The Rams and Broncos meet on Sunday Night Football in a matchup between two 1-1 teams that both reached their respective conference championship games last season. Los Angeles is coming off a dominant 28-6 win over the Giants, while Denver rallied to beat Jacksonville 20-13. The game sets up an interesting contrast between the Rams' experienced passing attack and Denver's young quarterback Bo Nix playing at home.

With a limited player pool and every snap carrying extra weight, the key will be identifying which players offer the best combination of volume, touchdown equity, matchup upside, and salary-based value. In this breakdown, we’ll dig into the top captain options, mid-range plays, salary-saving values, and potential fades, while also examining the different game-script scenarios that could make or break your Rams-Broncos showdown lineups.

 

 

 

Rams vs. Broncos DFS Picks & Preview: Sunday Night Football, 9/27

Matthew Stafford is coming off one of his best games of the young season, throwing for 327 yards and four touchdowns against New York. The challenge will be much tougher against a Denver defense that can generate pressure and make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks. The Rams could also be without Puka Nacua, who is doubtful after missing practice all week. If Nacua cannot play, Stafford will need the rest of the receiving corps to step up while the Rams lean more heavily on their running game.

Kyren Williams and Blake Corum give Los Angeles a strong one-two combination in the backfield. Establishing the run could be particularly important if Nacua is unavailable because it would keep Denver from simply focusing on Stafford and the Rams' remaining receivers. The Broncos will try to win early downs and force the Rams into obvious passing situations, where their pass rush can have a greater impact.

For Denver, Bo Nix showed progress in Week 2, throwing for 288 yards against Jacksonville. His mobility remains an important part of the Broncos' offense, although the Rams will likely try to pressure him and force him to win from the pocket. Denver has J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey available in the backfield, giving the Broncos options to keep the Rams' defense from teeing off on Nix.

Overall, the game could come down to which team controls the line of scrimmage and avoids negative plays. The Rams have the more experienced quarterback, while Denver gets the benefit of playing at altitude in front of its home crowd. The potential absence of Nacua is also a major variable for Los Angeles. With both teams coming in at 1-1, this should be a meaningful early-season test for two teams with legitimate playoff aspirations.

 

 

 

Rams vs. Broncos SNF Odds 

  • Spread:
    • Rams -2.5 (-105)
    • Broncos +2.5 (-115)
  • Money Line:
    • Rams (-130) 
    • Broncos (+110)
  • Game Total:
    • Over 43.5 (-118)
    • Under 43.5 (-102)

 

 

 

NFL Weather: Rams vs. Broncos SNF, September 27th

Sunday night in Denver is expected to be warm and mostly cloudy, with temperatures around the mid-70s at kickoff and falling into the upper 60s by the end of the game. There is a roughly 20% chance of showers around the evening, with winds generally from the south-southeast at about 5 to 10 mph, with occasional higher gusts.

Rams vs. Broncos Injuries: Sunday Night Football Week 3

The Rams have the more significant injury concerns, particularly at wide receiver and safety. Puka Nacua is doubtful with a hip/groin issue after missing practice all week, making him unlikely to play for the second consecutive game. Kamren Kinchens is also doubtful with a hamstring injury, while tight end Colby Parkinson is questionable with a knee injury. The good news is that Jordan Whittington, Alaric Jackson and Terrance Ferguson are not carrying game-status designations. Myles Garrett remains on injured reserve and will not play.

For Denver, the injury situation is more encouraging. Jonah Coleman is out with an ankle injury, but the Broncos are getting J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey back, with both practicing fully Friday and carrying no game designation. That is significant for Denver's running game, particularly with Harvey having missed Week 2. Marvin Mims is questionable with a foot injury after being limited throughout the week, so his availability will be something to watch before kickoff. 

 

 

 

NFL Sunday Night Football DFS Picks: MVP/Captain

Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams - DraftKings: $10,400 | FanDuel: $11,800

Stafford is coming off a huge performance against the Giants, throwing for 327 yards and four touchdowns, but the Broncos present a much stronger pass defense. Denver held Trevor Lawrence to 189 yards and an interception last week, and the matchup becomes even more difficult with Puka Nacua doubtful.

