The LA Rams have been hit with some high-profile injuries and while it is still early, their season is in danger. At 1-3, fourth in the NFC West and without Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, the Rams need their bye week to regroup. Up first, however, is a home game against the Green Bay Packers.
The Rams have not exactly been balling on offense, and the loss of two of the NFL’s top receivers has been felt in fantasy football. The difference between 2-3 and 1-4 in the NFL (and in fantasy) is significant, so let’s take a look at the Rams’ best weapons in Week 5:
Rams’ QB Fantasy Outlook: Matthew Stafford
Matthew Stafford is missing his two main options in the passing game and has become a huge risk in fantasy football. With Stafford having only 2 TDs to 2 INTs and fluctuating between 14, 6, 14 and 4 points, there is no way you can risk starting him here.
Compounding the issue is that he faces the Green Bay Packers, who top the takeaway charts with 12, 8 of which are INTs. There are better options, and Stafford should not be in your lineup until Cooper Kupp/Puka Nacua returns.
Matthew Stafford’s point range: 4-25; Prediction: 12
Rams’ RB Fantasy Outlook: Kyren Williams
Kyren Williams has been the lone shining star from the LA Rams in fantasy in recent weeks and has broken 10 points in every game this season. Williams put up 30.60 points in Week 3 (HPPR) and followed that up with 18.40 points in the defeat to Chicago.
The Packers’ defense is 17th against RBs in 2024, conceding an average of 22.50 points to the position per game. With almost zero competition for touches in the backfield and an incredibly high ceiling, Williams is a must-start every week.
Kyren Williams’ point range: 8-25; Prediction: 15
Rams’ WR Fantasy Outlooks: Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Whittington & Tutu Atwell
This is the tricky part. The LA Rams receiving options are streamers at best and picking which one, if any, will go big is an inexact science. While the depth chart has Demarcus Robinson at WR1 in Kupp’s absence, he himself is questionable for Sunday.
If Robinson plays, he shouldn’t start in fantasy football as his points thus far have been underwhelming. Robinson has 9 catches for 161 yards in four games and is yet to break 7 points in a game (HPPR).
Jordan Whittington will be hoping to benefit from the receiver crisis in LA, but the rookie is yet to really get going either. Whittington did get 9.20 points in Week 4 on the back of six receptions for 62 yards, but should be avoided in Week 5. He is simply too big a risk to start in fantasy at the moment.
Tutu Atwell is the WR3 on the Rams depth chart, but he is the best receiving option in fantasy. Atwell is fast, elusive and has good chemistry with Matthew Stafford. He leads the team with 11 receptions for 223 yards and has hit 11 points in both the last two games. He can be started in the WR2 or flex spot with a degree of worry.
Demarcus Robinson’s point range: 3-13; Prediction: 5
Jordan Whittington’s point range: 3-13; Prediction: 4
Tutu Atwell’s point range: 6-15; Prediction: 11
Rams’ TE Fantasy Outlook: Colby Parkinson
With the Rams’ passing game faltering, the TE position is as problematic as it is in 90% of other teams. As such, Colby Parkinson is not an ideal pick in Week 5. While there are worse choices, he has 12 receptions for 113 yards across four games, totaling 17.30 points in HPPR leagues. It’s just not enough.
Colby Parkinson’s point range: 1-8; Prediction: 5
Also read: Fantasy Football Week 5 Defense Rankings & Streamers ft. Seahawks, Patriots & Broncos