Davante Adams may not have filled the box score in Week 1, but the Rams could need him to take on a far bigger role against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. With Puka Nacua dealing with hip and groin issues after the opening game, the early signs point to Adams becoming the most important receiving option in a near must-win spot for Los Angeles.
That is the kind of situation that can quickly change the conversation around a player. Adams had just three catches from six targets for 26 yards in the Rams' season-opening loss to the 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, yet the backdrop for Week 2 is very different. Los Angeles are trying to avoid an 0-2 start, and with only 12% of 0-2 teams going on to make the playoffs, the pressure on this game is obvious.
Adams has already shown he can punish this kind of matchup
The Rams know Adams can still take over games when the targets are there. In 2025 he led the NFL in touchdowns and finished with 789 receiving yards, and he has already produced big output against the Giants before. Last season, on November 2, he recorded 60 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the New Orleans Saints, a reminder that he remains capable of making a major impact when the offense leans his way.
That matters because the Giants' defence is not coming into this game looking vulnerable on every level. Last season they allowed the 16th-fewest passing yards and ranked 17th in Pro Football Focus coverage grades, so this is not a unit that simply hands out easy completions. Even so, the Rams may have little choice but to keep feeding Adams if Nacua is limited.
Why the Giants can still make life awkward
New York gave another sign of defensive resilience in Week 1, when they beat the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football and limited CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens to 72 combined receiving yards. That suggests the Giants can at least compete physically on the outside and make opposing quarterbacks work for every positive play.
At the same time, there are still reasons for Los Angeles to believe the passing game can be productive. The Giants finished with the second-worst run defence last season, which can force teams into more obvious passing situations, and that should put more of the burden on Matthew Stafford and his receivers. If the Rams are going to avoid another damaging result, the ball may need to go Adams' way early and often.
What this means for Week 2
This is one of those games where the Rams do not just need a better performance, they need a response. Adams' Week 1 numbers were quiet, but the setup in Week 2 suggests a much larger workload could be coming, especially if Nacua is not fully available.
For Los Angeles, the equation is simple. If they are going to get back on track at SoFi Stadium, they need their most proven wideout to look like a featured weapon. And if Colby Parkinson is part of the conversation for the Rams' passing game, it will almost certainly be because the offensive load is being spread more widely than Sean McVay would ideally want in a game of this importance.