Stafford showed last week that he can still produce without his top receiver, but Davante Adams accounted for eight catches, 195 yards, and two touchdowns. Denver can devote significant attention to Adams, particularly with Patrick Surtain in the secondary, so Stafford may need to distribute the ball more heavily. 

Davante Adams, WR, Los Angeles Rams - DraftKings: $10,200 | FanDuel: $12,600

Adams exploded in Week 2 with 8 catches for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns on 10 targets, and Nacua's likely absence should keep Adams in a prominent role in Matthew Stafford's passing game. 

The concern is the matchup. Denver has a strong secondary, and Adams could see significant attention from Patrick Surtain. That makes another 195-yard performance difficult to expect, but the Rams should still have reason to feature Adams heavily. 

Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos – DraftKings: $10,000 | FanDuel: $10,800

Nix showed improvement last week against Jacksonville, completing 22 of 31 passes for 288 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but the Rams have been much more effective against the pass. Through two games, Los Angeles ranks among the league's better defenses in EPA per dropback and yards per attempt allowed. 

The biggest concern for Nix is his lack of rushing production so far. He has just eight carries for eight yards through two games, which removes much of the rushing floor that made him attractive in fantasy last season.

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Denver Broncos – DraftKings: $9,600 | FanDuel: $9,600

Waddle is coming off a huge Week 2 performance in which he caught 8 of 10 targets for 138 yards against Jacksonville. More importantly, Waddle commanded a 32.3% target share and a 38.1% first-read share in that game, suggesting the Denver offense is actively looking to feature him.

The biggest thing to watch is whether Denver continues feeding him the ball after his Week 2 breakout. The matchup is tougher this week because Los Angeles has played strong coverage, with Trent McDuffie likely to see plenty of Waddle.

 

 

 

NFL Sunday Night Football DFS Picks: Core Plays

Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams  – DraftKings: $8,600 | FanDuel: $10,400

Williams has averaged 14 touches and 81 total yards through two games, while handling six of the Rams' eight running-back red-zone rushing attempts and a 54.8% route share.

The matchup is particularly appealing because Denver has struggled against the run early this season. The Broncos have the 29th-ranked rushing defense by yards per game, and opposing backs have produced the fifth-most fantasy points against them. Denver has also allowed three rushing touchdowns through two games. 

Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos – DraftKings: $7,600 | FanDuel: $8,200 

Through two games, Sutton has just 5 catches for 36 yards on 9 targets with no touchdowns, and his role has diminished as Waddle has emerged as Denver's primary receiving option. Sutton also has only one red-zone target and no deep targets so far.

The matchup does offer some hope. The Rams have allowed the 15th-most yards per target to perimeter receivers and the 10th-most fantasy points per opportunity at the position, so this is not an inherently impossible matchup for Sutton. 

J.K. Dobbins, RB, Denver Broncos – DraftKings: $7,400 | FanDuel: $8,800 

Dobbins practiced fully Thursday and Friday and was removed from Denver's final injury report, so he is expected to play. He has 18 carries for 72 yards through two games, but he has received zero targets so far this season. That makes his fantasy production heavily dependent on rushing volume and touchdowns. 

The matchup itself is actually favorable on the ground. The Rams have allowed the fourth-highest rushing success rate and sixth-most yards before contact per attempt through two weeks, which gives Dobbins a reasonable opportunity to be efficient with his carries.

RJ Harvey, RB, Denver Broncos – DraftKings: $7,000 | FanDuel: $6,000

Harvey has been fully cleared to play after missing Week 2 with a hamstring injury, while Jonah Coleman has been placed on injured reserve. That leaves Harvey and Dobbins as Denver's primary running backs. 

The problem for Harvey is workload uncertainty. He had only seven touches in Week 1, and Dobbins is also healthy enough to play, so this should remain a committee. Harvey is expected to handle a meaningful portion of the passing-down work, which gives him some PPR value, but the Rams are a difficult matchup for running backs in the passing game.

