Who will be the LA Rams star against the Jets?

Defensive stars

The most obvious choice in this game is defensive lineman Aaron Donald. After all, even if he doesn’t record a sack or a tackle, he is still creating havoc on the opposing offense. If he winds up, there is little that the Jets will be able to do on offense. And the chance of Donald winding up in this one are pretty good odds.

With 12.5 sacks, 36 tackles, and four forced fumbles, he is already as good as he was in all of 2019. He is the NFL quarterback sack leader and will be eager to push that bar ever higher in this one.  Jets’ quarterback Sam Darnold has been sacked 28 times this season in nine games.

Of course, if you eliminated Donald from consideration, then outside linebacker Leonard Floyd would be a good second choice. He is second on the team with 7.5 quarterback sacks, has 43 tackles, and two fumble recoveries.

Floyd is also having a career season and had a tremendous three-sack performance against the Seattle Seahawks. Floyd is still looking for his first sack as a Rams defender. If the defense can get Darnold on the run, this could be the game he picks off one of his passes.

Defensive backs

A third but less likely option for a star in this one is defensive back Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey’s best performances so far this season have not shown up in any football statistics, but rather when he shuts down the best receiver on the opponent’s offense.

Since there is not any frightening receiver on the Jets offensive roster, Ramsey will likely assume a role where he plays like a defensive back at large and reads Darnold’s eyes to where the ball will go.  If he has the type of afternoon he is capable of, he could earn two or more interceptions in this one.

Of course, the LA Rams have a number of players in the secondary who have been heroes as well. There is defensive back Darious Williams, whose ability to play the ball has launched him to the team leader in interceptions with four this season.

Rookie safety Jordan Fuller is close behind with three, including two in the game against Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady. Even defensive back Troy Hill has gotten into the act with two interceptions this season. And then there is tackling machine John Johnson III who leads the team with 88 tackles plus an interception. So many players. Who will it be?