# Los Angeles Rams NFL team. Team code: **LAR**. ## Quick Facts - **Team code:** LAR - **Head coach:** Sean McVay (Sean McVay — Los Angeles Rams Head Coach) - **Offensive coordinator:** Nate Scheelhaase (Nate Scheelhaase — Los Angeles Rams Offensive Coordinator) - **Defensive coordinator:** Chris Shula (Chris Shula — Los Angeles Rams Defensive Coordinator) - **Coaching tree:** see Coaching Trees ## Fantasy Footprint The Rams' elite supporting cast around Stafford makes them an MVP contender team. Nacua (WR#3 overall), Adams (WR#45), and Kyren Williams (RB#48) form a potent offensive core in a proven system. Stafford's year-over-year consistency in Sean McVay's scheme positions him for sustained QB1 production. Defense-first approach with Garrett and McDuffie means games could be decided by field position and lower-possession-time pace, reducing total passing volume. Risk: Nacua injury vulnerability noted in early-2026 commentary; depth behind the starting offensive stars is unproven. ## Players (Fantasy-Relevant) - **QB:** Matthew Stafford (PPR #100), Ty Simpson (PPR #NR), Will Simpson (PPR #NR), Stetson Bennett (PPR #NR) - **RB:** Kyren Williams (PPR #48), Blake Corum (PPR #108) - **WR:** Puka Nacua (PPR #3), Davante Adams (PPR #45), CJ Daniels (PPR #NR) - **TE:** Terrance Ferguson (PPR #NR), Max Klare (PPR #NR), Colby Parkinson (PPR #NR) ## Coaches - Head coach: Sean McVay (Sean McVay — Los Angeles Rams Head Coach) - Offensive coordinator: Nate Scheelhaase (Nate Scheelhaase — Los Angeles Rams Offensive Coordinator) - Defensive coordinator: Chris Shula (Chris Shula — Los Angeles Rams Defensive Coordinator) ## 2026 Outlook The Rams are clear Super Bowl favorites heading into 2026 following a blockbuster offseason. They traded for all-pro edge rusher Myles Garrett (single-season sack record holder with 23 sacks in 2025) and cornerback Trent McDuffie (highest-paid CB in NFL history), while signing defensive specialist Jaylen Watson from the Chiefs. Matthew Stafford returns as the reigning MVP with elite receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, creating an unmatched offensive and defensive star power. Oddsmakers give the Rams 5-to-1 championship odds—single-digit favorites with every other team at 10-to-1 or longer (per Rams are clear Super Bowl favorites after busy offseason). **WR room efficiency:** The Rams ranked 10th in 2026 WR positional spending ($41.7M), but their WR room earned the #1 PFF grade (79.0) across the league—demonstrating elite efficiency in how they deploy cap resources. Nacua, Adams, and newly acquired role players in the system make the Rams' passing attack dominant without top-tier spending relative to peers (per 2026 Positional Spending: Wide Receivers). **Historical context on favorites:** Since 1995, only four preseason Super Bowl favorites have won it all (2006 Colts, 2016 Patriots, 2018 Patriots, 2023 Chiefs)—a 12.9% success rate over 31 years. By contrast, five of the last six champions entered the season with at least 10-to-1 odds. The Rams roster is undeniably loaded, but the historical precedent suggests the gap between preseason favorite and actual champion is significant. Defensive risks include injury to key players; losing Stafford, Nacua, or Garrett could quickly derail championship hopes. Offensive tackle Alaric Jackson's recent arrest for felony domestic violence adds an off-field distraction, while Nacua's recent holistic rehabilitation facility stay signals potential personal/health concerns (per Rams are clear Super Bowl favorites after busy offseason. Recent history says that means very little - Yahoo Sports). Defensively, Garrett's 0.70-second get-off (fastest in NFL) and elite pressure generation will transform DC Chris Shula's unit, allowing earlier QB pressure and freeing up teammates like fellow edge rusher Chris Jones. With SoFi Stadium hosting Super Bowl LXI, the Rams' championship window is now—but executing as a new defensive unit under a first-time coordinator pairing remains the key variable. Matthew Stafford had the best statistical season of his 18-year career with 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns, earning