Davante Adams Contract Terms
Six-time Pro Bowl WR Davante Adams is signing a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Adams wanted more than $20 million a year and to play on the West Coast. The Rams met both criteria, signing him to a two-year, $46 million deal, with $26 million guaranteed.
Fantasy Football Impact
After re-signing Alaric Jackson and Tutu Atwell, the Rams made the first big splash in free agency by landing Adams.
The 32-year-old Adams is coming off his fifth-consecutive 1,000-yard season, accomplishing the feat across three games with the Raiders (18 receptions for 209 yards) and 11 with the Jets (67 for 854) after being traded from Las Vegas to New York during the 2024 season. He also caught eight touchdowns in addition to those 85 receptions for 1,063 yards.
A three-time AP first-team All-Pro, Adams has 957 career receptions for 11,844 yards with 103 touchdowns in 164 games.
In Los Angeles, Adams will pair up with Puka Nacua as targets for quarterback Matthew Stafford in Sean McVay's offense.
With Cooper Kupp on the trade block -- and a candidate to be released if no trade partner is found, Adams will have a robust role opposite Nacua as the two form Los Angeles' front-line tandem at receiver.
It's reasonable at this point in their careers to consider Adams and upgrade over Kupp.
I love Cooper Kupp but when #Rams fans tell me he's way better than Davante Adams I have to assume they haven't watched Davante Adams on tape recently because at this point sadly it's not close
— JAKE ELLENBOGEN (@JKBOGEN) March 9, 2025
SI.com's Brock Vierra contends Adams solves an immediate problem for their team: their red-zone inefficiencies. Vierra explained, "The Rams would struggle to punch the ball in for six within twenty yards so with Adams, they have a matchup nightmare who can dominate defenders on fade routes and jump ball scenarios. His presence should open up more running lanes for Kyren Williams as well."
It's a fair point. Since coming into the NFL, Davante Adams has six seasons with 10-plus touchdown receptions. Vierra notes that only Hall of Famers Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, and Marvin Harrison Jr. Sr have more.
So, a high-end producer in a prolific passing offense with a capable triggerman. We're checking a lot of fantasy-friendly boxes here.
Adams finished the 2024 season as WR13 with a 17.1-point per-game average (11th-highest at the position). During his 11-game run in New York, working alongside Garrett Wilson and veteran QB Aaron Rodgers, Adams was WR5 with a 17.7-point per game average.
Expect his 2025 Footballguys WR24 projection and WR28 Underdog Average Draft Position (ADP) to rise. It will be a surprise if Adams doesn't leap high into WR2 territory -- perhaps even pushing against the top 12 with news of this move.
The Fantasy Football Fallout
While Stafford won't be viewed as a front-line fantasy quarterback, he returns to the Rams with a raise in pocket and an offensive line that remained intact from 2024. He also has two 1,000-yard All-Pro caliber receivers flanking him, a 1,000-yard running back, and a Super Bowl champion tight end in Tyler Higbee. While he might never be considered a fantasy QB1, Stafford has the supporting cast, scheme, and upside to handle a starting role for us on any given Sunday.
The same goes for Williams. His RB10 projection isn't far off his RB12 ADP on Underdog.
The big question will be how this impacts Nacua's value.
It's worth noting that Wilson, who finished the 2024 season as WR9, was WR22 during the 11-game stretch after Adams' arrival in New York. While Nacua is in a better spot with established chemistry with Stafford and a prominent role in McVay's offense, expecting a slight hit to his current WR4 ADP is reasonable.
Meanwhile, Atwell is going to have a hard time returning value on the $10-million, one-year contract he signed with the team last week. Demarcus Robinson is an unrestricted free agent, and it's hard to see the Rams retaining him now.
In New York, the team will likely roll with Tyrod Taylor as their starting QB. With a competent veteran at the helm of the offense -- and with Adams gone, Wilson's WR11 Footballguys Projection, which is slightly higher than his current WR15 ADP, is on point.
Stock Watch
Risers
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Overview
Six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Davante Adams is signing a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams. Adams arrives as the Rams prepare to move on from standout wide receiver Cooper Kupp. The newcomer will line up opposite Puka Nacua to give Matthew Stafford and the Rams as dangerous a starting tandem as you'll find in the NFL.
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