Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay has built a post-practice environment that blends veterans and rookies across units, in a locker room players call "the suburbs." This strategy nudges offense and defense toward natural interactions, aiming to boost onfield chemistry and off-field learning. The approach isn’t just roster management; it’s a structured culture shift designed to maximize development and cohesion as the season unfolds.

Puka Nacua’s rookie experience under this system exemplifies the model: surrounding him with Rob Havenstein and Ahkello Witherspoon created real-time learning moments after practice, from technique talk to matchup breakdowns. Braden Fiske benefited similarly, sitting between Cooper Kupp and Tyler Higbee, where diet and routine adjustments learned in offseason conversations translated into practical gains. The suburbs concept centers on cross-pollination, not position silos, and McVay argues that this departs from offense vs. defense segregation toward mutual appreciation and growth.

The locker room as a learning lab helps the Rams develop depth and leadership while preserving chemistry that helped sustain their success. For fantasy managers, that chemistry can translate into steadier target distribution and clearer roles as rookies mature and veterans mentor them. In short, the Rams’ off-field culture is as much a strategic asset as their playbook.