Tag: Demarcus Robinson

Why the Rams must get Demarcus Robinson more involved

Demarcus Robinson only had one catch against the Dolphins but getting him more involved could be a key to unlocking the offense

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.

Watch: Demarcus Robinson makes spectacular game-winning one-handed catch in OT

Demarcus Robinson won it for the Rams with an incredible one-handed touchdown catch in overtime

The Los Angeles Rams won their third straight game on Sunday, but their victory over the Seattle Seahawks didn’t come easy. It was a wild overtime win against a division rival, and it was Demarcus Robinson who broke the tie with about 5 minutes left in the extra frame.

Matthew Stafford hit him deep for a 39-yard score, and Robinson made a one-handed catch in the end zone to win it for the Rams. It was a spectacular catch, the second touchdown of the day for Robinson and his fourth in the last two games, helping lift the Rams to their third straight victory.

Here’s a look at the play from Stafford to Robinson to win it for Los Angeles.

 

Rams stuff Seahawks on defense, win on Matthew Stafford TD pass in overtime

The Rams downed the Seahawks in overtime on a Matthew Stafford TD pass

The Los Angeles Rams stopped the Seattle Seahawks on two short-yardage plays in overtime on Sunday. They then took the football and won the game on a Matthew Stafford pass to DeMarcus Robinson.

LA’s 26-20 win raised the Rams’ record to 4-4. Seattle fell to 4-5 and last in the parity-laden NFC West.

It was a bizarre game for the Seahawks. The only times they scored were in the final minute of the second quarter and the final minute of the fourth quarter.

Seattle scored two touchdowns in 46 seconds before halftime. The Rams then countered with17 straight points to take a 20-13 lead.

Geno Smith, who threw three TD passes and three interceptions, found Jaxon Smith-Njigba with a 14-yard pass with 51 seconds left in the fourth quarter to force overtime.

Seattle got the ball and was driving until LA’s defense stopped it cold on third and four down in Rams territory.

The Rams took over and Stafford drove them 83 yards in four plays with the final 39 coming on the pass to Robinson.

Sean McVay was one pumped-up coach.

Watch: Demarcus Robinson jukes Seahawks DB with filthy release on TD catch

Demarcus Robinson nearly sent Riq Woolen to the ground with a filthy move at the line to get wide open for a TD

Demarcus Robinson doesn’t have the release skills of Davante Adams at the line of scrimmage but Adams would probably appreciate this move by the Rams receiver. In the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Seahawks, Robinson juked Riq Woolen at the goal line with a brilliant jab-step to the inside before breaking outside for an easy touchdown.

The release allowed Robinson to come wide open on the play and Matthew Stafford didn’t miss him, completing the pass for six points. That touchdown pulled the Rams closer, making the score 13-10 after Joshua Karty’s PAT.

Here’s a look at Robinson’s filthy move at the line.

How will Cooper Kupp’s return impact Rams’ WR depth chart?

With Cooper Kupp returning, how will the Rams deploy their Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson and their other WRs?

The Los Angeles Rams have merely been trying to tread water in the last four and a half games without Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua available. Their receiving corps has consisted of players such as Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Whittington, with Tyler Johnson and Xavier Smith also contributing.

Despite only playing in a game and a half this season, Kupp still ranks third on the team in receptions (18), which shows how heavily utilized he was in Weeks 1 and 2 before injuring his ankle. With Kupp on the verge of returning this Thursday, it creates some questions about how the Rams’ receiving corps will look now that he’s back.

Even for a team that uses 11 personnel more than 90% of the time, fitting all six wideouts into the equation will be a challenge. So who stands to lose playing time when Kupp returns?

If we look at the snap counts from this season, it could help paint a clearer picture.

  • Demarcus Robinson: 352 snaps
  • Tutu Atwell: 220 snaps
  • Tyler Johnson: 196 snaps
  • Jordan Whittington: 190 snaps

Demarcus Robinson

Even though he’s only caught 13 passes this season, the fewest of the bunch, Robinson continues to play the majority of the snaps. He’s played at least 85% in every game this season, including 91% in the Rams’ most recent game against the Raiders. After starting the year as the No. 3 receiver, we can assume he’ll remain one of the starters with Kupp back.

