Tag: la rams

Fantasy football: Where to draft LA Rams WR Cooper Kupp

Analyzing LA Rams WR Cooper Kupp’s 2024 fantasy football ADP and where to target him in fantasy drafts.

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Los Angeles Rams WR Cooper Kupp has struggled with injuries in the past 2 seasons, and a nagging hamstring injury got his 2023 campaign off to a slow start. When he returned, he had a 100-yard game in Philadelphia in Week 5. But, he also found that he had some unexpected company in the receivers room.

The Rams selected WR Puka Nacua in the 5th round out of BYU in 2023, and he was expected to be more of a complementary piece, not a superstar. While Kupp was sidelined, Nacua excelled, and the rookie never slowed down.

Kupp is now 31 years old and entering his 8th NFL season. He has managed 75 or more receptions in 4 of the past 5 seasons, and he is just 2 seasons removed from that giant 2021 season with 145 catches, 1,947 yards and 16 TDs. However, injuries have started to catch up to him, as he had a lot of usage in a short window of time.

Despite age, and wear and tear, Kupp can still be considered as a WR1 in most fantasy leagues, especially PPR formats, even with Nacua in the mix. Below, we look at Cooper Kupp’s 2024 fantasy football average draft position (ADP) and where you should draft him.

As we head into the 2024 season, Kupp is still expected to be a valuable fantasy asset.

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Cooper Kupp’s ADP: 26.37

(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com; last updated at time of this publishing – ADPs continually change as more drafts occur)

Kupp’s 26.37 ADP in redraft formats puts him in the neighborhood of low-end WR1 in most leagues. He’ll start getting attention from managers in Round 3 on Draft Day, perhaps in the latter part of Round 2 in PPR leagues of 12 or more teams.

Kupp’s ADP ranks him 10th among wideouts. The receivers picked in front of him include Garrett Wilson (New York Jets, 14.97), Marvin Harrison Jr. (Arizona Cardinals, 16.34), his teammate Nacua (16.96) and Davante Adams (Las Vegas Raiders, 22.47). Kupp is being scooped up just ahead of Chris Olave (New Orleans Saints, 27.96), Deebo Samuel (San Francisco 49ers, 30.04), Drake London (Atlanta Falcons, 30.32) and Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31.10).

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Cooper Kupp’s 2023-24 stats

Games: 12

Receptions | targets: 59 | 95

Receiving yards: 737

Receiving touchdowns: 5

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Where should you draft Kupp?

There is a lot more concern about Kupp than Nacua. Both of the Rams receivers are considered WR1, but Kupp has a lot more mileage on his tires, and he has dealt with injuries the past 2 seasons. Eventually, even the best athletes are going to start to break down.

That being said, Kupp should still be considered as a top fantasy player, especially in PPR leagues. When healthy, he’ll likely make 6-8 receptions per game on average. And, while some are talking about his demise, he still managed four 100-yard games while finding the end zone 5 times.

He is no longer in the conversation for the first WR off of the fantasy board. Those days are in the rear-view mirror. But he remains a WR1, and PPR managers will want to consider him late in Round 2, or certainly in Round 3, and in standard formats, he is Round 3 and after.

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Fantasy football: Where to draft LA Rams RB Kyren Williams

Analyzing LA Rams RB Kyren Williams’ 2024 fantasy football ADP and where to target him in fantasy drafts.

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Los Angeles Rams RB Kyren Williams was limited to 12 games in 2023 due to injury, but he still ended up putting up a full season’s worth of statistics with 1,144 rushing yards, 206 receiving yards and 15 total touchdowns.

Fantasy managers have been scurrying to scoop up a guy who managed 112.5 total scrimmage yards in his 12 games, making him an easy RB1 option across all formats. He has a little extra fantasy appeal in PPR leagues, and in a new development, he is a solid option in formats which reward individual return yardage.

It remains to be seen how long it will last, but Williams is expected to serve as the team’s punt returner to start the 2024 season. Fantasy managers aren’t terribly keen on the idea, at least those in traditional formats where the return yards and scores go to the defense/special teams, especially since it’s more opportunity for the player to get hurt when he is not racking up points.

Still, Williams is a nice RB1 in all fantasy formats, but he does have some company in the Los Angeles backfield. Below, we look at Kyren Williams’ 2024 fantasy football average draft position (ADP) and where you should draft him.

