CJ Daniels gave Rams fans everything we were waiting to see

Los Angeles Rams fans approached the preseason opener eager to watch rookie receiver CJ Daniels cook. Well, we got what we hoped for. We just had to wait a week.

After impressing all throughout training camp, Daniels had a rather quiet preseason debut against the Chiefs. He finished with two catches for 18 yards (on five targets) and struggled to connect consistently with either Stetson Bennett or Ty Simpson at quarterback. He did have a nice red-zone catch from Simpson to set up a touchdown.

Daniels delivered a whole lot more in Game 2, a 34-0 win over the New Orleans Saints. This time, he served as the focal point of the offense, hauling in eight receptions on 13 targets for 68 yards. He bounced back from an early incompletion to go have himself a day. 

CJ Daniels already looks like potential key contributor for Rams this season

More than anything, it was exciting to see Daniels involved to the extent he was. Not just because we got to watch him in action. Daniels also showed he can handle the attention and workload, even if it was against mostly a backup defense.

The former Miami Hurricane was productive with both Bennett and Simpson in the pocket. One of his highlights was a 17-yard strike from Bennett that got the offense near field-goal position at the end of the first half.

The Rams kept Daniels in for most of the game and have seen plenty of reps in both the preseason and in camp. While head coach Sean McVay likes to play his rookies early on, it will be interesting to see whether Daniels, a surefire roster member, sits in the finale to avoid injury risk.

Fans have seen what they need to. Really, we didn't need much. The Daniels hype exiting the draft only rose in OTAs and camp. Although rookies tend to fade in McVay's offense, Daniels has a real chance to contribute in a wide-open receiver room. 

That's good news for the Rams, who are still searching for options aside from Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Tight ends will once again be a core element of the operation, but McVay still needs his young wideouts to step up. 

Plus, LA spent draft assets to trade up for Daniels in the sixth round, snagging him with the 197th overall pick. It would be ideal if he can provide an immediate return on investment, even a modest one.

Daniels still has a ways to go. He couldn't ask for better mentors in Adams, a future Hall of Famer, and former Ram Robert Woods, now a receivers coach. With his own talent and the proper instruction, Daniels could be an impactful piece of the roster as soon as this year.

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