LA Rams Midseason Awards: Stafford’s surge, rookie promise, and lingering question

Halfway through the 2025 season, the Rams sit atop a stacked NFC West race.

At 6–2, the Los Angeles Rams have exceeded expectations in a division that’s again proven to be one of football’s deepest and most competitive. Sean McVay’s group continues to strike a delicate balance between veteran leadership and a growing youth movement -- a formula that’s produced steady results and a sense that the Rams’ championship window remains open.

As the Rams push toward the second half, here’s a look at their midseason MVP, top draft pick, and most disappointing player thus far.

Team MVP: QB Matthew Stafford

Few players in football have been better than Stafford in 2025 -- and that’s not hyperbole.

At nearly 38 years old, quarterback Matthew Stafford is playing the best ball of his career, commanding the Rams’ offense with the same fire and arm talent that made him a No. 1 overall pick sixteen (!!!) years ago.

Through eight games, Stafford’s thrown 21 touchdowns to just two picks, and he hasn’t been picked off since Week 3 in Philadelphia. And since that point, he’s been surgical: 16 touchdowns over the last five games, including a combined nine over his past two outings -- five in a road win against Jacksonville and four more at home against New Orleans last Sunday.

The numbers, however, tell only part of the story. The rest is about presence, timing, and rhythm. Stafford’s ability to see the entire field, throw with anticipation, and manipulate coverages has elevated everyone around him.

Even with key pieces in and out of the lineup, he’s been the steadying force, the extension of McVay on the field, and the reason Los Angeles remains a legitimate NFC contender.

In a conference full of explosive quarterback play, Stafford has been the constant.

Most Impressive Draft Pick: EDGE Josaiah Stewart

While it wasn’t a large draft class for Los Angeles with only six total selections, third-round edge rusher Josiah Stewart (Michigan) has been the clear standout. He’s yet to start a game, but he’s found a valuable rotational role in a young and talented front seven that includes Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Byron Young, and Kobie Turner.

Stewart’s production has been efficient and encouraging so far: 11 total pressures, two sacks, and six quarterback hurries across his first eight games. Playing roughly 20–25 snaps per contest, he’s shown the twitch, leverage, and relentless motor that made him a standout in Ann Arbor, as well.

What’s stood out on tape has been how seamlessly he’s acclimated to the Rams’ defensive rotation. His technique, effort, and consistency have flashed against both the run and the pass, and his Michigan pedigree shows in the way he prepares and executes.

For a franchise that’s continued to retool its defense through youth, Stewart looks like another mid-round hit who could develop into a long-term starter.

Most Disappointing: WR Tutu Atwell

It’s hard to call a player disappointing when the issue isn’t effort -- it’s impact. For Tutu Atwell, now in his fifth season, the window for establishing himself as a consistent contributor appears to be closing.

The former Louisville standout way back when has played in just six games, catching four of nine targets for 164 yards and a lone touchdown -- an 88-yard bomb against Indianapolis back in Week 4.

In hindsight, it was a play that reminded everyone of what Atwell can do: take the top off a defense and create instant electricity... but those flashes have been fleeting.

After modest production the last two seasons (580 yards in 2024 and 521 in 2023), Atwell’s role in the Rams’ offense continues to shrink. Even with injuries to other receivers, he hasn’t managed to carve out steady targets.

His frame a 5-foot-9, 160 pounds -- limits his versatility, and his situational usage makes it hard for him to gain rhythm or trust in high-leverage spots.

For a player drafted in the second round back in 2021, the leash is getting short.