MVP honors despite being 38 years old. Sean McVay remains the ultimate chess master, mastering the run game and creating easy throws through clever design. In 2025, McVay had LA lined up with three-tight-end sets on more than 30% of offensive snaps, more than double any other team—his versatility to match talent to scheme while disguising intent is unparalleled. Stafford and McVay make the top coach-QB duo in football (per SI's 2026 Ranking of the NFL's Coach-QB Duos). McVay's 2026 coaching evolution marks his tenth season as head coach. He's cycling through his fifth offensive coordinator (Nate Scheelhaase) and fourth defensive coordinator (Chris Shula). Despite constant coordinator turnover, McVay has remained the driving force behind the Rams' offensive identity. Turf Show Times projects the Rams to field a top-5 offense (28.4 PPG) and top-5 defense (19.6 points allowed) in 2026, driven by McVay's offensive innovation and young defensive core anchored by Shula's scheme (per Will 2026 be the year the Rams manage a top 5 offense and defense?). On defense, the Rams acquired two-time DPOY Myles Garrett in a blockbuster trade on June 1, 2026, sending Jared Verse and three draft picks to Cleveland. Garrett set the NFL single-season sack record with 23 in 2025 and joins an elite pass rush anchored by Byron Young and Kobie Turner. With reigning MVP Stafford leading an offense that ranked first in passing yards and TDs, and now a transformed pass rush adding Garrett, the Rams emerged as single-digit Super Bowl favorites (per Browns trade 2-time AP Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to Rams). USA Today's power rankings place the Rams at #1 heading into 2026, crediting the additions of Garrett, McDuffie, and Watson to an elite quarterback and receiving corps that nearly reached the Super Bowl in 2025. However, the rank also notes the challenge of integrating a newly assembled defensive unit under a first-time coordinator pairing, and the historical precedent that only 12.9% of preseason Super Bowl favorites actually win the championship (per NFL power rankings: There's a new No. 1 after eventful offseason, June trades - USA Today). For 2026, McVay made significant coaching staff changes: offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur departed, replaced by Kliff Kingsbury in an offensive coach role; special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone and assistant special teams coach Kyle Hoke were added; and Robert Wright joined as a defensive assistant (per Rams hire former college defensive coordinator as assistant coach). Kingsbury brings a no-huddle-heavy system to pair with McVay's scheme, potentially accelerating game pace—the 2026 NFL saw offenses play at their slowest pace in years (29.6 seconds between plays), and McVay has previously leveraged tempo and early snap counts to exploit defensive recognition. Kingsbury ran no-huddle on roughly two-thirds of plays with prior teams, giving McVay a fresh tool to keep opposing defenses reactive and simplistic, particularly useful against scheme-heavy defenses like Seattle (per Top schematic trend to watch in 2026 NFL season: Will the game speed up or continue to...) McVay promoted Nate Scheelhaase to offensive coordinator after serving as pass game coordinator the prior season. Scheelhaase had drawn interview interest for multiple head coach and OC openings elsewhere but remained with LA. Dave Ragone was elevated to quarterbacks coach/associate coordinator to work closely with MVP-winning Matthew Stafford. The offensive staff retained Rob Calabrese (wide receivers, promoted from offensive assistant), Ryan Wendell (offensive line, fourth season), and Eric Yarber (now senior offensive assistant/wide receivers coach, tenth season in the role). (per Rams' 2026 coaching staff set) During OTAs, the Rams face several key roster battles that will shape the 2026 season. At WR3, Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith, and rookie CJ Daniels compete for snaps, with the possibility of rotation usage or a trade for elite receivers like Stefon Diggs or AJ Brown. At QB, first-round pick Ty Simpson is competing