Brenton Strange or Davante Adams: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start Davante Adams: the Rams' scoring environment outweighs Strange's steadier role

Davante Adams gets the nod because his red-zone profile is attached to a far more productive scoring environment, giving his target share more touchdown upside than Brenton Strange's steadier snaps. Strange has the cleaner recent result and a stronger weekly role, but his lower-volume Jacksonville offense leaves less room for a ceiling game. Adams' risk is real: his limited Week 1 production makes the call depend on a rebound, though the Rams' Week 2 outlook keeps him in the starting lineup (NBC Sports 2026-09-10).

What flips it: A repeat of Adams' 3-for-6, 26-yard opener (NBC Sports 2026-09-10).

Sources: NBC Sports · Sep 10, 2026 · therams.com · Sep 17, 2026

AI editor

Brenton Strange

Brenton Strange

TE19JAXvs DEN

Projected Points

Sit
Davante Adams

Davante Adams

WR21LARvs NYG

Projected Points

Start· medium

Brenton Strange’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-101 / -126
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 32.5
-114 / -114
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+270
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Davante Adams’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-141 / +111
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 44.5
-109 / -115
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+110
Anytime Touchdown Props →
JAX@
DENSun, Sep 20, 4:05 PM ETView the game →
NYG@
LARMon, Sep 21, 8:15 PM ETView the game →

Why Brenton Strange

Sit

Starting TE and ascending pass-catcher. Athletic seam target with adequate in-line blocking.

Sit — bench-tier TE at consensus TE19: DEN is the 11th-toughest matchup vs TEs, 14% target share.

  • Strange's ascending seam role gives him a sturdier floor than his bench-tier ranking suggests.
  • His blocking role should keep him involved, but that does not guarantee enough scoring chances in Jacksonville.

Why Davante Adams

Start· medium

Veteran starting WR2 and red-zone weapon. Elite release package and route separation with All-Pro-caliber pedigree.

22% target share in a 28.5-implied-total offense makes Adams a WR21 play despite the Week 1 dud (3-26) and 54% snap rate.

  • Adams' red-zone weapon profile makes the Rams' scoring expectation especially valuable for his touchdown ceiling.
  • The Week 1 dud is the concern, but his rebound case is supported by the offense's plan to build the connection (therams.com 2026-09-17).

The call

  • The volume is there even if the box score wasn't: 22% target share on an offense with a 28.5 implied total is startable WR2 usage, and the 13.7 projection lands him at WR21 — above a typical 12-team replacement.
  • Week 1 was a miss (3 of 6 for 26 yards, longest gain 13) but the six looks confirm he's in the target-priority tier; efficiency regresses toward his role, not the one-game sample.
  • Matchup is neutral at best — the Giants sit 16 of 32 in DvP composite off a one-game sample with zero confidence, so treat it as noise rather than a tiebreaker.
  • Risk to monitor: 54% snap share as the WR-2, and an 8.5-point favorite script can turn run-heavy late and cap his ceiling.

Latest on Adams

Adams caught just 3 of 6 targets for 26 yards with a long gain of only 13 yards in the Week 1 loss to San Francisco, well below his preseason hype, and will look to rebound in the Week 2 Monday night game against the Giants.

NBC Sports · Sep 10, 2026
From the Podium: Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams explain moving forward to Week 2 against Giants

Rams head coach Sean McVay, quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Davante Adams discuss the team's mindset as it turns the page to Week 2 against the Giants.

therams.com · Sep 17, 2026
Davante Adams: "Some things are out of our hands"

LA Rams head coach Sean McVay and WR Davante Adams speak to the press ahead of their clash with the San Francisco 49ers, with Adams showing mixed feelings with the late arrival and connecting with fans.

VideoESPN · Sep 10, 2026
Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams looking forward to building on connection shown over second half of 2025 season and throughout training camp heading into 2026 season

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Davante Adams looked in sync throughout this summer in a way that resembled their connection during the second half of last season.

therams.com · Sep 6, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricBrenton StrangeDavante Adams
Projected points
Consensus rankTE19WR21
Opponent vs positionDEN · 11 of 321-game sampleNYG · 16 of 321-game sample
Receptions14 of 3220 of 32
Receiving Yards25 of 3210 of 32
Receiving TDs1 of 3213 of 32
Targets15 of 3225 of 32
Anytime TD1 of 3213 of 32
Target share14%22%
Reception share11%18%
Implied total · spread20.5+2.528.5-8.5
Depth chartTE1WR2
Snap share68%54%
Start/Sit record—0–1

Recent form

Brenton Strange — last 1 week

Week 1vs CLE

Davante Adams — last 1 week

Week 1vs SF

Signal breakdown

  • 8.0 vs 13.7 projected PPR pointsDavante Adams +
  • Rank 19 vs 21Brenton Strange +
  • Opponent DvP rank 11 vs 16 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 20.5 vs 28.5 team pointsDavante Adams +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 68% vs 54% snap shareBrenton Strange +

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