Tyler Johnson

Johnson had been relegated to a role as the No. 4 receiver prior to Week 5 when Whittington was limited to just nine snaps due to a lack of practice time as he recovers from a shoulder injury. Johnson played just 10 and 11 snaps in Weeks 4 and 5 before playing 50 snaps on Sunday.

Tutu Atwell

Atwell’s role has been steady since Week 3, playing 74%, 90%, 81% and 78% of the snaps in the last four games. His skill set is completely different than Kupp’s, so he provides some variety at wide receiver with his speed and downfield ability.

Jordan Whittington

And then there’s the wild card Whittington, who caught a total of 13 passes for 151 yards in Weeks 4 and 5 before playing just nine snaps on Sunday. He played 97% of the snaps in Week 4 and 92% in Week 5, looking like he had fully taken over the Puka Nacua role. After being listed as a non-participant on Monday’s injury report, and with Sean McVay saying he hopes he has “a little bit more of a workload” this week, it doesn’t sound like Whittington is fully healthy.

Projection

As long as Kupp is healthy, which he appears to be after being a full participant on Monday’s estimated report, he’s going to play the majority of the snaps. We can probably expect Atwell to play about 75% of the snaps as one of the outside receivers, with Robinson getting a healthy number of snaps as the X-receiver on the boundary.

That leaves the rest of the snaps to Johnson and Whittington. Johnson led the team with 57 yards in Sunday’s win, but he’s not exactly a dynamic playmaker. And with Whittington banged up, he may not be ready for a full workload just yet.

Fantasy football: Top Week 3 waiver targets include two Rams

With injuries to Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, two Rams pass-catchers are among this week’s top waiver targets in fantasy football

Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp were two popular targets in fantasy football drafts this year, each going in the first couple of rounds. Unfortunately for anyone who drafted them, both Rams receivers will be out awhile.

Nacua is already on injured reserve and Cooper Kupp is likely to join him, opening the door for other pass-catchers on the Rams’ roster to step up. Demarcus Robinson and Colby Parkinson could be the two biggest beneficiaries of the increased opportunities from a fantasy perspective.

That makes both of them waiver targets this week ahead of the Rams’ Week 3 game against the 49ers. Robinson is sure to be a popular pick-up for those at the top of the waiver order considering he’s now the Rams’ No. 1 option at wide receiver. Through two games, he’s caught just six passes for 92 yards but he should see more targets now that Kupp and Nacua are out.

Obviously, he won’t produce to the level that either of those guys have, but Robinson is a very good option when you look at how he played late last season as the No. 3 receiver. From Week 13-17, he caught 21 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns in those five games. We could expect similar production from him moving forward.

As for Parkinson, he too could see an uptick in fantasy points. He’s run 67 total routes in two games, per PFF, second-most of any tight end in the NFL, behind only Sam LaPorta. He’s only caught five passes for 59 yards, but it’s not for a lack of routes run. He’s only stayed in to block on nine passing plays so far, which means when the Rams are throwing the ball, he’s likely to be one of the five eligible receivers.

He’ll be competing with Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell for targets but Matthew Stafford likes his tight ends and with his size, Parkinson should be a weapon in the red zone.

Outside of Robinson and Parkinson, Johnson, Whittington and Atwell could all be waiver wire targets in fantasy this week, too. But it’s Robinson and Parkinson who should be at the top of your list, especially if you had Kupp or Nacua.

Fantasy Football: 20 waiver wire targets for Week 3

Scrambling to replace Isiah Pacheco and Cooper Kupp in your fantasy football lineup? Here are 20 waiver wire targets to consider this week.

We’re just two weeks into the 2024 NFL season and injuries are already piling up across the league.

The two biggest injuries from a fantasy football perspective this week are Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (who is going on injured reserve with an ankle injury) and Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (who is also a candidate for IR with an ankle injury).

The in-house candidates to replace Pacheco in KC are Samaje Perine and Carson Steele, but there might be non-Chiefs running backs available on the waiver wire who are better options to replace Pacheco in your fantasy lineup. Kansas City is also bringing in Kareem Hunt for a free agent visit today.

In Los Angeles, the Rams are now missing both Puka Nacua and Kupp. That leaves Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson as the top WRs still standing, and rookie Jordan Whittington is a massive sleeper to consider this week.

Check out the full list of fantasy football waiver wire targets below. Each player’s roster percentage in ESPN fantasy football leagues is listed in parentheses.

  1. RB Bucky Irving (30%)
  2. RB Braelon Allen (8%)
  3. RB Kareem Hunt (1%)
  4. RB Rico Dowdle (38%)
  5. RB Dameon Pierce (3%)
  6. RB Antonio Gibson (33%)
  7. RB Trey Benson (44%)
  8. RB Samaje Perine (4%)
  9. RB Carson Steele (2%)
  10. WR Quentin Johnston (7%)
  11. WR Alec Pierce (14%)
  12. WR Demarcus Robinson (34%)
  13. WR Jordan Whittington (3%)
  14. WR Tyler Johnson (13%)
  15. WR Tutu Atwell (1%)
  16. TE Colby Parkinson (45%)
  17. TE Zach Ertz (7%)
  18. TE Hunter Henry (11%)
  19. QB Justin Fields (32%)
  20. QB Derek Carr (10%)

For more fantasy football coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Rams have the WR depth to overcome Puka Nacua’s absence

Puka Nacua will miss at least the next four games, but the Rams are well-equipped at wide receiver to survive his absence

Week 1 was not kind to the Los Angeles Rams from an injury front. In addition to the offensive line falling apart, the team also lost Puka Nacua for at least a month.

He aggravated a knee injury originally suffered in early August, forcing him to not only exit Sunday night’s game against the Lions but also land on injured reserve. Once the Rams place him on IR, as Sean McVay said they will, he’ll be out at least four games, putting him on track to potentially return after the Week 6 bye.

It’s a brutal blow for the offense and for Nacua, who set rookie records for receiving yards and receptions last season. The silver lining is that the injury occurred at one of the Rams’ deepest positions.

Unlike the injuries suffered on the offensive line and at cornerback, the Rams have the depth to survive Nacua’s absence. The offense will look different without its top receiver from a season ago, but they have players behind him who are capable of filling in.

Oh, and they also have a guy named Cooper Kupp. You might’ve heard of him.

Alongside Kupp, the Rams are likely to start Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson for the next four weeks. Robinson was already a starter as the No. 3 wideout and Johnson did an admirable job on Sunday night after Nacua went down. In the loss, Johnson caught five passes for 79 yards, none bigger than a 63-yard catch-and-run at the end of the third quarter on a short drag route.

After the new top three of Kupp, Robinson and Johnson, there are a couple of younger players who can contribute: Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell. Neither played very much in the opener but that could change now that the Rams know Nacua is out. McVay can better prepare Whittington and Atwell for increased reps in Weeks 2-5.

Atwell played really well during Kupp’s early-season absence last year and could contribute as a deep threat this season, too. In the first four games of 2023, he caught 22 passes for 270 yards and one touchdown. He has yet to become a full-time player as a former second-round pick but he can still help the Rams this season.

And then there’s Whittington, the stud rookie who shined in training camp and the preseason. He got reps with the first-team offense in practice this summer and has been praised up and down by teammates and coaches. He should’ve scored a touchdown on a jet sweep Sunday night but A.J. Arcuri’s holding penalty nullified it. He plays a similar style to Nacua in that he’s tough, physical and has good speed, so he could get some opportunities in the next month, too.

No one wants to lose a Pro Bowl receiver and a player as passionate as Nacua, but the Rams are fortunate to have good depth at wideout – something McVay indicated on Monday.

I was really proud of Tyler Johnson. I thought Jordan Whittington came in and did some nice things. We know that we have a guy in Tutu Atwell who’ll be able to step in and do some different things,” McVay said. “Unfortunately, or fortunately, the difference between last year is because Cooper was out the majority of the time, you have some continuity with that group. This is a little bit different but we have some depth. I think more importantly, to answer your question, I feel for Puka and these other guys will get some opportunities that I’m confident they’ll step up and play good football for us.”

Puka Nacua raves about Demarcus Robinson, who ‘can run every route’

Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are the Rams’ top weapons at WR, but don’t forget about Demarcus Robinson

So much attention gets paid to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua in the Rams’ receiver room, and understandably so. Together, they give Los Angeles one of the best wideout tandems in the NFL. But the team’s No. 3 receiver shouldn’t get overlooked.

Demarcus Robinson proved last season that he can be a legitimate playmaker alongside Kupp and Nacua. From Week 13 to the playoff loss in Detroit, Robinson caught 24 passes for 363 yards and four touchdowns in seven games, and that includes a zero-catch showing in Week 18 when the Rams rested most of their starters.

He became an integral part of the passing game and the Rams brought him back as a free agent this offseason so that he could pick up where he left off. Nacua made sure to give Robinson some praise when speaking to Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated Thursday, saying he can run “every route.”

“The movement pattern he has, I think, is unreal,” Nacua said. “The energy that he has is something that we thrive off in the receiver room. He can go out there and run every route.

“Being the ‘X’ receiver, he’s kind of on the back side solo. He has a lot of opportunities to run some of those ‘X’ receiver routes, but the versatility that he has to run the short game, intermediate game, and especially to go out there and run the deep ball. That’s what we saw him do last year.”

Between Kupp, Nacua and Robinson, the Rams have a very versatile group of receivers who can line up anywhere, whether it’s on the outside or in the slot. They’re all very good blockers, too, which allows McVay to call run plays out of 11 personnel.

Nacua and Kupp are the two pass catchers who will make this offense flourish, but Robinson is a key and critical player, too.

Rams’ skill position players ranked in top 10 of NFL by ESPN

When it comes to Matthew Stafford’s supporting cast, ESPN views it as one of the 10 best in the NFL for 2024

Matthew Stafford won’t be hurting for talent around him in 2024. The Los Angeles Rams have a strong supporting cast on offense, led by receiving tandem Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.

And with the offensive line Los Angeles has constructed, he’ll have no problem turning around and handing the ball off to Kyren Williams. The tight end group is a little bit of a question mark with Tyler Higbee injured, but the addition of Colby Parkinson will certainly help.

All said, the Rams’ skill position players are collectively among the best in the NFL. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell ranked every team’s running backs, wide receivers and tight ends heading into the 2024 season and Los Angeles cracked the top 10 by being ranked No. 9.

Barnwell highlighted the Rams’ big three of Kupp, Nacua and Williams as a reason for their high ranking on the list, despite concerns outside of those three players.

It helps when a team finds two of the most valuable contributors at their positions on Day 3 of the draft. Kyren Williams and Puka Nacua emerged as stars last season, accelerating Los Angeles’ offensive rebuild and helping create a path forward for a team that had been overly reliant on Cooper Kupp. When Kupp, Nacua and Williams all were on the field together, Matthew Stafford posted a 72.1 QBR. That would have been the third-best mark in football over the full season, within one point of leaders Brock Purdy and Dak Prescott.

The biggest question with the Rams’ skill players is durability. Though Nacua never missed a game as a rookie, Kupp has been banged up in each of the last two years and throughout his career since 2017. Williams broke his foot in 2022 and missed time with an ankle injury last season before injuring his foot again this spring.

The Rams could be in some trouble at receiver if either Nacua or Kupp were to go down because that would thrust either Tutu Atwell or someone like Jordan Whittington into a starting role alongside Demarcus Robinson.

There’s a big drop-off from that top three, at least on paper. Demarcus Robinson was fine as the third wideout in 2023, but the next wideout up would be Tutu Atwell. Rookie Blake Corum is the primary backup behind Williams. And at tight end, while the Rams signed Colby Parkinson to a surprisingly large deal in free agency, Tyler Higbee tore his ACL during the postseason and probably won’t be ready for Week 1. L.A. can be elite if everyone is on the field, but I’m a little nervous about that happening consistently.

There’s a ton of promise with this group, but also some minor concerns when it comes to injuries. The Rams simply have to hope everyone stays healthy for at least most of the season because if that happens, the offense is going to be one of the best in football behind an outstanding offensive line.