Four LA Rams to Watch vs. Washington Commanders in Week Nine

Following a Sunday night win over the division rival Eagles, the Washington Commanders will stay at home to take on the Los Angeles Rams, who just returned to .500 following a win over the Chargers. Both teams are looking to stay afloat and need every win they can get for the rest of the season. Here are four Rams players to keep an eye on come Sunday. 

WR Puka Nacua

Nacua is one of the best receivers in the NFL, with some calling him the top guy at the position. He led the league in receptions and receiving yards per game last year, and is third in the latter category in 2026. Nacua is one of the toughest receivers to cover, as he can run every route and make just about every single catch. His relationship with quarterback Matthew Stafford makes it more challenging. The Washington secondary will have to keep their eyes on him at all times. Cornerback Trey Amos will face what will be the biggest test of his young career in the NFL. 

RB Blake Corum

Kyren Williams might be the number one back for the Rams, but Corum has made the biggest impact on the ground the last two games. Over the last two games, he has rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries. This year, Corum has over five yards per carry and has gotten in the end zone in the last four games. Listed at 5-foot-8, 202 pounds, he is a powerful runner that is hard to bring down on first contact. He and Williams might be the best rushing duo in 2026.

That’s an issue for a defense missing its best piece up front, with Daron Payne out for the season. For Washington, the goal for stopping the rushing attack of the Rams might be to keep Corum from wearing them down.

DL Byron Young

Los Angeles will officially have star edge rusher Myles Garrett available in week nine alongside Aaron Donald, but they aren't the only ones to know. Young led the Rams in sacks last year with 12. Over the offseason, the Rams traded for Myles Garrett, then Aaron Donald came out of retirement, and Young became an afterthought. Things did not go according to plan, though, as Garrett has been out since week one, and Donald is not the same player he once was. Young has stepped up and has accounted for over a third of the team’s sacks with 4.5 through eight games. He also leads the team with 6.5 tackles for loss. He may not have been a big headliner when the season began, but the Commanders’ offense needs to account for him at all times. Otherwise, Young could make them pay.

SAF Quentin Lake

Lake is in the middle of what could be his best season as a pro. Through eight games, the fifth-year player has more interceptions and passes defended than in every other year combined. The Rams love to move Lake around their defense, lining him up at safety, nickel, and linebacker. While the defense has more recognizable names like Byron Young, Trent McDuffie, and Aaron Donald, Lake may prove to be the biggest obstacle for the Commanders’ offense. Quarterback Jayden Daniels has to account for him on every play and can’t lose track of him; otherwise, he could have the play that decides the game