LA Rams WR Josh Reynolds production wanes as trade deadline nears

After a hot start in the 2020 NFL season, LA Rams WR Reynolds production is waning as the trade deadline approaches

The LA Rams set their wide receiver depth chart for the 2020 NFL season to feature both veteran wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. Next came veteran WR Josh Reynolds. Next came rookie WR Van Jefferson, They were followed by training camp surprise Nsimba Webster, and finally undrafted rookie wide receiver Trishton Jackson.

Everyone knew that Jefferson would push the entire receiver corps for offensive snaps. But the Rams historically go with veterans, and Reynolds was looking at finally putting up some good numbers and proving his worth. After all, he has certainly waited for the opportunity, and this year very much appeared to be it.

He’s in there but for how long?

Josh Reynolds is finally getting snaps. In 2020, he is on the field for 68 percent of the offensive plays. He is getting more passes than ever before. And while his production has been waning, he is still setting career highs with his yardage and completions.  While that shows that he is still up, the trend is not.   In October 2020, he is playing more and more, and yet his production is declining rapidly. He did score a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers, but his completion rate is dropping steadily throughout the month.

The Rams have not been able to get much offensive work for rookie receiver Van Jefferson, and no work for undrafted rookie receiver Trishton Jackson.  That should not be the plan going forward. After all, the Rams should be rotating younger players into the offense now so that they can be ready to perform later in the season.  So how do the Rams go about a better rotation?

Rams need to change the emphasis from Reynolds

Of course, the direct approach is to sit Reynolds in favor of Van Jefferson.  While that will help Jefferson, the result will reduce Reynolds’ value in the 2021 Free Agency market. Another way is to deal Reynolds to a receiver needy team now, which opens the Rams offense for new receivers to take part in the rotation.

The Rams have a surplus of talent right now. Due to the prevalence of opting-out and injuries, many teams need a quality receiver. Even though Reynolds is in the last year of his contract, a savvy team could trade for him now, get a test drive for him this season, and determine what type of contract he should be offered.  Right now, he is taking snaps from rookies, and he is doing less with those snaps than earlier in the season.