 

 

 

NFL Sunday Night Football DFS Picks: Mid-Tier Plays

Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams – DraftKings: $6,600 | FanDuel: $7,600

Corum has been extremely efficient so far, rushing for 133 yards on just 22 carries, including 79 yards on 12 carries against the Giants last week. He is averaging 6.0 yards per carry and ranks near the top of the league in explosive-run rate, which makes this matchup particularly interesting.

The matchup itself is favorable. Denver has allowed 157.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks 29th in the NFL, while also allowing the highest missed-tackle rate and the most yards after contact per attempt. That gives Corum a legitimate opportunity to make an impact whenever he gets the ball. 

Pat Bryant, WR, Denver Broncos – DraftKings: $5,600 | FanDuel: $3,400

After catching 4 of 6 targets for 42 yards in Week 1, Bryant received just one target and had zero catches in Week 2, although he did contribute a 16-yard rushing play. The Rams have allowed only 5.1 yards per pass attempt, the third-lowest figure in the league, and Bryant remains behind Waddle and Sutton in Denver's receiver hierarchy.

His appeal is primarily as a deep-field dart throw because a single big play or touchdown could make him a viable option. 

 

 

 

NFL Sunday Night Football DFS Picks: Value Plays

Terrance Ferguson, TE, Los Angeles Rams – DraftKings: $3,600 | FanDuel: $4,200

Ferguson broke out last week with 6 catches for 54 yards and a touchdown on 9 targets, operating as Stafford's second-most targeted pass catcher behind Adams. 

Denver has allowed the fourth-most yards per target to tight ends and the 13th-most fantasy points per opportunity at the position. Ferguson also played a significant role before the Rams pulled back their starters last week, recording a 71.4% route share and 26.9% target share through three quarters. 

Evan Engram, TE, Denver Broncos – DraftKings: $3,800 | FanDuel: $5,400

Engram's usage has been inconsistent through two games, with five catches for 60 yards and a touchdown overall, but only one catch for 17 yards on one target in Denver's Week 2 win over Jacksonville.

The matchup itself is somewhat encouraging because the Rams have allowed production to tight ends, but Denver's passing offense is increasingly centered around Waddle, while Sutton and other receivers also compete for targets. That makes Engram difficult to trust unless his target volume rebounds. 

Colby Parkinson, TE, Los Angeles Rams – DraftKings: $3,600 | FanDuel: $5,600

Parkinson is dealing with a knee injury. He was a nonparticipant in practice all three days but is officially questionable after McVay said he was "trending in the right direction."

The tight end has only 3 catches for 21 yards through two games, including just 2 catches for 15 yards last week. He did play more than 70% of the offensive snaps in each of the first two games, but that workload could be reduced because of the knee issue. Even if Parkinson plays, the matchup and his recent production make him difficult to trust.

 

 

 

SNF DFS Picks: Kickers & D/ST

Through two games, Harrison Mevis has made all five of his extra-point attempts but is 0-for-1 on field goals. The matchup with Denver could help because the Broncos have a strong defense, potentially creating more drives that stall in field-goal range. At the same time, the Rams' offense has been good enough to finish drives with touchdowns, which reduces Mevis' field-goal ceiling.

Will Lutz has been perfect so far this season, converting all three field-goal attempts and all three extra points, including two field goals in Denver's Week 2 win over Jacksonville. The Rams' defense could create a lower-scoring game, which would increase Lutz's field-goal opportunities if Denver stalls in scoring range.

Los Angeles looked much better defensively in Week 2, holding the Giants to six points while generating two sacks and an interception, and the return of Aaron Donald has helped increase the pressure potential. Nix has thrown an interception in each of the first two games, and he also took four sacks in Week 1 before avoiding one entirely against Jacksonville. The Rams should have opportunities to pressure him, particularly if Denver falls behind and has to become more pass-heavy.

Denver's defense has talent, but this is a difficult matchup because Stafford is coming off a four-touchdown performance and the Rams' offense produced 28 points last week. Denver's defense did hold Jacksonville to 13 points last week, but Stafford presents a substantially different challenge, particularly if the Rams can establish the run and keep the Broncos from generating consistent pressure. 

 

 

 

Rams vs. Broncos DFS Player Pool: SNF, 9/27

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