Los Angeles

Rams

The Rams field a deep tight end room, and Atkins expects the personnel to undergo turnover in the next year or so. Second-year TE Terrance Ferguson could function as the de facto No. 3 wide receiver while TE Colby Parkinson continues “to be a focal point on third downs and in the red zone in this three-tight end offense” this season. He adds that Klare could get involved on “some yards-after-catch designs and wrinkles this season,” but it does not sound like Klare is due for a fantasy-friendly role in 2026.

Mumpfield enters his second NFL season after posting a 10/92/1 receiving line in the regular season last year. He chipped in three catches for 22 yards in the playoffs. Were he to get a spot start, he is not guaranteed to be fantasy-relevant. Atkins lists sixth-round rookie WR CJ Daniels as the most likely player to assume No. 3 wide receiver duties, primarily due to his blocking. He also has some contested-catch ability. Mumpfield is a name to know for 2026, but he is unlikely to meaningfully contribute in the box score if Nacua and Adams are healthy.

Back on May 1st, Atkins predicted Rams coach Sean McVay would deploy starting RB Kyren Williams and Corum in a 50-50 split, with Williams operating as the “primary third-down back and between-the-tackles runner,” while Corum functions as “a change-of-pace option with explosive capabilities.” With spring workouts complete, Atkins is doubling down with minor clarifications. Corum has made strides as a pass protector and receiver, and could “earn more playing time in an offense that wants to blur the run and the pass,” but Williams still remains the superior passing game player and should out-snap Corum because of this. Williams’ “consistency and short-yardage skills” could also keep him on the field in goal-line situations. Williams posted a 259/1,252/10 rushing line while Corum went for 145/746/6. Atkins thinks the two backs could split carries almost 50-50, which would seemingly make a 1,000-yard season doable for Corum. However, Corum’s ceiling outcome is limited if Williams indeed remains the primary player on passing downs and in goal-line situations.

Stafford discussed retirement rumors on Chris Long’s podcast, Green Light. He said a retirement decision would be “year-to-year...committing to more than that feels a little bit daunting and I think a little bit unfair to the team and myself.” The 38-year-old is looking only to the short-term, knowing he is “ready to play this year.” Stafford is not looking to make long-term decisions at this stage of his career without knowing how his body will feel after a season of play. The veteran also mentioned he has talked to Tom Brady and Drew Brees about playing into his 40s and is open to the prospect of doing so. However, Stafford is only focusing on the upcoming season for now; the Rams will be in Super Bowl contention between his return and the addition of Myles Garrett on defense.

With Matthew Stafford likely to have another limited training camp as he manages a back issue for the second straight year, rookie No. 13 pick Ty Simpson and former fourth-round pick Stetson Bennett are battling for the backup role. Though the team wants Jimmy Garoppolo back, the vet is mulling retirement, leading to one of these two unproven arms to be thrust into the backup quarterback role. Atkins reports Bennett took reps first in Stafford’s two missed practices in minicamp but neither Bennett nor Simpson “were able to stand out ahead of the other.” The Rams consider the backup role a significant void “with Stafford’s need to take time off and with the risk from each time Stafford takes a hit”, according to Atkins. A season in which Stafford misses time due to injury already decreases the Rams’ contention odds and an unprepared Simpson or Bennett as QB2 would be costly. Both will have time for developmental reps in camp and Simpson is worth rostering in Dynasty fantasy football formats.

Atkins added, “The ideal outcome for him is to lead their tight ends in catches and yards.” He noted that the coaching staff was focused on bringing Ferguson along incrementally in 2025. Now they will have the chance to move him into a more prominent role for his second season. Ferguson only caught 11 passes as a rookie, but he parlayed a seam-stretching role into 231 yards and three scores despite the low reception total. Atkins sees Ferguson as a de facto No. 3 receiver for the team, with Colby Parkinson and Tyler Higbee both fulfilling the role of a traditional inline tight end. Rookie Max Klare will also be in the mix for snaps, but will likely be brought along slowly as well. With an ADP that barely even registers in early best ball drafts, Ferguson is worth a look as a high-upside TE3.

“Nobody said that,” Schefter then said, noting that everyone involved is downplaying this. Donald almost undoubtedly wouldn’t go through a training camp, and the Rams have yet to present him with a plan on how he’d be used. Schefter stresses that this is just a “guess” but that the “ingredients are there to make it happen.” Donald Watch will become a big part of the training camp news cycle unless someone involved throws cold water on it.

The charge against Jackson, 27, who has been with the Rams since entering the NFL in 2021, was for “a person who willfully inflicts corporal injury,” according to the LAPD. Jackson, who has played in 45 regular season games for the Rams over the past three seasons, has a history of off-the-field issues, including a 2024 suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Jackson last November was sued “by a woman who alleged he recorded her without her consent during sex, repeatedly refused to delete the video and taunted her with it,” according to ESPN. Jackson is one of several Rams players facing legal issues this offseason.

The contract tweaks moved “the vesting date of his guarantees back a few months,” allowing the Rams to bring Garrett and his record-setting deal aboard without issue. Garrett’s average annual value and contract length both remain the same. This move could allow the Rams to add another veteran or two, but we do not yet know exactly how Garrett’s money will be spread out over the Rams’ current and future books.

Schultz apparently texted Donald, 35, about whether he would consider coming out of retirement to play alongside new Rams EDGE Myles Garrett. Per Schultz, Donald responded by saying he is “for sure flirting with the idea,” and if he can “find the fire, it’s a possibility.” Donald also noted that this season’s Super Bowl will be hosted at the Rams’ SoFi Stadium, which appeals to him. Donald is still on the Rams’ reserve/retired list, so his 2024 salary can be reinstated if he decides he would like to return. According to Over The Cap, the Rams have $16.3 million in salary cap space this season. A potential return should not be expected. Retired players entertain returns from time to time, but most of the time, they decide to stay put. To be fair to Donald, though, it does seem like he is at least mildly weighing his options.