Williams’ fumble cost the Rams in a tight loss to the 49ers, yet the locker room and coaching staff stayed in his corner. McVay stressed love, accountability, and a plan to fix ball security, while Williams continues to be used as a multi-faceted weapon in the offense. His two receiving TDs highlighted an evolving role in the passing game, providing a clear path to fantasy relevance even in defeat.

Ford and Young publicly backed Williams on social media, underscoring a culture built on trust and resilience. With back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Williams remains the Rams’ centerpiece, and his involvement as a route runner keeps defenses honest and fantasy managers optimistic about continued targets and scoring chances down the stretch.

Penei Sewell anchored Detroit’s rushing attack with a historic 99.3 run-blocking grade—the highest single-game run-block grade in PFF history. Bills’ David Edwards (93.8) and Cowboys’ Terence Steele (89.3 HM) fed the prime zone blocks, while Aaron Brewer (92.7) and Drew Dalman (79.8) flashed at center. On defense, Eric Wilson (95.7) led run defense for linebackers, with Aidan Hutchinson (93.1) and Cameron Heyward (90.8) dominating the line play. Poona Ford (89.8) highlighted interior stops.

The piece underlines how weekly run-game grades shape fantasy upside, highlighting OL dominance and DL impact as recurring fantasy levers. It also marks the Lions and Steelers as teams with elevated run-block/run-defense narratives to monitor for DFS and prop bets.

Nick Chubb steps in as Houston’s lead back in Week 1 against the Rams, but the matchup is tougher than it appears. Houston’s O-line struggles heighten the risk, while Los Angeles added run-stopping depth that could bottleneck inside runs. Chubb’s primary value comes from short-yardage and goal-line work, yet his receptions look limited in a game where the Texans might lean on Nico Collins for perimeter production. In standard leagues, he’s still usable for a floor TD upside, but in PPR he’s a risky flex with limited receiving usage.

Joe Mixon’s absence for multiple weeks thrusts a career-narrative shift around the Texans backfield. Chubb’s floor remains steady due to volume, but expect modest yardage and few catches. Nico Collins could create more scoring chances, and the Rams’ improved run defense provides a clear downside for Chubb in Week 1. For fantasy players, the Week 1 calculus comes down to TD expectation and game script rather than sheer volume.