The first “half” of the season couldn’t have gone much better for the Los Angeles Rams. They sit at 5-2 and were competitive in both of their close losses.
While there were significant questions about the health of Matthew Stafford and the offensive line in the early going of the season, those uncertainties have been put in the rearview in a major way. LA is healthy and capable of making a playoff run.
These are the top performing individuals that helped the Rams to their impressive early record and prime them for success over the remaining 10 regular season games, all according to Pro Football Focus (PFF) grading.
Top five performers on offense
(including only players with at least 100 snaps; player rankings use a 50% snap filter unless noted otherwise)
1 – Puka Nacua, WR: 92.6
In what may be the least surprising part of this post, Nacua leads the Rams and the NFL in PFF receiving grade. He’s just ahead of NFC West rival Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks.
Despite missing 1.5 games, Nacua is on pace for 1,736 receiving yards. This would fall behind Calvin Johnson’s all-time record at 1,964 and trails Cooper Kupp’s historic 2021 season of 1,947 yards.
Nacua is expected to return this week against the New Orleans Saints. Whether the Rams continue to give him a high volume workload remains to be seen, but Nacua is clearly among the NFL’s best at his position.
2 – Matthew Stafford, QB: 91.0
I’ll admit I didn’t see a career season coming for Stafford, but that is exactly what we are seeing from the veteran. He’s on track to finish with the single-best PFF grade of his career and second in the NFL behind the Seahawks’ Sam Darnold.
With the context of the back injury and more than a decade-and-a-half of performance, it simply would not have been a wise bet to expect Stafford to play this well in 2025. He had other plans in mind.
The most impressive aspect of Stafford’s year so far is the fact he’s manufacturing big-time throws at the highest rate of his career (if you ignore injury-shortened seasons) and putting the ball in harm’s way at a low frequency.
These are the top QB’s of 2025 followed by their big-time throw and turnover-worthy play rates:
- Sam Darnold: 8.9% / 1.8%
- Matthew Stafford: 7.3% / 2.5%
- Dak Prescott: 5.8% / 2.1%
- Drake Maye: 5.0% / 2.3%
- Justin Herbert: 2.9% / 1.4%
- Jordan Love: 5.3% / 2.7%
- Josh Allen: 3.7% / 1.2%
3 – Davante Adams, WR: 80.5
Adams ranks 11th among all receivers. There are troubling signs in his analytical profile—such as a catch rate that recently improved to 50% and other markers that are trending downward from his prime—though he’s still playing at a high level and is a serviceable compliment to Nacua. The veteran’s six touchdowns is tied for second among all receivers behind only Amon-Ra St. Brown.
4 – Kevin Dotson, RG: 78.1
It was a slower start to the season for Kevin Dotson. He’s strung together three-straight stellar performances and improved to PFF’s fourth-ranked guard on the season. As has been the case in his time with the Rams, he’s faring better in run blocking than pass protection: 84.3 vs 58.9 in 2025.
5 – Steve Avila, LG: 76.0
Steve Avila has played only 2.5 games on the year. If you lower the snap threshold to 25%, the third-year guard is ranks sixth at the position behind Dotson. When was the last time we saw the Rams with two top-10 guards? This can only be good news for keeping Stafford upright and to clear holes for Kyren Williams and company.
Other notes on offense
Rob Havenstein has returned to full health and could start this weekend against the Saints. While he’s played through injury, he ranks as the second-lowest player (55.0; 23rd) on the Rams offense in front of only Beaux Limmer. His replacement—Warren McClendon—ranks ninth with a grade of 70.0. The question of who should start is not only important in terms of on-field performance. Havenestein is slated to become a free agent next spring. McClendon would play in 2026 on the final year of his cost-controlled rookie deal. It would be a bonus if the Rams find out whether McClendon can start this year into next. This would prevent the team from entering the offseason with a need at a premium position.
Top five performers on defense
1 – Jared Verse, EDGE: 90.1
From the moment Jared Verse stepped on the field as an NFL rookie, he’s been a top 10 EDGE defender. This season he ranks sixth at the position and he’s had a relatively quiet year.
One noteworthy item: Verse has taken a step back in run defense from 2024 according to PFF. As a rookie he earned a grade of 81.0. This mark has fallen to 66.4 in 2025.
Can Verse improve in this facet over the second half of the season?
2 – Byron Young, EDGE: 85.0
Young ranks 14th among all EDGE’s in total pressures and 10th overall in PFF defensive grade. His defensive grade is bolstered by the best run defense mark of his career at 69.4 (previous career high in 2023 of 61.6).
The third-year linebacker has played 53 coverage snaps and is also on pace for the best grade of his year in this area.
3 – Poona Ford, DT: 84.1
It is important that Ford and Adams were LA’s biggest splash signings in free agency and they are now within the top five grades on their respective sides of the ball. Ford has the second-highest run grade on the defense behind Kamren Curl and has added juice as a pass rusher with 12 pressures (fifth on team).
4 – Darious Williams, CB: 75.2
Williams did not play on defense in the season opener against the Houston Texans and then played in a part-time role in Weeks 3 and 4. His playing time expanded starting in Week 5 against the 49ers and he’s performed admirably since. It’s clear that Williams is the Rams’ best option at outside corner, though it remains to be seen who will man that spot moving forward. LA acquired Roger McCreary from the Tennessee Titans this week. He’s mostly played in the slot over the course of his NFL career so far.
- Williams in Weeks 2-4 in limited role: 5 catches on 8 targets for 58 yards, TD, 1 PBU
- Williams since as a starter: 4 catches on 14 targets for 29 yards, 4 PBU’s
5 – Quentin Lake, DB: 73.6
What is Quentin Lake’s role following the McCreary trade? So far he’s played 71% of his snaps in the slot. McCreary could possibly take over some interior snaps and allow the Rams to move Lake around in the defense, including in more looks as a traditional safety.
One area of concern: Lake has been flagged for penalties on five occasions already this year.
Other notes on defense
Despite relatively disappointing results on the traditional stat sheet for Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske, they are still rattling opposing quarterbacks in terms of pressure:
- Jared Verse: 38 (248 snaps)
- Byron Young: 30 (198)
- Kobie Turner: 25 (222)
- Braden Fiske: 19 (168)
- Poona Ford: 12 (118)
- Josaiah Stewart: 11 (82)
Among all interior defensive lineman, Turner ranks seventh in pressures and Fiske is 20th.
The weak spot for both players is run defense—Ford’s specialty—where Turner ranks 50th and Fiske is 79th of 82 players. Fiske’s run grade of 37.7 is relatively the same as the mark from his rookie season (38.9).
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