Rams beat writer Nick Wagoner answered a question about RB Todd Gurley having the impact many are expecting of him this season:
Wagoner: I suppose the answer to that question starts with what your perspective is on what type of impact you believe Todd Gurley is supposed to have. For me, I don't think we can expect him to come in and instantly become the game-breaker that he was drafted to be. Some of that is a function of his rehab from the knee injury and some of it is from the likelihood that his offensive line is going to take some time to develop.
I expect Gurley to have a very limited role or potentially even sit the first game or two before he slowly starts working his way into the mix. He probably won't take on a full workload until a bit later in the season. If he comes in at that pace, then I suppose the answer for this year is no. We all know he brings a lot of talent to the table but as with any rookie -- let alone ones coming off major knee injuries -- there's always the possibility he won't pan out and play to his draft status. Gurley is no exception.
It doesn't sound very positive for potential Gurley owners who are expecting him to come in and be an instant RB1. It sounds like the Rams are going to bring him along slowly, perhaps very slowly. He's not going to play in preseason which means which means his chances of having an early impact don't seem very good. Later on this season could be a different story, but Wagoner didn't seem all that optimistic he's going to have the impact everyone might expect of a RB taken early in the first round of the NFL Draft. Tre Mason looks like he'll at least have early season fantasy value and may even continue to be productive further into the season than most thought.
