Los Angeles Rams began trimming their roster, trimming 11 players in the first wave to 79 ahead of Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, with 26 more cuts looming before the 53-man limit. The wave included TE McCallan Castles, S Malik Dixon-Williams, OL Ben Dooley, DT Decarius Hawthorne, G John Leglue, C Mike McAllister, OL Josh Pearcy, DL Da'Jon Terry, OT Trey Wedig, QB Dresser Winn and vested LB Tony Fields. No real surprises, but the hard calls come Monday and Tuesday as the club finalizes a 53 and eyes a 16-man practice squad on Wednesday.

Fantasy managers should monitor how the Rams shape depth behind the top units. The ensuing practice squad and late cuts will clarify who could jump into Week 1 roles if injuries strike, and who might emerge as sleepers in dynasty or keeper formats based on ongoing positional battles.

Los Angeles opened the 2025 slate with a dominant preseason win, 31-21 over Dallas, sprinting ahead early and never fading. Stetson Bennett produced one of the best games of his young pro career, tossing for 188 yards with two touchdowns as a non-starter-friendly Rams attack moved the chains with 22 first downs and 181 rushing yards. Blake Corum found the end zone twice on rushing touches, while Cody Schrader punctuated a late push with a 9-yard TD grab from Bennett. Xavier Smith logged 55 receiving yards on three catches, helping the second-unit offense look poised. Cam Lampkin’s third-quarter pick was the defensive play of the night, flipping field position and delivering momentum to a stingy Rams unit. The Cowboys were mostly shut down on offense, with Joe Milton at the helm and a stagnant attack for much of the night. Rams possession topped 33 minutes, a testament to the diverse, complementary attack, even when starters rested. The Rams head into Week 2 of the preseason with a potential Stafford return on the horizon as they prepare to visit the Chargers for joint practices and a Saturday tune-up.

For fantasy aficionados, the night offered a preview of likely depth-chart battles. Bennett’s efficiency and two-score ceiling, Corum’s red-zone punch, and Schrader’s playmaking in space stood out, while Lampkin showed a knack for big plays on defense. The Rams’ depth—especially at WR with Smith and Stoops contributing—adds intrigue for late-round speculative picks. On the Cowboys’ side, Milton’s leadership in the third-string opportunity offered a glimmer of upside in deeper leagues, though the overall offense left room for improvement as they pivot toward a tougher August slate.