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Kyren Williams’ ADP: 19.17

(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com; last updated at time of this publishing – ADPs continually change as more drafts occur)

Williams has an ADP of 19.17 in redraft leagues, which means he’ll start disappearing from draft boards as early as the middle of Round 2. He is a bonafide RB1 in all fantasy formats, and the sky is the limit if he can stay healthy for an entire season. If you plan on drafting the oft-injured Williams, it might be a good idea to make plans to grab handcuff RB Blake Corum (105.19).

Among running backs, Williams’ ADP puts him 8th at the position, behind Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts, 11.45), Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles, 12.47), Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit Lions, 15.58) and Travis Etienne (Jacksonville Jaguars, 18.82). His ADP is slightly ahead of Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens, 20.81) and Isiah Pacheco (Kansas City Chiefs, 22.63).

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Kyren Williams’ 2023-24 stats

Games: 12

Carries | rushing yards: 228 | 1,144

Rushing touchdowns: 12

Receptions | receiving yards: 32 | 206

Receiving touchdowns: 3

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Where should you draft Williams?

Williams is a legitimate RB1 in all fantasy leagues, and he should start to go off the board in the middle-to-late 2nd round in all formats. He is especially solid in PPR leagues and might go a little earlier in those formats due to his soft hands out of the backfield.

The only concern about Williams is his ability to stay healthy. In 2 NFL seasons, he has played just 22 of a possible 34 games. Durability is an issue, so if you plan to draft Williams, make sure to have plenty of depth at the position, and be sure to secure Corum as a handcuff, or perhaps even RB Ronnie Rivers. Pray that you do not need the reserves, but be thankful when you do.

Fantasy managers in formats which reward individual return yardage might see a bump in value, too. It’s hard to imagine coach Sean McVay sticking with this plan long term, as there is just too much risk and not enough reward. And, if it is a plan which sticks, it’s all but likely he’ll lose offensive reps for more of a breather, perhaps giving way to Corum cutting into his snap share.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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Rams vs. Texans: Cooper Kupp makes impressive throw during warmups

Star WR Cooper Kupp showed off his arm during warmups ahead of the #Rams’ preseason tilt against the #Texans on Saturday.

The Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans are getting ready for their final preseason exhibition this afternoon, and while starters are expected to ride the bench to minimize the chance of injuries, star wide receiver Cooper Kupp decided to steal the show during warmups.

Usually known for his ability to make incredible catches, Kupp decided to show off his throwing skills ahead of kickoff, launching a flat-footed 50-yard throw that may give Sean McVay some ideas for trick plays.

Take a look at Kupp’s impressive throw below, in this video that was posted to the NFL’s official Twitter account before the game:

Though Los Angeles is secure in its quarterback situation, the veteran receiver’s amazing throwing ability might be an asset to be utilized this season.

Kupp isn’t likely to see the field against Houston but is expected to return to action on September 8 when the Rams face the Detroit Lions in Week 1.

 

Sean McVay is proud of Stetson Bennett’s progress but still evaluating backup QB spot

Sean McVay must decide if Stetson Bennett has earned the backup QB spot in Weeks 1 and 2, and he’ll take as much time as he needs to make that choice

As the Los Angeles Rams have just one preseason game left, they will have to choose who will back up Matthew Stafford in Weeks 1 and 2 while Jimmy Garoppolo serves his two-game suspension.

Garropolo’s resume says that he is good enough to start and play under any center in the NFL but has struggled throughout camp and is suspended to start the year. Stetson Bennett has been solid throughout camp and is coming off an improved performance in Saturday’s 13-9 win over the Chargers.

On Sunday, Rams coach Sean McVay said he’s still unsure of who will be backing up Stafford to open the season but he will “use all the time that we have” before deciding whether it will be Bennett or someone else.

“What I try to do is take it a little bit at a time. That’s where if you really said, ‘Okay, are you worried about Matthew? If we have to err on the side of caution, it’s going to give us more chances to evaluate Stetson and also Jimmy in some of these practice settings.” Said McVay. “I don’t necessarily have a timeline. I know the latest timeline is as it relates to that, but if (Bennett) continues to progress, you’ll be pleased.”

After being absent from the roster due to personal reasons last season, Bennett has played every preseason snap this year while Stafford and Garroppolo have played none. Fourth-string quarterback Dresser Winn has hasn’t played a snap this preseason, either.

This preseason, Bennett has had one game he’d like to forget and one where he looked better but still committed two turnovers..

In the first game of the preseason against the Cowboys, Bennett went 24-for-38 for 244 yards, one touchdown and a miserable four interceptions. In Saturday’s win over the Chargers, he was better than that dreaded performance the week before, going 17-for-31 with 213 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

“… where he’s come from and the way he has acted, interacted, and responded to all the different things thrown at him. I’ve been proud of Stetson. I really have,” said McVay.

