Back on the grass! With vaccines more abundant and Covid restrictions loosening, the Rams were able to have OTAs and mini-camp in person. The rookie and most of the veterans attended the "voluntary" workouts and the team is off until training camp in July. This report will give the current status of the Fantasy positions.

QUARTERBACK: QB Matthew Stafford got his first work with his new team and quickly acclimated himself as the offensive leader showing why the Rams aggressively pursued him. Stafford has received glowing reviews since arriving in Los Angeles and is poised to have his best season as a professional. With the talent on this team and McVay’s play calling, Stafford should put up good numbers and be considered a lower end QB1 for Fantasy.

RUNNING BACK: RB Cam Akers enters his second season as the lead back after finishing his rookie year strongly. Third year RB Darrell Henderson will be the backup as Malcom Brown signed with the Dolphins in free agency. Towards the end of the 2020 season including the playoffs, Akers showed the skills and production of a franchise running back. If he can play like that, I have no problem taking Cam as my RB1 in 2021.

WIDE RECEIVER: WR Robert Woods and WR Cooper Kupp are joined by veteran WR DeSean Jackson, second year WR Van Jefferson, and rookie WR Tutu Atwell to give Stafford and deep and talented receiving corps. Woods and Kupp have established themselves as solid WR2 players for Fantasy but their numbers could improve with their new quarterback. The other receivers need to prove themselves before they should be considered for your Fantasy team.

TIGHT END: TE Tyler Higbee is the leader of this position room but rookie TE Jacob Harris has the potential to develop into a future star. With Gerald Everett leaving for Seattle, Harris will compete with veteran TE Johnny Mundt and second year TE Brycen Hopkins for playing time behind Higbee. For now, Higbee could be a sleeper especially if Stafford can develop a rapport with his tight end.

KICKER: PK Matt Gay took over the kicking duties after a slew of other kickers failed to deliver in 2020. Gay is a young veteran who could be productive in this potentially potent offense but he could also fall back to his inconsistent days in Tampa Bay. I am thinking positively and predicting he has a good season for the Rams. Matt is a great sleeper for Fantasy, especially in the later rounds of your Draft.

DEFENSE: The number one ranked defense of 2020 lost their Coordinator as Bradon Staley took over the Head Coaching duties of the Chargers. DC Raheem Morris takes over this talented unit led by three-time DPOY DL Aaron Donald and All-Pro CB Jalen Ramsey. The Rams lost several starters from last year’s team but they did re-sign and retain LB Leonard Floyd coming off a career high 10.5 sacks. Rookie LB Ernest Jones has a similar skill set to starting LB Micah Kiser and will compete to replace or play alongside the productive but often injured Kiser. The Rams also need to find a new starting edge rusher and LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and LB Terrell Lewis are two of the top candidates to replace Samson Ebukam who signed with the Niners. Donald is the top IDP for Fantasy with Floyd a potential sleeper.

It is great to have the team back on the grass and things start to get back to normal; however, we still need to be careful and practice safe measures like mask wearing and social distancing. The optimism for this team is very high and I am excited for the upcoming season. Prayers go out to my brother Scratch. Keep the faith Bro and continue to persevere! Love and blessings to my family. Miss you Pops! Aloha!

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