Davante Adams or Woody Marks: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 1 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Start Adams: his veteran volume is safer than Marks’ committee path
Davante Adams is the better play because his WR2 label understates a dependable passing-game role, and the Rams’ strong scoring outlook gives his red-zone résumé room to matter. The Rams’ Sept. 7 report says Matthew Stafford and Adams are building on their connection, reinforcing the stability behind Adams’ 24% target share (therams.com 2026-09-07). Woody Marks has a friendlier opponent on paper and a proven rushing workload, but his RB2 committee role and light receiving usage leave fewer routes to a useful PPR day. The risk is Adams’ 71% snap rate falling if the crowded Rams receiver room stays heavily rotated.
What flips it: A confirmed reduction in Adams’ route or red-zone role.
Sources: therams.com · Sep 7, 2026
AI editor
Davante Adams
9.811.813.8 Projected Points
Woody Marks
6.87.58.3 Projected Points
Why Davante Adams
Start· highVeteran starting WR2 and red-zone weapon. Elite release package and route separation with All-Pro-caliber pedigree.
24% target share and a 25.8 implied total as a 3-point favorite make Adams a locked-in WR2 despite the nominal WR-2 label.
- Stafford’s continued connection with Adams supports the target share as a repeatable role, not a one-week spike.
- His red-zone profile benefits more from the Rams’ scoring outlook than Marks’ between-the-tackles committee role.
The call
- A 24% target share across 14 games is alpha-level volume — the WR-2 depth slot is a formation label, not a usage cap.
- 13.8 projected points at WR21 with no injury designation is a floor most 12-team PPR benches can't match.
- Team implied total of 25.8 as a 3-point favorite means enough scoring volume to support multiple touchdown-equity looks.
- The DvP composite (18 of 32) is drawn from a 0-game sample with 0.00 confidence, so treat the matchup as neutral rather than a reason to bench.
Latest on Adams
Davante Adams is part of a Rams wide receiver room that retained all six wideouts from last season's initial 53-man roster and added rookie CJ Daniels.
From the Podium: Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams discuss Rams' preparations for Week 1 in Australia against 49erstherams.com · Sep 6, 2026Davante Adams got plenty of work and completions despite the shorter joint practice.
10 Observations from Rams' joint practice with Saints: Matthew Stafford-Davante Adams connection remains on point, Terrance Ferguson's confidence, Nate Landman and defensive front making playstherams.com · Aug 20, 2026Davante Adams is serving as a veteran resource for young Rams receivers seeking advice.
From the Podium: Sean McVay on coaching philosophies during training camp while Nate Landman and Davante Adams reflect on their leadership rolestherams.com · Aug 2, 2026Rams 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.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Why Woody Marks
Toss-UpRB2 behind David Montgomery. Between-the-tackles committee back who carried 196 times for 703 yards as a rookie with light pass-game usage.
Toss-up — RB44 consensus, projects RB42 this week: 7% target share in 2025, 8.3 PPR projected vs BUF.
- Marks’ rushing workload gives him a path if Houston controls the game and leans on the ground attack.
- The Buffalo matchup is slightly more inviting, so his lower projection is not purely matchup-driven.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Davante Adams | Woody Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 9.811.813.8 | 6.87.58.3 |
| Consensus rank | WR19 | RB44 |
| Opponent vs position | SF · 18 of 320-game sample | BUF · 20 of 320-game sample |
| Receptions | 24 of 32 | 10 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 22 of 32 | 6 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | 14 of 32 | — |
| Targets | 16 of 32 | — |
| Anytime TD | 13 of 32 | 26 of 32 |
| Rushing Yards | — | 27 of 32 |
| Rushing TDs | — | 32 of 32 |
| Rushing Attempts | — | 16 of 32 |
| Target share | 24%(2025) | 7%(2025) |
| Reception share | 19%(2025) | 7%(2025) |
| Implied total · spread | 25.8-3.0 | 22.0+1.5 |
| Depth chart | WR2 | RB2 |
| Snap share | 71%(2025) | 52%(2025) |
Signal breakdown
- 13.8 vs 8.3 projected PPR pointsDavante Adams +
- Rank 19 vs 44Davante Adams +
- Opponent DvP rank 18 vs 20 (32 = softest)even
- Implied 25.8 vs 22.0 team pointsDavante Adams +
- No injury designationseven
- 71% vs 52% snap shareDavante Adams +
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