Before his arrival to the Rams last season, he was a two-time college football National Champion with the Georgia Bulldogs, while also being awarded as the National Championship offensive player MVP and was a two-time second-team SEC All-American.

While it’s unknown what the Rams might do at quarterback this season, one thing is for sure and that is Garroppolo will not be on the sideline for the first two games of the season due to his PED suspension.

Garroppolo has had quite a career in the NFL. From winning two Super Bowls with the Patriots as a backup quarterback to Tom Brady to leading the 49ers to a Super Bowl as the starting quarterback in the 2019-20 season where he was just shy of 4,000 yards passing with 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Social media reacts after Stetson Bennett completes long TD pass

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett completed a deep touchdown pass, which generated a lot of buzz on social media

Former Georgia Bulldogs national championship winning quarterback Stetson Bennett returned to NFL preseason action on Saturday. In Week 2 of the preseason, Bennett completed 17 of 31 passes for 213 yards, one touchdown, one interception and one fumble.

Bennett cleaned up some of his turnover issues from a week ago. He came through in the fourth quarter once again with a 47-yard deep touchdown pass to wide receiver JJ Laap.

Cameron DaSilva of Rams Wire called Stetson Bennett’s performance a “dud” despite his improvement from Week 1 of the preseason when he threw four interceptions.

“Stetson Bennett is a roller coaster ride each time he steps on the field,” said DaSilva. “There’s always some good, but there are also a lot of lows with his play. Against the Chargers, he threw a bad interception in the end zone on fourth down, underthrowing his receiver by a lot. He then came back with a 47-yard touchdown pass two drives later, and then followed it up with some poor ball security on a scramble where he lost a fumble.”

Bennett’s lone interception is not what we would consider a bad interception. It was fourth and goal and he had to try to force a tight throw into the end zone.

Here’s a look at Bennett’s deep touchdown pass!

Bennett’s interception:

Bennett’s potentially costly fumble:

Bennett is a better back up than whatever the Chargers have!

Bennett is 2-0 this preseason!

 

 

How Matthew Stafford’s positive injury update impacts Stetson Bennett

Former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Matthew Stafford has an update on a hamstring injury he suffered in practice.

It’s always scary seeing your starting quarterback get injured and Rams fans had to experience that fear seeing Matthew Stafford leave the Los Angeles Rams’ joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys early. Stafford was dealing with hamstring tightness.

Fortunately, it appears to be minor, as head coach Sean McVay told reporters that Stafford is expected to return to practice next week.

The Rams won’t play Stafford any preseason snaps considering his comfort level in his fourth year in the Rams offense. Los Angeles’ next preseason game is against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Regardless, it’s a sigh of relief for Rams fans and even Georgia Bulldogs fans that keep track of alumni in the NFL. Those in the latter camp will still have a former Bulldog to watch, as Stetson Bennett, along with Jimmy Garoppolo, will be sharing the snaps in this matchup vs. the Chargers at 7:05 p.m. ET today. Bennett is expected to play a lot of snaps tonight, but with Stafford returning to practice, he will get less practice reps in after the Chargers game.

Cowboys Huggins ejected at Rams joint practice after shoving opposing staff

Watch Cowboys Albert Huggins makes unprompted hit on Rams staffer at joint training camp

There was some unsportsmanlike conduct on display at the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams when a Rams staff member was shoved to the ground by Cowboys defensive tackle Albert Huggins during drills Wednesday.

Everyone participating in the drill became emotional and Rams members insisted the Cowboys “didn’t want to practice” after the bizarre unprompted hit on an unpadded assistant.

This choice by Huggins led to his being ejected from the practice by Cowboys coaches and the full transcript of the event states he flipped off the Rams as he walked away from the practice.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has since made a statement on the incident at the joint practice, emphasizing that the Cowboys do not condone unsportsmanlike conduct and Albert Huggins has made an apology.

NFL reporter Todd Archer shared Coach McCarthy’s statement on Twitter.

Huggins could be in trouble if the Cowboys head coach sees him break professionalism again, however, despite McCarthy’s resolution of the drama, he is unlikely to make the 53-man roster as he is a recent acquisition that has not performed for the team.

Sean McVay not sure if Stetson Bennett is ready to be QB2

Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay is ‘still in evaluation mode’ on former Georgia football quarterback Stetson Bennett

Former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett had a mistake-filled preseason debut, but he bounced back to lead the Los Angeles Rams on a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter.

