RADIO
This article continues our team outlook series where we will breakdown each NFL team from a fantasy football perspective. We will cover the major changes on each roster from this off season and project what the team will do in the upcoming year. Today we'll be taking a look at the Los Angeles Todd Gurley... I mean the Los Angeles Rams.
Offseason Acquisitions: QB Jared Goff
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Quarterbacks
The Rams decided to give Nick Foles the boot earlier in the summer which was a bit of a head scratcher considering the only other quarterbacks they have that anyone has ever even heard of are Case Keenum and Jared Goff. The team sounds fairly intent on having Jared Goff sit to start the season, as is normally the case to start training camp for rookie quarterbacks. Goff isn't NFL ready right now, so it's looking more and more like the Case Keenum show in Hollywood. Not exactly the greatest show on turf.
Unless the Rams are simultaneously the most stubborn and most true-to-their-word team in the league, I can't imagine Keenum starting all 16 games this year. I would bet he struggles enough that by week eight or so, Jeff Fisher's hand is forced into starting Goff. For Goff's sake, I hope Keenum does indeed go the whole year under center since that's what's most likely to help Goff in the long term. Either way, you're not looking to the Rams for fantasy value at QB. If I had to pick, I'd certainly rather own Goff since I know what Keenum is and I don't want that. Goff doesn't really have any fantasy value outside of deep keeper and dynasy leagues.
Running Backs
Hey look! I get to say something positive about the Rams before we go right back to throwing salt in the wound. Todd Gurley is locked in as a top three running back for 2016. You can make the case for a few different guys for number one at the position but whomever you hitch your wagon to, Gurley isn't far behind. After being eased into the offense in week three, here are his yardage totals for the following four games: 146, 159, 128, 133. He's a fantasy beast and should be drafted as such.
By "should be drafted as such" I mean he's a top five overall pick in all formats this year. I'm still on board with Antonio Brown going number one overall regardless of format but I would seriously consider Gurley at number two. I know he only has one year under his belt but every other running back around him has a greater risk to me. Adrian Peterson is getting old, David Johnson was really only good for four games total, Le'veon Bell is suspended for the first four games of the season and the list goes on. Give me the guy who was the fifth highest scoring running back last year as a rookie despite being limited by injury to start the season.
Wide Receivers
I get the temptation to give Tavon Austin one more shot, really I do. Actually, that was a lie. I don't get it at all, to be perfectly honest with you. He had five good games last year and 11 clunkers in 2015. Not exactly setting the world on fire. And, it's also not like those were DeSean Jackson-type games where he went off for 30+ points to win you your week. He was just good for a couple games and that's fine. He's just not worth a look in fantasy to me. I'd much rather take receivers like Corey Coleman, Sammie Coates, and Saints Michael Thomas. All of those players have a ton more upside, especially at their respective values. Austin is what he is at this point in his career. He'll go off three or four times this year and I'm perfectly fine not having that on my bench.
The only other "name" at wide receiver here is Kenny Britt. He's being undrafted in fantasy football leagues and it should remain that way.
Tight Ends
By the time I got down to the tight end section I kind of felt bad for ripping on the Rams so much so I forced myself to find something else positive to say. This is the best I can do: I can envision a situation where Lance Kendricks becomes relevant in a PPR format if rookie Jared Goff steps in at QB and just peppers him the ball with dumpoffs. Even with that possibility in mind, you're not drafting Lance Kendricks. Just see how his year progresses and if Goff is under center, scoop him up on waivers if/when the time comes.
