Overview
- Head Coach: Jeff Fisher
- Defensive Coordinator: Gregg Williams
- Defensive Back Coach: Dennard Wilson
- Base Defense Scheme: 4-3
- Transactions: Signed Imoan Claiborne, traded for Mark Barron
- Draft Picks:
Projected Starters
| CornerBack # 1: | Trumaine Johnson | |
| CornerBack # 2: | Janoris Jenkins | |
| Strong Safety : | T. J. McDonald | |
| Free Safety : | Rodney McLeod | |
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The Numbers
Total Fantasy Points Allowed to WR: 388.64 Average Fantasy Points Per game against to WR: 24.29 Total Receiving Touchdowns Allowed: 16 Total Receiving Yards Allowed:2,793 Average Receiving yards per game against: 174.56
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Strengths
The Rams defensive backs play behind one of the most dominant front 7s in all of football. Because of this a lot of their inefficiencies and hiccups are masked by stellar D-line play. But this scheme definitely plays to its strengths and this defensive backfield is definitely not one of the strengths of this defense. EJ Gaines was a playmaker for them in 2014 but he is out the entire year. Week to week you never quite know what to expect from Janoris Jenkins so this could be somewhat of a high risk high reward defensive backfield unit to target for DFS purposes.
Weaknesses
The loss of E.J. Gaines will definitely be felt as he was the most consistent corner from 2014. Janoris Jenkins is a roller coaster both physically and emotionally and definitely has the hot head label for a reason. Trumaine Johnson will try to take his place but he is not as capable of a cover corner as Gaines. Things could definitely be rocky for the Rams starting out the season as Janoris will be expected to be their top corner and he is as inconsistent as they come. Starting Free safety Rodney McLeod can be considered just a guy. I.E. He does not bring anything special to the table and is probably serviceable or league average free safety in the back.
Overall Outlook
This defense is so dominant that it is hard to say this is a backfield to target even though the individuals who make up this unit definitely make you want to target them. The way their offense controls the ball and the pressure the front 7 can make means offenses still struggle to have success against them even if their defensive backs are considered weak. I think matchups against them could be very overlooked for DFS purposes which means targetting a wide receiver against them in the first couple weeks could be considered a contrarian move that just might pay off. I would be looking for offenses with stellar O-Line play and if the variables all line up I think they could be the perfect defense to target as no one else will be looking at them.
