The Los Angeles Rams will be with out their prime two wide receivers in the rapid future as each Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are set to overlook an prolonged time period. With Kupp and Nacua each out, the query turns into which wide receiver will step up in their absence.
As it stands, the Rams have Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Whittington, Tyler Johnson, and TuTu Atwell as the first wide receivers obtainable in the offense. In order for the offense to have the ability to operate, these 4 gamers are going to need to be able to tackle a bigger workload.
Throughout his profession Robinson has by no means been greater than a WR3 or WR4 in an offense. While he has stepped up in moments, it’s additionally laborious to anticipate him to swiftly develop into the man. Robinson has at all times been that participant that finds a solution to come open on third down or somebody that opposing defenses overlook about on the sphere.
Sixth-round choose Jordan Whittington was a participant that the teaching employees praised all through all the offseason. With that stated, it’s additionally unfair to anticipate him to tackle a workload like Puka Nacua did final yr when Kupp was out the primary 4 weeks of the season. Whittington will probably be extra concerned in the offense, however gained’t be the featured participant.
The participant that the Rams have to step up and play up to their potential is TuTu Atwell. Unlike the others in the wide receiver room, Atwell has been in this case earlier than. Through 4 years, Atwell hasn’t lived up to his second-round draft standing to say the least. Consistency and simply lacking performs has been the story of his profession. As seen final week, whereas he had three catches, he additionally had one drop. However, the Rams will want Atwell to lastly step up with each Kupp and Nacua out of the lineup. Unlike the opposite receivers, Atwell has been right here earlier than.
Last season when Kupp was out the primary 4 video games, Atwell confirmed that he might be a participant that Stafford can put some belief in. During the primary 4 weeks of the season Atwell had 34 targets that resulted in 22 catches for 365 yards. His 34 targets had been the eleventh most throughout these weeks and on 178 cross performs, he ran 170 routes for a 95.5 p.c route share that ranked ninth. For the primary time, there was a glimpse of what Atwell might accomplish when he received concerned in the offense.
Atwell fell out of favor because the yr went on and Demarcus Robinson emerged. However, final week, it was Atwell who led Rams wide receiver in targets in the second half with Kupp out of the lineup. He was additionally the primary learn on throws 33.3 p.c of the time which was the identical as Kupp. If it's Atwell taking Kupp’s “position” in the offense, it’s probably that numerous Stafford’s seems will go the way in which of the previous second spherical choose.
While a small pattern dimension, it's price noting that Atwell has the best separation rating amongst Rams wide receivers this season and the best win-rate at 35.7 p.c. Separation score precisely identifies which receivers are one of the best or worst at producing separation. This was the case throughout the first 4 weeks final yr as properly. Atwell led Rams wide receivers with a 0.168 separation rating and trailed solely Nacua in win-rate at 19.3 p.c.
Without Nacua and Kupp, the Rams wide receiver room will actually take an enormous hit. Rather a lot will be anticipated of a veteran participant like Demarcus Robinson. Rookie Jordan Whittington will be even be thrown into a bigger function.
However, probably the most explosive receiver in the Rams offense now could be TuTu Atwell. He’s the participant that has the power to create on his personal. During his 4 years, he hasn’t persistently been concerned in the offense. Inconsistency is an enormous motive for that. With that stated, Atwell is in a contract season and provided that he has probably the most expertise in the offense, he’ll have to play up to his potential. When given the chance final yr, he made probably the most of it. He additionally did the identical in 2022 when Kupp went out.
We’ll see how McVay makes use of the present wide receivers in the system. To say the least, the Rams wide receiver room seems quite a bit completely different than many anticipated coming into the season. It probably be Robinson and Atwell on the skin with Whittington taking part in in the slot. McVay’s system has traditionally gotten the many of the wide receivers so long as they're good route-runners and do sufficient in the run recreation.
In a contract yr, it is a huge alternative for Atwell to point out what he's able to in this offense. Even if the Rams don’t re-sign him following the season, Atwell can put out some good tape and present why he was drafted in the second spherical again in 2021.
