Rams flip kickoff play in 2025, turning Joshua Karty into a real weapon with low, landing-zone kicks that limit returns and push Texans into tougher starting field positions. Week 1 produced two landing-zone touchbacks, a third bounce that stayed in play, and a swarm of Rams upfield coverage that kept returns to 11 yards on average. League rule tweaks spurred higher kickoff returns overall, but LAR topped the Week 1 ledger in drive-start edge.

Cam Little and Tremon Smith surfaced as notable pieces in the Rams’ revamped plan, while the Texans fought a different battle from their own 20s and 23s. The narrative centers on field position as a strategic weapon, redefining the kickoff phase as a true battleground for fantasy managers circling special-teams and leverage plays.