The Los Angeles Rams head into the 2025 season as one of the NFC’s top contenders, led by Sean McVay’s innovative offense and quarterback Matthew Stafford. With an explosive group of receivers and a tendency to deploy heavy 11 personnel, the Rams are betting on speed, versatility, and veteran savvy to push them back toward the Super Bowl.
Receiver depth chart and key players
Puka Nacua
Nacua burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2023, piling up 1,486 receiving yards and six touchdowns and earning Second-Team All-Pro honors. He’s a fast, reliable playmaker who can win with speed in space and also make strong catches on the outside. His elusiveness and ability to line up all over the formation make him McVay’s most trusted go-to target. The 2024 season was interrupted by an injury that sidelined him for six games, but when healthy he continued to show top-level production, averaging 90.0 yards per game despite the missed time. Nacua remains the foundation of the Rams’ aerial attack.
Davante Adams
Adams is the marquee addition of the Rams’ offseason, signing a two-year, $44 million deal after time with the Jets and the Raiders. A former Green Bay star who peaked in 2020 with 1,374 yards and 18 touchdowns, Adams is expected to bring impact production and a proven, reliable target profile to complement Nacua. At 32, he remains a trusted reeling in resemblance of a true X receiver to stretch the field and help unlock the offense’s other playmakers.
Tutu Atwell
Atwell, the Rams’ longest-tenured receiver, has developed into a reliable option in the passing game. Drafted in 2021, he emerged as a key role player by 2024, posting 42 receptions for 562 yards. He signed a new one-year deal worth $10 million this offseason, reinforcing his slot-heavy role as a speed-focused contributor who can stretch zones and create high-pace drives.
Jordan Whittington
Whittington is entering his second NFL season after a modest rookie year in 2024, when he totaled 22 receptions for 293 yards and no touchdowns. A versatile, speedy depth option, he figures to play behind the top three targets and could rise if opportunities present themselves. His college résumé shows upper-level production, suggesting a ceiling that could be realized with added opportunity.
Xavier Smith
Smith joined the Rams as an undrafted rookie in 2023 and fought for a roster spot in 2024, appearing in 15 games with four touchdowns and 36 yards. He won a final roster spot for 2025, giving the Rams another undersized, speedy option to deploy in gadget packages or in space-based concepts that McVay loves.
Konata Mumpfield
Mumpfield was a seventh-round pick who earned a spot on the 2025 roster. His college profile shows a high ceiling, with 813 receiving yards and five touchdowns in his final season at Pittsburgh. He’s viewed as a low-floor, high-ceiling prospect who could push for meaningful reps if he develops quickly in training camp and preseason.
What this means for the Rams in 2025
– McVay’s preferred 11 personnel (three wide receivers, one running back, one tight end) remains the backbone of the offense. The group is built for speed and mismatches, aiming to keep defenses off-balance and maximize play-action and quick-game efficiency.
– The combination of Nacua’s versatility and Adams’ veteran reliability gives Stafford two premier confident targets, with Atwell’s speed adding a third dimension that defenses must account for.
– The depth behind the top trio offers McVay flexibility to rotate players, manage workloads, and adapt to opponents, while giving the offense a higher floor in case of injuries.
– The presence of young, up-and-coming receivers like Whittington, Smith, and Mumpfield adds potential for growth and internal competition, which could yield more consistent production as the season unfolds.
Editor’s take and outlook
– If Nacua remains healthy and continues to develop a strong rapport with Stafford, and if Adams hits the ground running alongside him, the Rams’ passing attack could be among the most dynamic in the conference. Atwell’s speed and shiftiness provide a critical stretch element that can open running lanes and facilitate big plays.
– The depth chart also offers McVay the luxury of rotating receivers to keep legs fresh and defenses guessing, while providing a pathway for the younger players to grow into larger roles as the year progresses.
– Health will be a key determinant. If Nacua misses time again or if Adams experiences a slower integration period, the team will lean more on the deeper corps and the efficient timing routes McVay has cultivated. Conversely, a healthy, productive trio plus reliable depth could elevate the Rams’ offense to top-tier status in the NFC.
Summary for readers
The Rams’ 2025 plan centers on a swift, versatile receiving corps led by Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, supported by Tutu Atwell and a capable depth group. With Matthew Stafford at the helm and McVay’s offense guiding the scheme, Los Angeles aims to maintain a potent, high-scoring attack while leveraging speed and matchup advantages across multiple personnel groups. If health and chemistry align, the Rams could again be major contenders in the NFC race for a return to the postseason and a chance at another deep playoff run.
Positive spin
The depth and experience across the receiving room give Los Angeles a flexible, game-planning-friendly attack. The mix of veteran production, young upside, and a proven play-caller creates a path to sustained offensive success, even when one or two players face a shorter-than-expected stretch. This unit’s potential to create explosive plays in multiple ways should keep defenses overmatched and give Stafford the confidence to push the ball downfield.