Five Rams Players Who Must Step Up After a Rough Start to 2026

The Los Angeles Rams entered the 2026 NFL season with Super Bowl expectations, but their Week One performance left plenty of room for improvement. Los Angeles suffered a 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, scoring only once while allowing 24 unanswered points after briefly taking a 7-3 lead. The Rams produced just 290 total yards, converted only two of nine third-down attempts, and struggled to consistently stop San Francisco on the ground. With a Monday Night Football matchup against the New York Giants coming next, these five Rams players must step up if Los Angeles wants to quickly turn around its rough start to 2026.

1. Matthew Stafford Must Get the Rams Offense Back on Track

Matthew Stafford entered 2026 surrounded by enough talent for the Rams to potentially field one of the NFL's most dangerous offenses. Week One looked nothing like that vision. Stafford completed 15 of 25 passes for 155 yards with no touchdowns and one interception against San Francisco, finishing with a 61.2 passer rating. Los Angeles scored only seven points before Stafford was eventually replaced by Stetson Bennett with the outcome already decided.

The bigger concern wasn't simply Stafford's final stat line, but the Rams' inability to sustain drives. Los Angeles converted only two of nine third-down attempts and failed on two of its three fourth-down tries, including Stafford's crucial quarterback sneak near the goal line. Expectations surrounding the Rams' offensive line were enormous entering the season, particularly with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams giving Stafford two proven receiving threats. If the Rams are going to rebound against the Giants in Week Two, their veteran quarterback needs to be the player who gets everything moving again.

Stafford doesn't necessarily need a massive statistical performance to accomplish that. Los Angeles needs better communication, more consistency on third down, and fewer wasted opportunities when the offense reaches scoring territory. The Rams were still within striking distance for much of the game against San Francisco before their mistakes allowed the score to get away from them. Stafford has built his career around responding in difficult situations, and Week Two gives him an immediate opportunity to show that the opener was an aberration rather than the beginning of a trend.

2. Davante Adams Needs to Become a Bigger Factor

Davante Adams first game of the 2026 season was considerably quieter than the Rams would have hoped. The veteran receiver caught three passes for only 26 yards against the 49ers, with his longest reception going for 13 yards. Puka Nacua led Los Angeles with five receptions for 74 yards, but Stafford struggled to consistently involve his other weapons as the offense stalled. For the Rams to become the passing attack many expected, Adams needs to have a much larger presence.

That's especially important because Adams gives Los Angeles something few NFL teams possess: a proven veteran capable of punishing defenses that devote additional attention to Nacua. Opposing defenses should have to make uncomfortable choices when deciding how to defend the Rams' top two receivers. San Francisco largely avoided that problem because Los Angeles never established enough offensive rhythm to force the issue. Getting Adams involved earlier against New York could help Stafford settle into the game while making the entire offense more difficult to defend.

Adams also brings extensive experience in high-pressure games, making him exactly the type of player Los Angeles needs following a disappointing opener. Monday Night Football at SoFi Stadium gives the Rams an opportunity to reset in front of their home crowd and prevent a 0-2 start. A productive Adams performance would do more than improve his individual numbers; it could open opportunities for Nacua, Kyren Williams, and the rest of the offense. After a quiet Week One, the Rams need their veteran receiver to remind opponents why this passing attack generated so much excitement entering 2026.

3. Kyren Williams Must Help Los Angeles Control the Game

Kyren Williams provided the Rams' only touchdown against San Francisco, scoring on a five-yard run that briefly gave Los Angeles a 7-3 lead. Outside of that score, however, the Rams struggled to establish him as a consistent factor. Williams finished with 41 rushing yards on 11 carries, averaging 3.7 yards per attempt, while also adding three receptions for 24 yards. Blake Corum actually led Los Angeles with 54 rushing yards on 10 carries.

That doesn't mean Williams played poorly, but his importance increases when the Rams offense is struggling to find rhythm. A productive running game can take pressure off Stafford, create manageable third downs, and prevent opposing defenses from focusing entirely on the Rams' passing attack. Los Angeles showed flashes of that potential in Week One, finishing with 122 rushing yards as a team, but the game script eventually forced the offense away from the balanced approach it had hoped for. Establishing Williams early against the Giants could help prevent the same problem.

Williams' ability to contribute as both a runner and receiver also gives Sean McVay flexibility when designing the Week Two game plan. The Rams don't need to abandon their explosive passing attack, but they do need to find a better balance between creating big plays and consistently moving the chains. Williams can be central to that adjustment, especially if Los Angeles can avoid falling behind early. After scoring the Rams' only touchdown in Australia, he could be one of the most important players in their attempt to rebound at SoFi Stadium.

