This week the Rams are going through their ramp-up phase before getting to full padded practices.
Head Coach Sean McVay commented during his Aug. 2 press conference that “August 17th is really going to represent the first true practice where guys are going against one another outside of a walk through setting.”
As Training Camp will be closed to the general public, you can watch all of the training camp action starting Aug. 13 on the Rams website, Facebook Page or YouTube Channel.
Though as the season grows near Fantasy Football Drafts are still underway.
This is another round of players to look at or stay away from in your fantasy football draft boards.
*Again these will be recommendations based on a 10-team PPR league.
WR Cooper Kupp // Pos. 19 Overall: 43
The wide receiver core is the safest bet on this team. While they aren’t your No. 1 receivers in fantasy but they will elevate your team as solid No. 2 receivers. While Robert Woods will see more targets as he is the Rams No. 1 receiver, I think Kupp’s touchdown ability puts him above Woods.
Woods last season only received two end zone targets and has averaged four touchdowns a season in his three seasons with the Rams. Kupp averaged seven touchdowns a season over the same period and had his first season over 1,000 receiving yards.
Kupp is playing on the last year of his rookie contract and has a long future in the NFL if his numbers repeat or eclipse last season.
Draft him in the fourth or fifth round.
Los Angeles Rams D/ST // Pos. 18 Overall: 286
I would stay as far away as possible from the Rams Defense and Special Teams. I know some players just draft their favorite team’s D/ST because it can sometimes be a throwaway, but if you draft to be competitive, then the Rams should not be your week one starter. I usually treat the D/ST week to week and pick the best available matchup and draft the best matchup in week one.
The Rams have one of the toughest schedules in the league. A lot of that has to do with the design of their schedule. They face three very good offenses in the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and Buffalo Bills to open the season. Then post bye-week, they play Seattle, Tampa Bay, San Francisco, Arizona, and New England back to back. There are weeks worth picking them up off free agency, but I would not draft them as my day one starter.
Pick them up off free agency when the matchup is right.
WR Robert Woods // Pos. 17 Overall: 41
Like I said with Kupp, the wide receiver core on this team is the safest bet in fantasy. Woods will dominate the targets for the Rams, which is a good thing in PPR leagues. He has a strong consistency rating on with .407 (lower is better), averaged 5.4 receptions per game and 13.6 yards per reception over his three seasons with the Rams.
Kupp and Woods can be interchangeable, and there is no advantage of drafting one over the other, but Woods would be the safest option. Kupp comes with a little more risk as his numbers rely on the Ram’s ability to get within the red zone and score on passing touchdowns.
Draft him in the fourth or fifth round.
Be sure to check out part one, here.
Featured Image: Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire
