Often, it is the WR3 that wins football games in the NFL. Defenses around the league, especially in crunch time, tighten up on the primary targets for an offense, scheming up calls that eliminate them from the play.
Whether that be a double-team, another form of safety help or simply having a true lockdown corner placed on them, WR1s and WR2s can sometimes have difficulty creating separation due to defensive designs.
In the NFL, it’s not the play call that wins the game, it is the players. Defensive coordinators are too smart to outwit consistently so QBs have to find an advantageous matchup to exploit. With resources dedicated to eliminating primary targets and rushing the passer, the WR3 will find himself with a one-on-one matchup where the game comes down to will and desire over skill and scheme.
Demarcus Robinson knows this all too well as before the Monday night game against Miami, he had two straight games with two touchdowns, scoring the game-winners in both.
Robinson, a nine-year veteran, has been in this role since his early days in Kansas City. As a member of the Legion of Zoom, Robinson played a WR3 role, helping the Chiefs win Super Bowl LIV.
So it is mindboggling to see a player who has gotten it done throughout his career, especially in the last several weeks, only see five targets on Monday – many of which were uncatchable.
Robinson was a key piece in the Rams’ late-season playoff push in 2023, putting up 14 catches for 218 yards and two touchdowns in the last three games he played during the regular season (held out in the season finale as the Rams had already clinched a playoff birth). He also caught 73.6% of passes thrown his way.
All three of those games ended in victory. In fact, when Robinson has at least four catches, the Rams are 4-1 in those games with the lone loss coming in the 2024 season-opener against Detroit.
Getting Robinson involved forces defenses to adjust, shining more attention on him. Thus, less attention gets put on the rest of the Rams’ playmakers, leading to more opportunities for established stars like Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp.
The numbers say it, the film says it and the fact Robinson has played in the postseason every year of his career says it. Get him the ball. Considering he was drafted in 2016, if the Rams want to make the playoffs, perhaps rely on the guy that’s been there eight straight times.