4. Kobie Turner Must Lead a Short-Handed Rams Defensive Front

Few Rams players will face more responsibility moving forward than Kobie Turner. Los Angeles entered the season expecting its defensive front to become one of the NFL's biggest strengths, but San Francisco rushed for 174 yards while the Rams failed to record a sack. That would have been concerning under any circumstances. It becomes even more important now that Myles Garrett is headed to injured reserve following knee surgery.

Garrett must miss at least four games, meaning Los Angeles will have to find production elsewhere against the Giants, Broncos, Eagles, and Bills. Defensive legend Aaron Donald could eventually provide an enormous boost, but the Rams have not yet confirmed whether he will make his 2026 debut against New York. That leaves Turner as one of the established defensive linemen who must help stabilize the front immediately. The Rams cannot simply wait for Donald or Garrett to solve their problems.

Turner's challenge extends beyond generating pressure on the quarterback. Los Angeles has to become more disciplined against the run after allowing the 49ers to average 5.8 yards per rushing attempt. The Giants present another challenge on the ground, making the battle at the line of scrimmage one of the most important areas to watch in Week Two. If Turner can create disruption inside and help the Rams control running lanes, Los Angeles' entire defense should benefit.

5. Quentin Lake Must Set the Tone for the Rams Defense

Quentin Lake was one of the few Rams defenders who produced a major momentum-changing play against San Francisco. He intercepted Brock Purdy and finished with a team-high seven tackles, giving Los Angeles an opportunity to build on its early 7-3 advantage. The Rams’ offense immediately gave the football back after Stafford's interception, but Lake had done his part by forcing the takeaway. With injuries already reshaping the defense, performances like that become even more valuable.

Lake now has an opportunity to emerge as a leader in a unit facing unexpected adversity. Garrett is unavailable for at least four games, Donald's Week Two status remains uncertain, and the Rams are coming off a game in which they allowed 379 total yards. Communication was also an issue at the historic showdown in Melbourne, something Sean McVay acknowledged after the loss. Lake's versatility and position in the secondary put him in an important spot as Los Angeles tries to correct those mistakes.

The challenge changes against the Giants, but the urgency does not. New York enters Week Two with confidence after opening its season with a victory, meaning the Rams cannot expect their home opener to become an automatic bounce-back game. Lake needs to continue creating turnovers while helping the secondary limit explosive plays and improve the defense's communication. If Los Angeles is going to overcome Garrett's absence and avoid another defensive letdown, Lake could be one of the players who sets the tone.

Rams Face an Important Week Two Test Against the Giants

Calling Week Two a must-win game would be aggressive this early in the season, but the Rams have plenty at stake when they return to SoFi Stadium. Los Angeles entered 2026 as a championship contender and doesn't want an ugly Week One performance to turn into a 0-2 start. The Giants also showed in their opener that they cannot simply be treated as an easy opponent. The Rams will need a significantly cleaner performance on both sides of the football to earn their first victory.

That starts with the team's biggest players responding. Stafford must lead a more efficient passing attack; Adams needs to become a bigger factor; Williams can help restore offensive balance; Turner has to anchor a depleted defensive front; and Lake needs to continue making impact plays in the secondary. Those five players won't determine the outcome on their own, but each represents an area where Los Angeles needs immediate improvement. Week Two will offer the Rams their first opportunity to show that the ugly loss to San Francisco won't define their 2026 season.

Can the Rams Bounce Back in Week Two?

The Rams still have the roster and coaching staff to recover from one disappointing performance, but their margin for error has already become smaller. Garrett's injury removes one of the biggest pieces from a defense that struggled in its debut, while uncertainty surrounding Donald adds another major storyline heading into Monday Night Football. Offensively, Stafford and his playmakers have to prove that seven points in Week One were an outlier. The response from Los Angeles' veteran leaders will say a great deal about where this team is headed.

A convincing win against New York would quickly change the conversation surrounding the Rams. Instead of spending another week dissecting everything that went wrong against the 49ers, attention could shift toward a talented team finding its footing after an unusual international opener. Another poor performance would create far more difficult questions about Los Angeles' offense, defense, and championship expectations. For Stafford, Adams, Williams, Turner, and Lake, Week Two represents the first major opportunity to change the direction of the Rams' 2026 season.