One advanced metric ranks the Rams roster best in the NFL
The Athletic’s Austin Mock and his xMOV model rank the Rams as the best roster in the league this year.
Football: NFC Championship: Los Angeles Rams Matthew Stafford (9) stands in the tunnel prior to game vs Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Seattle, WA 1/25/2026CREDIT: Simon Bruty (Photo by Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X164832 TK1) It’s not breaking news when you hear that a major publication thinks the Los Angeles Rams will be very good again in 2026. After all, they were arguably the best team in the NFL for much of the 2025 season, and more than a few fans and analysts considered the NFC Championship Game to be last season’s “true” Super Bowl.
Can the sequel be at least as good as the original? At least one metric used at The Athletic believes so. Writer Austin Mock used a model called xMOV, or expected margin of victory, to rank each roster in the NFL as of today.
The model incorporates several factors, as outlined in the original piece ( gift link here ), notably including positional value. That makes sense for an extra push behind the Rams ranking, considered the reigning league MVP is coming back under center for Los Angeles. The Rams-specific details: Although I didn’t love their draft (and they couldn’t overtake the Seahawks last year), I think the Rams have the best roster in football.
It starts with the quarterback, of course, and Matthew Stafford is still playing at an elite level despite nearing retirement. The Rams also have the NFL’s best receivers room, led by Puka Nacua, plus a top-five interior offensive line, defensive line and cornerbacks room. That’s quality up and down the roster, both young players and veterans.