Los Angeles Rams

Todd Gurley

Gurley is a top running back option for 2018 with a guaranteed three down role in the Rams high powered offense. He's a lock for 300+ touches again, but owners should temper their expectations because he's unlikely to repeat his eye-popping 2017 stats.

As the Rams head back to California, Rams D/ST owners will try to put 2015 out of their minds. Easily a top six drafted unit, this team has a Jekyll-and-Hyde thing going on. On paper, this defensive line should be a major sack producing unit and be at least above average stopping the run. The 2015 Rams really did neither, finishing 11th in sacks (41) and 20th in rushing yards allowed. The defense led by indomitable DT Aaron Donald should be primed for a better year in 2016 for fantasy owners. Donald will have to step into more of a leadership role as the Rams let DE Chris Long and LB James Laurinaitis go. They will need LB Alec Ogletree, the 2013 first rounder, to assume his 2014 form (or better) and be the rangy tackling machine in the middle. DE Robert Quinn, a 15-sack guy when healthy also missed half the season in 2015. In the secondary, where the Rams gave up 254 yards a game and a 66.8% opposing completion percentage, opted to keep CB Trumaine Johnson and let CB Janoris Jenkins leave to the NY Giants. They also have a hole at safety with Rodney McLeod bolting to Philadelphia. The loss of Jenkins will be mitigated by a healthy E.J Gaines, who missed all of 2015. To aid in the loss of Lauranitis, SS Mark Barron is now penciled in at linebacker. The Rams profile as a team that will rely heavily on their defense as their offense is Todd Gurley and an unknown quantity at quarterback in rookie Jared Goff. This probably hurts them and keeps them in the top 10-15 range, but many different scenarios are possible with this unit. You can wait and see on them to see if they get dropped as their first few games are pretty brutal.