Sunday Night Football’s Rams-Broncos matchup gives DFS players a lot to work with, and the biggest swing factor might be Puka Nacua’s availability. But even if that situation shifts late, there are still a few clear paths to building a strong showdown lineup.
One of the most appealing angles comes from Los Angeles’ tight ends. The Rams have been leaning hard into 13 personnel, using that grouping on 45% of their snaps through the first two weeks - almost 12% more than the team in second place. If Nacua is limited or unavailable, that usage could climb even more, which would be a boost for the Rams’ tight ends in fantasy.
Terrance Ferguson (DK: $3,800 / FD: $4,200), Colby Parkinson (DK: $4,200 / FD: $5,600) and Tyler Higbee (DK: $2,800 / FD: $2,000) all come at value-friendly prices, and their snap counts point to real fantasy upside. Parkinson is dealing with a question tag entering the game, so that’s one to watch closely.
If he sits, Ferguson and Higbee become even more important, because their snap share would jump. The setup also makes it viable to roster multiple Rams tight ends and still leave room for higher-priced stars elsewhere.
The kicker spot looks interesting too, especially with the game being played at Mile High Field. In showdown contests there, the fantasy ceiling for kickers rises, and both Wil Lutz (DK: $4,800 / FD: $6,400) and Harrison Mevis (DK: $4,600 / FD: $6,200) fit that profile. There’s even a case for using both in the same lineup.
Mevis brings a little more risk into Week 3 because the Rams kicker has not made a field goal yet this season. Still, that can create a useful leverage spot, especially in a stadium that tends to favor kickers. If this game stays tight - and that’s the expectation - field goals could end up mattering more than usual.
The backfield pairing of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum is another path worth considering, even if it looks odd at first glance. Normally, stacking two running backs from the same team can feel like a dead end in DFS, but the Broncos have been vulnerable against the run. They allowed 28.4 FPPG to opposing running backs over the first two weeks and are giving up 157.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks fourth-most in the NFL.
Sean McVay said earlier in the week that he sees the Rams continuing to split carries between Williams and Corum this season, and that has already shown up in the workload. Williams has only one more carry than Corum so far. If Nacua is out, both backs could see even more work in both the run and passing game, which only strengthens the case for using them together.
Williams (DK: $8,600 / FD: $10,400) and Corum (DK: $6,600 / FD: $7,600) may not directly correlate in the usual sense, but the matchup makes the combination attractive. Corum also enters the week after finishing top five in the NFL in yards per carry last season among running backs with 100+ carries, and he has started this season at 6.0 yards per carry through the first two weeks.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
In Other News...
Matthew Stafford Sparked A Broncos Debate With His Tunnel Exit
A postgame video from Empower Field gave Broncos fans something else to talk about after the win over the Rams, and it had nothing to do with the scoreboard. Matthew Stafford was seen walking through the tunnel and appearing to spit, with some viewers wondering whether it was aimed at Denvers 5280 sign, though there was no clear evidence or official confirmation of where it landed.
Stafford had just put together a big passing night in the loss, throwing for 390 yards and two touchdowns, but he also turned it over twice. For Denver, the on-field result was the headline, yet the tunnel clip added a little extra edge to a game that was already going to be picked over from every angle. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Fans Have A New Reason To Debate That Late Flag
Pat Bryant turned a chaotic late sequence into one of the defining moments of the Broncos comeback win over the Rams, and he did it with a little gamesmanship that will keep fans talking. Bryant acknowledged that he exaggerated the contact on the play that drew the pass interference flag, wiping out a late Los Angeles interception and keeping Denvers drive alive long enough for Bo Nix to finish it with the winning touchdown.
For the Broncos, the larger takeaway is that Bryant was productive beyond that one controversial snap. He caught multiple passes and scored a touchdown, giving Denver another useful piece in a game that swung on a handful of high-leverage plays. Still, the late flag is the kind of moment that tends to linger, especially when it directly helped set up the comeback finish. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Just Found A Huge AFC West Opportunity
The early part of the AFC West has already handed Denver a chance to breathe a little easier. The Chargers are off to an 0-3 start, and the issues have shown up on both sides of the ball, with the offense sputtering and the defense unable to steady things. For a Broncos team trying to keep pace in a rugged division, that kind of stumble in Los Angeles matters.
Justin Herbert has drawn criticism for some of his decision-making, while Jim Harbaugh has been publicly supportive and demanding at the same time, trying to push more from his quarterback and the team around him. There have also been signs of friction inside the locker room, with Derwin James calling out the sloppiness. Denver does not need a rival collapse to be perfect, but this is the sort of early opening contenders watch closely. [Read more 🡒]
