Los Angeles

Rams

The No. 182, No. 189, and No. 215 overall picks are now under contract in Los Angeles after multiple players received restructured contracts this offseason to make room against the cap for the rookie class. All three players should be on the outside looking in as far as expected playing time goes in 2023 but have the opportunity to work their way up the depth chart when camp opens in under three weeks.

Longtime 49er Witherspoon was limited to four games by hamstring woes last season. Now headed into his age-28 campaign, he’s not a bad experience-based flier, but he is a pure depth option at this stage of his career.

McVay had high praise for Atwell during and after the Rams’ mandatory minicamp. “If last year taught us anything, you got to be ready for contingency plans,” McVay said. "[Atwell] is a guy that’s going to have a role for us [because of] his ability to move around and make sure that we don’t have to have certain guys play every single snap. … He’s a nice complement to some of the other guys that we have, and so I’m really pleased with what he’s done.” Atwell in 2022 took on more snaps and routes in the LA offense after a lost rookie campaign. The speedy, diminutive wideout had 298 yards and a touchdown on 18 receptions, mostly in the season’s final five games. He’ll profile as LA’s best downfield threat this season, but will be frustrating for fantasy purposes.

He’ll battle Brett Rypien for the No. 2 role behind Matthew Stafford, and the Stafford’s long-term health question marks makes it possible Bennett will play this season. Bennett will turn 26 in October. The likely projection here is a backup or fringe starter, but Bennett has a history of playing above his tools with Georgia and can’t be completely dismissed as an NFL non-entity.

Stafford and Jefferson joined forces this offseason, as the two have reportedly spent significant time working out with one another. The two didn’t play a game together last season, as Jefferson was recovering from a torn ACL early on and Stafford was sidelined late with head and neck injuries. In 11 games, Jefferson caught 24 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns, but he turned in a solid 50-802-6 in his last healthy season. With training camp fast approaching, Jefferson appears locked in as the Rams’ WR2 and could be in for a bounce-back season if healthy.

“He’s really capitalized on a lot of the momentum he built up toward the latter part of the year. And he’s going to be a huge part of what we’re doing moving forward,” McVay said on SiriusXM. “Cam is going to be a central figure in this offense. I think he’s priming himself to have a great year.” Headed into his age-24 season, Akers will look to build on a strong finish to the 2022 season after struggling to return from a 2021 Achilles tear. Akers led the NFL in rushing yards (512) over the regular season’s final six weeks, logging seven runs of more than ten yards -- the seventh most among running backs over the season’s last month and a half. Akers could be an overlooked fantasy pick if the Rams don’t add Dalvin Cook or Kareem Hunt in the coming weeks.

“He’s a guy that we’re expecting him to come in, expecting him to be able to contribute and compete,” McVay added. The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue writes that Nacua “has stood out in each of the three practices ... because of his significant workload ... as well as the plays he has made.” With a wideout depth chart of Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, and Ben Skowronek ahead of him, there’s certainly space for Nacua to grab a real role on this depth chart next to Kupp if he impresses the right people. He’s probably only in late-round flier territory for fantasy purposes right now, but he’s a name to keep an eye on as we head to training camp.

Skowronek briefly became a Rams target of interest last year in a starting role, but didn’t catch a touchdown all season and looks to be behind Van Jefferson in the pecking order next to Cooper Kupp. Rookie wideout Puka Nacua, who has been fairly hyped at camp by both coaches and reporters, could make a move for Skowronek’s role in the offense.

The move creates $10.4 million in additional salary cap space. It’s hard to say why the Rams will need the extra cap room. The team could be among several eyeing free agent RB Dalvin Cook, who was recently released by the Vikings. Cook landing with the Rams would strip Cam Akers of nearly all of his fantasy relevance. It would be tough to get excited about Cook in an LA offense that struggled with run blocking in 2022. Only three teams had a lower Pro Football Focus run blocking grade than the Rams.

The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue says that the Rams are “slowly onboard[ing]” Noteboom after he tore his Achilles in October of last season. Sean McVay was optimistic about Noteboom and said it will be “awesome” when Noteboom practices in full. It’s hard to understand completely where Noteboom is in his rehab from those pulls, but he’s likely questionable to be ready for training camp.