with Stetson Bennett for the backup role, with McVay intent on ensuring Simpson earns the spot and masters the offense before transitioning to starter duties. On the offensive line, depth behind the starting five remains unsettled with competition between Justin Dedich, Keagen Trost, Beaux Limmer, and David Quessenberry. At tight end, Terrance Ferguson's development is being monitored while experienced veteran Tyler Higbee remains in the picture (per These Roster Battles During Rams OTAs Could Shape the 2026 Offseason). Sports Illustrated graded the Rams' draft class as the weakest among the four championship-game teams, noting the Rams drafted for future development with minimal immediate impact expected on their Super Bowl LXI pursuit. Simpson will sit and learn behind MVP Stafford, while tight end Max Klare projects as a fourth-string option behind established veterans. Sixth-round receiver CJ Daniels is flagged as a "sleeper choice" for the biggest rookie impact (per Not All of Football's Final Four Teams Nailed the 2026 NFL Draft). On defense, the Rams made a seismic move on June 1, trading for two-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. The blockbuster acquisition pairs Garrett with the elite cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson in a revamped secondary. Garrett's 23 sacks in 2025 (an NFL single-season record) makes him the most feared pass rusher in the league, and at 31 years old he remains in his prime. His addition alongside Byron Young and Kobie Turner creates one of the most formidable defensive lines in football. The Rams were already Super Bowl favorites after winning 12 games last season; Garrett pushes them into title-favorite territory. Despite the star-studded roster, expert consensus ranks the Rams as elite (#4 nationally) but not yet proven at the highest level—the group has "all the trappings of an elite defense" but hasn't exhibited the resiliency or consistency of top units like Seattle, Houston, or Denver (per Ranking every NFL defense from best to worst for 2026: Rams still not Top 3). There is also speculation that retired interior lineman Aaron Donald may consider unretiring to join Garrett and form a historic defensive duo. McVay remains in close contact with Donald and indicated the former three-time DPOY could still perform at a high level at age 35 (per Could Aaron Donald come out of retirement? Rams' trade for Myles Garrett 'for sure'...). As of July 3, the comeback appears imminent: NFL insider Jason La Canfora reported that Donald's unretirement is "closer than ever," with growing sentiment among Rams insiders that he'll play for the team in 2026. The Rams' defensive depth would allow them to ease Donald into action gradually rather than requiring him to train at full capacity in camp (per NFL News: Insider Provides Update on Likelihood of Aaron Donald Unretiring, Rejoining...). SI ranked the Rams' defensive triplet (Myles Garrett, Nate Landman, Trent McDuffie) as the #1 in the NFL for 2026, noting Garrett as "perhaps the best player in the league, regardless of position." The main challenge is getting this newly assembled trio to perform collectively rather than individually, with McVay's coaching staff tasked with maximizing the roster (per Ranking the NFL's Best Defensive Triplets from 32–1 for 2026). **July 8 update — Offensive infrastructure rank:** CBS Sports ranked the Rams 1st among all 32 NFL teams in offensive infrastructure (score: 4.45), placing them in Tier 1 ("Best Ecosystems") tied with the Chicago Bears. The rankings excluded the QB but noted that when factoring in Matthew Stafford, the Rams have the advantage over Chicago. Sean McVay is identified as one of "the very small handful of best offensive minds in the league," commanding an above-average to good offensive line, elite pass-catching stars (Puka Nacua and Davante Adams), and solid running backs. The article attributes Stafford's MVP season to this elite supporting cast surrounding him across all offensive skill groups (per 2026 NFL offensive infrastructure rankings: Which teams have best set up their quarterback for success?). **Expert grading consensus (July 6):** NFL.com's Matt Okada gave the Rams an A—the second-highest grade of any team in the NFL for offseason moves—citing the additions of Garrett, McDuffie, and Watson as transformative. ESPN's Seth Walder gave the Rams a more conservative C+, reflecting concerns over draft capital spent. Within the NFC West, Okada ranked the Rams as clear winners (A), while 49ers (C+), Seahawks (D+), and Cardinals (D-) trailed significantly. The grading divergence highlights the roster construction variance among experts: the Rams are "arguably the best [roster] in football on paper" (per Rams blow rest of NFC West out of water with best offseason grade)). Defensive coordinator Chris Shula's rise as a head-coaching candidate hinges on the Rams' 2026 success. Last season, Shula elevated the LA defense to 10th in EPA per play and 8th in scoring drive rate, turning breakout performances from understated players like Byron Young, Kam Kinchels, Kam Curl and Nate Landman into a unit that jumped from 15th to first in overall PFF grade. The additions of Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, and Jaylen Watson significantly improve Shula's personnel, positioning him as the top first-time head-coaching option heading into 2027 (per 15 head-coaching candidates entering the 2026 NFL season - PFF). USA Today's mid-June rankings placed the Rams at #1 for entertainment value heading into 2026, highlighting Sean McVay's proven offensive innovation and the elite defensive line anchored by Garrett. The combination of Matthew Stafford's MVP-winning arm, elite receiving options, and game-changing defense creates genuine championship upside (per Ranking all 32 NFL teams from most to least entertaining). ## Recent News - 2026-05-03 — Drafting Max Klare Completely Reshapes the Rams at Tight End (Drafting Max Klare Completely Reshapes the Rams at Tight End) - 2026-07-10 — Rams 2026 training camp (Rams 2026 training camp) - 2026-05-31 — Rams most competitive position battles this summer (Rams most competitive position battles this summer) - 2026-06-05 — Myles Garrett to Rams? A.J. Brown to Patriots? CBS Sports picks favorite NFL trades of... (Myles Garrett to Rams? A.J. Brown to Patriots? CBS Sports picks favorite NFL trades of...) - 2026-07-08 — Rams get game-changing new Aaron Donald return update from NFL insider (Rams get game-changing new Aaron Donald return update from NFL insider) - 2026-06-01 — Myles Garrett traded: Making sense of the Rams-Browns deal (Myles Garrett traded: Making sense of the Rams-Browns deal) - 2026-06-03 — Browns trade Myles Garrett to Rams in blockbuster deal for Jared Verse, draft picks -... (Browns trade Myles Garrett to Rams in blockbuster deal for Jared Verse, draft picks -...) - 2026-06-28 — Stetson Bennett dealing with ‘business side’ of NFL in QB competition with Rams -... (Stetson Bennett dealing with ‘business side’ of NFL in QB competition with Rams -...) - 2026-07-06 — Rams blow rest of NFC West out of water with best offseason grade (Rams blow rest of NFC West out of water with best offseason grade) - 2026-06-01 — Browns trade Myles Garrett to Rams for Jared Verse, three picks (Browns trade Myles Garrett to Rams for Jared Verse, three picks) ## Open Questions - Does Marvin Harrison Jr. actually transition into a "Davante Adams-style" efficiency role under Mike LaFleur, or does he continue to underperform relative to pedigree? **Source:** Offensive Coordinator and Scheme Changes For Fantasy Football: The Chargers Are Set To Smash In 2026 **Status:** open **Last touched:** 2026-06-27 - Will the Rams' expected 50-50 committee split for Kyren Williams and Blake Corum actually materialize, or will Williams retain a larger share once the season starts? **Source:** Rams insider expects 50-50 split for Kyren Williams, Blake Corum **Status:** open **Last touched:** 2026-06-23 - When does Ty Simpson take over from Matthew Stafford as the Rams' starter? **Source:** PFF 2026 dynasty rookie rankings Superflex (Post-Day 2) **Status:** open **Last touched:** 2026-05-21 --- Source: https://chatffb.com/teams/los-angeles-rams · ChatFFB — fantasy football answers updated from a live news wiki.