“Yeah, I think we still have to be able to see some more body of work,” said Rams coach Sean McVay after he was asked if Bennett is ready to Los Angeles’ second-string quarterback. Bennett played the whole game of Los Angeles 13-12 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He looked sharp at times, but mistakes took away from what could have been an impressive performance.

Bennett, who threw four interceptions and just one touchdown against the Cowboys, needs to take better care of the football for the Rams to trust him.

“He did some good things, but we got to work on the turnovers, no doubt. But there were a lot of positives for him to be able to get out here and practice,” said Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur.

The Rams have a unique situation at back up quarterback. Los Angeles’ starter, Matthew Stafford, left practice on Aug. 14 with hamstring tightness. Stafford’s back up, Jimmy Garoppolo saw practice reps following Stafford’s departure, but Garoppolo is suspended for the first two games of the season. So, Stetson Bennett could serve as Stafford’s back up in Week 1. It seems like the Rams and Sean McVay don’t fully trust Bennett.

“What I did like (with Stetson Bennett) was what I mentioned to you, to be able to stay together. That’s a tough deal when you have the ball, when you turn it over a handful of times,” said McVay.

“He kind of mentioned it in the postgame to you guys where he thought he was seeing some things and then the mistakes ended up being pretty costly but he just kept playing. He kept fighting. The guys kept believing around him. I was really impressed with the resilience that he demonstrated.”

“We do need to take better care of the football. That’s a very important thing. All of those are very correctable,” continued McVay. “A couple of them were bad decisions and then a couple of them were just (he) missed the way that you want to make the type of layered throw. But you’re going to the right spot. All things that we can learn from. He has to continue to improve and we’re still in evaluation mode.”

If the Rams are truly concerned about their back up quarterback situation for the first two weeks of the season, then Los Angeles could look to add a free agent quarterback. Ryan Tannehill is the top available free agent quarterback right now.

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Another option would be for the Rams to see what they have in quarterback No. 4 Dresser Finn. Rams Wire is advocating for Finn to get some looks after Bennett’s first preseason outing.

Social media talks Stetson Bennett’s mistake-prone preseason game

Former Georgia football quarterback Stetson Bennett had a rough preseason outing despite throwing an epic game-winning touchdown pass

Former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett returned to preseason action with the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Bennett completed 24 of 38 passes for 224 passing yards. He threw a clutch touchdown pass, but also threw four interceptions.

Bennett looked effective at times and used his mobility to convert a fourth down. However, he struggled passing over the middle. Bennett forced the ball into crowds of defenders far too often and did not take care of the football.

Bennett, who played the entire game, completed a few nice passes along the sideline and showed a nice connection with rookie Jordan Whittington. Bennett delivered a touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter to give the Rams a 13-12 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Bennett actually threw a fifth interception on his game-winning drive, but it was called back because of a defensive penalty.

Bennett is projected to be the Rams’ No. 3 quarterback behind Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garappolo, who is suspended for the first two games of the season. Bennett may only have another month to prove he is worth. The Rams could elect to go in another direction at third-string quarterback according to Rams Wire.

“Unless Bennett improves dramatically, the Rams should consider bringing in another veteran quarterback to fill in while Garoppolo is suspended,” wrote  Cameron DaSilva of Rams Wire.

Here’s how social media reacted to Bennett’s preseason performance against the Cowboys.

Bennett’s game-winning touchdown pass (on fourth down)!

 

Commentators talk Bennett’s mistakes

Former UGA national championship quarterback weighs in

Rams writer talks Bennett’s day

The Rams’ next preseason game will be against the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 17 at 7:05 p.m. ET.

 

 

 

Matthew Stafford completes pass to himself in bizarre play

Los Angeles Rams star quarterback Matthew Stafford catches his own pass in a crazy training camp play

Former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Matthew Stafford is back in action in preparation for the 2024 NFL season with the Los Angeles Rams. Stafford is not expected to play much (if at all) this preseason, but he is participating in training camp.

In a recent joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys, Stafford completed a pass to himself on fourth down. Several Dallas defenders bobbled the football and allowed Stafford, who was scrambling, to catch his own pass in a football rarity.

Stafford’s reception came in a drill near the end zone. It is evident that Dallas defenders respected Stafford’s red noncontact jersey, but that did not stop Stafford from somersaulting into the end zone.

Here’s a look at Stafford’s amazing play.

The Rams and Cowboys play their preseason opener on Aug. 11 at 4:30 p.m. ET. Matthew Stafford is not expected to play, but former Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett should see a significant amount of action for Los Angeles.