Six Rams Make Pro Football Focus' Top 101 Players of 2023
The Los Angeles Rams were incredibly fun to watch in 2023. Veterans bounced back, young players asserted themselves as superstars and head coach Sean McVay eliminated any concerns about an early retirement.
The Rams are back as a competitive team in the NFC and that ascension was documented in Pro Football Focus’ Top 101 – the best players from the entire 2023 season, including the postseason.
How many of Los Angeles’ finest made the cut?
Dec 17, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) and guard Steve Avila (73) before playing against the Washington Commanders at SoFi Stadium.
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95. Kevin Dotson, right guard
The Rams saw multiple surprise performances boost their odds on the way to the NFC’s Wild Card Round. So many of them came from out of left field, like Dotson.
Having been dealt right before the season for a swap of Day 3 picks, Dotson was viewed as a fringe starter who could add consistency to Los Angeles’ offensive line. Instead, he became the unit’s best player.
Dotson turned his season into a three-year extension worth $48 million, further proof of just how well he established himself.
87. Kobie Turner, defensive tackle
Receiver Puka Nacua would steal the lion’s share of the attention, but this rookie class was spectacular, and Turner was the Rams’ second-best neophyte.
Posting nine sacks and earning some Defensive Player of the Year votes, Turner will be a fixture for years to come, even if he remains in the shadow of Aaron Donald.
Both Turner and Nacua won Defensive Rookie of the Month for their respective sides of the ball in December.
74. Kyren Williams, running back
McVay loves himself a workhorse back, and Williams quickly proved he could be his head coach’s shiny new toy.
Williams earned the starting spot, sending Cam Akers to the Minnesota Vikings, and was simply stupendous. Despite missing five games, Williams ranked third in the league in rushing, posting 1,144 yards and 12 scores. No running back with more than 100 carries generated more expected points added per rush than Williams.
He’s a strong pass-protector, technically sound, and proved to be a bigger home run hitter than anyone expected.
58. Matthew Stafford, quarterback
Of course, one can’t sing the praises of the Rams’ season without acknowledging Stafford’s role.
Like McVay, Stafford had the Los Angeles faithful nervously waiting for a retirement speech after 2022. Instead, he returned – healthy – and was incredibly effective.
Along with all that comes with being a veteran quarterback leading a young roster, Stafford created big plays routinely, helping support two big seasons from receivers and acclimating to a revolving door of contributors. The Rams can feel confident that their quarterback is still good enough to win with.
24. Aaron Donald, defensive tackle
It goes without saying that Donald is one of the best players in the league.
He may not be leaps and bounds better than any interior lineman in the sport anymore, but few linemen are as respected as Donald. That respect is so frequently shown through the double teams thrown his way at exorbitant rates.
In 2023, he was PFF’s second-highest-graded interior defensive lineman, behind only New York Giants tackle Dexter Lawrence.
21. Puka Nacua, receiver
Of course, the receiver with perhaps the greatest rookie season his position has ever seen was going to rank highly.
In setting the rookie record for receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486), Nacua made himself a household name, despite being anonymous before his electric Week 1 performance.
Nacua was the best player on the field in Los Angeles’ Wild Card Round loss to the Detroit Lions and is the heir to receiver Cooper Kupp’s throne – if it isn’t already his. He’s a special talent, and regression may be less likely than his skeptics expect.
