The first NFL Week 1 power rankings of the season have arrived, and The Athletic has put the Los Angeles Rams at No. 1. It is an early statement from a rankings list published before training camps began, and it immediately sets the tone for how the league is being viewed at the start of the year.
That matters because these rankings are not just a snapshot of where teams stand right now. They also shape the conversation around expectation, depth and ceiling, especially when they are published alongside projected win totals from analyst Austin Mock.
Why the Rams top the list
The Rams being placed first is the headline decision, and it gives them the kind of respect that usually goes only to teams seen as capable of handling every part of a season. The Athletic's first weekly update arrives after a period of offseason movement across the league, with roster changes and injuries helping to frame how each team is judged.
For the Rams, the No. 1 slot suggests they are being viewed not just as a contender, but as the team most likely to start the season with the strongest overall profile. In power-ranking terms, that is the clearest sign yet that the top of the league is being shaped by more than just reputation.
The wider top-end picture
The opening week of the NFL season already brought immediate context. Wednesday night featured a Super Bowl rematch between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, while Thursday saw the Los Angeles Rams face the San Francisco 49ers in Australia. Those are the kinds of matchups that quickly influence how the league is discussed.
With 32 teams being ranked, the early order also highlights how closely packed the contenders are. The Athletic's live coverage of NFL Week 1 games means the conversation will keep moving quickly, but for now the Rams have the clearest advantage in the first published rankings of the season.
What comes next
Power rankings always evolve, and this first edition will be tested immediately by results. The Rams may sit at No. 1 now, but the opening weeks will decide whether that position reflects early confidence or something more durable.
Either way, the first NFL Week 1 power rankings have made the opening argument clear: the Los Angeles Rams are the team at the top of the board, and everyone else is chasing them.
