his ADP this high. With more time removed from his injury, if he keeps that bell cow role in this offense he will undoubtedly put together a RB2 season at worst based on volume and touchdowns. The Rams didn’t make any significant RB moves in the offseason, and in fact let Sony Michel leave. The Rams’ lack of moves signal faith in him, so I am going to have that same faith and view this as an appropriate ADP.

**Allen Robinson, WR (ADP: 65): Robinson is joining the Rams coming off the worst season of his career, and one in which he looked washed. Reports of his demise may be premature, and exaggerated. While Robinson’s performance in 2021 was a fantasy destroyer, Reception Perception shows he retains the skills that made him a bankable star. He ranked in the 81st percentile against man coverage, and in the 96th percentile vs. press coverage. Where he sucked was against zones, and the Bears decided to have him run slants and digs more than nine routes where he succeeded 65.4% of the time. The Rams aren’t going to make this mistake. He’s walking into a role that resurrected Odell Beckham Jr. With the Rams, defenses are being twisted into knots locating and trying to stop Cooper Kupp, leaving Robinson to go one-on-one on the outside where he thrives. If they double him? No problem, as he succeeded against 74.1% of his double teams. Robinson probably won’t see the volume needed to match his peak seasons with 1,100+ yards, but he could flirt with his career-high 14 touchdowns in this offense with the best quarterback he’s ever had – by lightyears – and the burden of being the focal point of the receiving corps removed.

Matthew Stafford, QB (ADP: 87): Stafford walked into the Rams’ locker room needing to prove his many losing years in Detroit said more about the organization than him. He ended the season holding a Lombardi trophy, and having transformed Cooper Kupp from a quality WR into arguably the best in the game. Stafford’s production is what you need to be a reliable QB1 week in and week out without rushing. He threw for 4,886 yards and 41 touchdowns last season, and there’s no reason to think he can’t do that again, or better, with an extra year of familiarity under his belt. He’s currently the QB11, which isn’t too crazy considering he won’t run, but you’ll be fine if you go into Week 1 with only Stafford as your QB. There won’t be a single week you’re afraid to play him.

Fantasy Relevant (121-200 ADP)

**Darrell Henderson, RB (ADP: 114): Henderson could definitely be a league-winner, it’s all about opportunity. He was a legitimate dual threat for this team for a majority of the season before the injury bug bit him, a recurring theme of his career. Upon returning, he seemed to have lost his role to Sony Michel, and then was an afterthought when Akers miraculously came back. But Michel is gone and Henderson remains, without any other significant additions to the mix. He’s the obvious handcuff to Akers, but if Akers continues to plod like he did in the postseason, McVay will have no choice but to turn to Henderson. In this offense, that’s a high-end RB2 at worst. I like the value here, and I think I’d try to snag him if I’m taking the gamble on Akers.

Van Jefferson, WR (ADP: 194): Jefferson can make plays, but he’s unfortunately just not going to see the volume needed to matter on a weekly basis without an injury in front of him, and hes also currently injured himself. At 16 yards per reception, he can play himself into fantasy relevance if the Rams decide to feature him, but Robinson is built to dominate down the field so he renders Jefferson a bit redundant. I get the appeal, but I’m looking elsewhere for my lottery ticket. 

Sleeper Class (200 & later)

Tyler Higbee, TE (ADP: 202): I’ve never been massively on the Higbee bandwagon, and nor should you be. This offense is easy to peg; Kupp will dominate, the RB will get a lot of volume, and Allen Robinson is going to score a ton of touchdowns. Higbee has scored five TDs in back-to-back seasons, a respectable number, but not one that makes up for his lack of target share (career-high 89) and yards, as he’s topped 560 once in six seasons. Higbee is fine to stream, but you will not find consistency with him and he’s not a weekly option at all.  

Kyren Williams, RB (ADP: 321): Williams has some impressive stats out of Notre Dame, totaling over 1,300 yards from scrimmage as a sophomore and junior for the Fighting Irish and scoring 31 total touchdowns in that span. He has some stiff competition in front of him, so I wouldn’t recommend drafting him at this point, but if he begins to turn heads and make splash plays he could become worth a flyer if you’re not a believe in Akers. His obvious receiving ability gives him bell cow potential if the opportunity presents itself.