3 Rams rookies might already be the difference between playoffs and irrelevance

The Los Angeles Rams had invested 60 percent of their 2025 draft picks into offensive playmakers who promised explosive ability. But when push came to shove, the team stuck with familiar veteran players. To no one's surprise, the offense emerged with typical results in Week 1. The offense only scored 14 points against the Houston Texans, forcing the defense to carry the load yet again.

From Week 15 through 17 last year, the same pattern developed. The team was only able to score 12 points against the San Francisco 49ers, 19 points against the New York Jets, and 13 points against the Arizona Cardinals. They were still able to win all three, but that prompted many promises about changing the offense.

Per Lineup.com, the offense used six wide receivers, three tight ends, and two running backs on opening day. But of 57 offensive snaps, the only rookie to get any playing time was seventh-round rookie WR Konata Mumpfield. Apparently, old habits die hard. No rookie offensive playmaker touched the football. That just cannot happen again.

Rams offense has to shake up the status quo in Week 2

As much as fans love to see wins, the fact that the offense scored just 14 points is quite concerning. This is a team that has its eyes set on the Super Bowl. Yet, after just one week of competition, the offense is already fighting an uphill climb.

They need to change things up. This is a team that moved on from WRs Cooper Kupp and Demarcus Robinson, who contributed 13 touchdowns between them. So far, nobody has stepped in to fill that void. No, this is not panicking. It's simply the reality. Effective teams make rapid adjustments to correct straying off the path

The thing is, this offense already has explosive playmakers on board. The offense simply has to get them involved:

1. Rooke WR Konata Mumpfield

There was hope for Mumpfield in the season opener. But it was not to be, as he was not targeted once in the game. Of course, getting six out of the 57 offensive snaps is not enough work to get a feel for the flow of the game. But it was a start. If only the receiver had made his first NFL reception in Week 1...

He is so much more than a decoy or distraction. He is a young and hungry playmaker who needs to get experience and must be given the opportunities to make plays. He will never contribute to this offense until the football is thrown his way. He had proven in the preseason that he can make the tough catches. Until he catches that first pass, nobody knows what he might do. It’s time to determine how much of a contributor he will be in this offense in Week 2.

2. Rookie RB Jarquez Hunter

It was heartbreaking to see rookie running back Jarquez Hunter become a healthy scratch for his first NFL game. By all accounts, Houston's defense is tough and physical, and would have been an ideal test for the rookie who is both fleet-footed and a tough tackle. At the end of Week 1, the running backs carried the football 19 times for 68 yards and a touchdown.

That averaged out to less than 3.6 yards per carry. You have to believe that Hunter’s explosiveness could have helped to improve that average. And what better way to announce that this offense is changing strategies than to give a rookie an opportunity to contribute? Just one run of 20+ yards could have changed the entire complexion of the game.

3. Rookie TE Terrance Ferguson

As soon as the team selected TE Terrance Ferguson with the 46th overall pick in Round 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, HC Sean McVay exclaimed that putting 12-personnel on the football field was back on the option. At the time, it was easy to interpret Ferguson as the second tight end intended in that statement. But after Week 1, it’s all a bit confusing.

Yes, the Rams went heavy on two tight end formations in Week 1. But tight ends were only targeted four times throughout the game. And before you guess how those targets were distributed, TE Tyler Higbee was not targeted once.

Colby Parkinson was targeted twice, catching both passes, but generating a loss of six yards on the two passes. Davis Allen was targeted twice, catching one pass for the second and final touchdown of the game for 13 yards. But you have to wonder — where was Ferguson? If he was not injured, why not give him the opportunity to gain real experience?

Yes, the team’s record is now 1-0. But did the offense let an opportunity to give eager rookies the chance to gain valuable experience slip through its hands? The team knows nothing about WR Konata Mumpfield, RB Jarquez Hunter, or TE Terrance Ferguson yet. That won’t change until the team’s strategy does.

Until the coaches know who can step up, they will stick to the same players. It’s time to shake up the offense and see what these rookies can do. As always, thanks for reading.

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