By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Each offseason brings change to NFL rosters, and those changes often have fantasy implications. Below, I lay out the changes at the skill positions and how those moves impact the fantasy status of the new roster.
2017
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QB: Jared Goff, Sean Mannion
RB: Todd Gurley, Malcolm Brown
WR: Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Sammy Watkins, Tavon Austin, Josh Reynolds
TE: Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett
2018
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QB: Jared Goff, Sean Mannion
RB: Todd Gurley, Malcolm Brown, Justin Davis
WR: Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds
TE: Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett
Pre-Draft Offseason:
The most important move for this current team happened two seasons ago when it dumped Jeff Fisher and replaced him with millennial Sean McVay. He helped get this young team on track, and now after losing in the first round of the playoffs, the Rams aren’t resting on their laurels, having made moves this offseason. The bulk of those moves went toward the defensive side, where the Rams added stars Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib and Ndamukong Suh. But, the Los Angeles did add Brandin Cooks from New England after letting Sammy Watkins walk.
Cooks had a strong 2016 season in New England, which wasn’t a given having done most of his work with Drew Brees throwing him the ball in the dome. Cooks finished as a top-10 fantasy wide receiver despite ranking 18th overall in targets and should do well in the Rams’ offense. Of course, the NFC West is stacked with some strong cornerbacks and Cooks will see the best defender in most cases and like in New England, so his targets will be spread out pretty well, but I think some will knock him further down in the rankings than he need be.
There haven’t been any other big changes to this offense, which will again make Todd Gurley the bell-cow back and fantasy stud. An upgrade in defense should also help Gurley see more consistent carries and solidify him as the No. 1 fantasy back in the league.
Jared Goff isn’t going to be let loose on offense, although he should be efficient and Cooks is an upgrade on Watkins. I like Goff as a solid fantasy quarterback this season, but I think his ceiling is capped unless Wade Phillips’ unit completely collapses and pushes Goff to throw way more than the Rams want him to.
Post-Draft Update
The Rams didn’t have a pick until the third day of the 2018 NFL Draft, but they did add depth to their offensive line and pass rush. The only offensive skill position they took was running back John Kelly, who was the main character in NYPD Blue for the first season but he wanted to star in movies, so he tried that and failed and then had to go back to television and star in a show that was not as good as NYPD Blue called CSI Miami, but I digress. Kelly also happens to be a running back out of Tennessee with a lot of talent. He’ll, of course, be behind Todd Gurley, but he Kelly likely be a strong fantasy play this season if Gurley were to go down.
The Rams’ offense and defense are star-studded, and the team has all the tools to win it this season. That is, of course, easier said than done, but the Rams couldn’t be in a much better spot to win games. As far as fantasy goes, Gurley is primed for another huge season with upside for even more if that defense can shut down teams like they should.
2018 Fantasy Outlook:
Stud: Todd Gurley
Solid: Brandin Cooks, Jared Goff
Sleeper: Tyler Higbee, Robert Woods
For more recommendations, check out WalterFootball.com’s Fantasy Football Rankings.
More 2018 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 8/21 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 9/1 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/30 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/27 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/23 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/22 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/16 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/9 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/2 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/1 (Chet)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 7/26 (Walt)
Fantasy Football 2-QB Dynasty Draft - 5/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Articles:
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: OTAs, Training Camp - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Busts - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Mid-Round Values - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 NFL Preseason Game Recaps - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason Games - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Notes - 8/31 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Quarterback Preseason Targets Tracker - 8/30 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football D/ST Drafting - 8/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Running Backs - 8/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/15 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Quarterbacks - 8/15 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Target - 8/9 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football - PPR Draft Strategy: Rounds 1 and 2 - 7/27 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Doug Baldwin's Value - 7/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Chris Hogan's Value - 7/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Alvin Kamara's Value - 7/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Tight Ends - 7/11 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Wide Receivers - 7/6 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Running Backs - 7/5 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Quarterbacks - 7/4 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends Better Than ADP - 6/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers Better Than ADP - 6/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Target Shares - 6/22 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Points Per Game - 6/13 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 6/2
2018 Fantasy Football Value Players - 5/25 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Quarterback Look-Back - 1/28 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Running Backs with the Most Carries - 1/28 (Walt)
2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 23
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
