The Los Angeles Rams dismantled the New Orleans Saints 34-0 in their second preseason game, and the most fascinating part of the blowout might be that the players who created it are largely unknown to the general NFL fan. 

Names like CJ Daniels, Dean Connors, Jordan Waters, and AZ Hamilton aren’t household names, but they delivered the kind of performance that speaks volumes about the Rams’ ability to develop talent under head coach Sean McVay. The Saints, meanwhile, continue to search for an identity, making the gap between these two franchises feel enormous.

The running back room is stacking up

The running back situation for the Rams is a tale as old as time under McVay. He gets the most out of his running backs, and the second preseason game proved that once again. While running back Jarquez Hunter posted 68 yards and a touchdown, it was Waters who set the tone early.

Waters got the game going with a few explosive runs when the contest was still competitive. At one point he had roughly four carries for 30 yards, and the chunk-play ability he showed reinforced something that became clear in the preseason opener: the Rams are going to run the football this year.

McVay’s offensive approach has continued to evolve. 

When he first arrived in Los Angeles, the outside zone heavy scheme was the talk of the league. Over the last few years, he has shifted toward more inside zone and duo concepts. He has shown he understands how to build a running game based on personnel, and his staff deserves credit for how effective these depth runners have been through two preseason games.

The real intrigue lies in the running back 3 and running back 4 battle. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum haven’t played in the preseason and won’t, and Hunter figures to slot in as the third back after the Rams spent a top-125 draft pick on him a couple of years ago. 

But Waters and Connors have both made strong cases through two weeks. Each of these backs brings something different. 

Waters is a tough, physical, downhill runner. Connors is more of an all-purpose type who can catch the ball, pass block, and offers more quick-twitch ability. Hunter is a balance of both, combining power and explosiveness. 

That variety makes the competition unique. There is going to be a running back 3 and running back 4 on this roster who have the ability to contribute in a pinch during the regular season.

Connors didn’t receive the same workload he got in the first game, which was a bit disappointing. But he continues to show impact in the little things, particularly as a pass blocker, which McVay covets. 

CJ Daniels fits the Rams’ receiver development mold

When No. 6 started making plays in the first half, the natural reaction was to double-check whether that was actually CJ Daniels. It was. 

He finished with eight receptions for 68 yards on 13 targets, and the production should catch people’s attention.

Any time the Rams spend a mid-to-late-round draft pick on a wide receiver, it warrants notice. The franchise spent a third-round pick on Cooper Kupp, who went on to win the receiving Triple Crown with over 1,900 yards. 

They spent a fifth-round pick on Puka Nacua, who has ascended to being one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Jordan Whittington was a seventh-round selection and has developed into a quality contributor. 

Daniels has a chance to follow that pipeline.

The receiver room has real questions beyond the top two. Nacua, health permitting, is the stud. Davante Adams is the other stud. 

But with Tutu Atwell no longer on the roster, who fills out the third and fourth receiver spots? Daniels fits the mold of what Los Angeles values. He may not be quite the after-the-catch playmaker the Rams typically covet in that vein, but he is a strong intermediate separator who plays tough. He blocks, he catches through contact, and he showed significant improvement from the opener, when he had just two catches on five targets against Kansas City.

Going from two receptions in Week 1 to eight in Week 2 is a very positive trajectory for his chances of playing a real role this season.

AZ Hamilton is flashing at nickel corner

The defensive side of the blowout included a pick-six and a goal-line fumble recovery, but the player who stood out in a quieter way was Hamilton. His interception early in the game set an aggressive tone.

Hamilton played mostly outside corner at Fresno State, but his projection to the NFL was always going to be as a nickel. He isn’t the most explosive athlete and is a bit undersized, so playing inside is where his skill set translates. 

Through two preseason games, he has flashed. Last week against the Chiefs, he made a strong play coming back into the picture to bat down a throw on the run from quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. 

He carried that momentum into this game.

The Rams have quietly done a strong job developing late-round and priority free agent defensive backs, even as the “F them picks” narrative has dominated the conversation around the franchise’s draft philosophy. Hamilton fits that developmental track. 

There have been a couple of moments where he has gotten beat, but the majority of his reps have been positive.

Can Hamilton carve out a back-end roster spot or at least a practice squad opportunity as a developmental nickel? 

The preseason tape is encouraging, even without full knowledge of how he’s performing in practice. Two weeks of flashing is a good start for an undrafted player trying to stick.