3 reasons why Van Jefferson can lead the LA Rams receivers this year

The LA Rams will have plenty of opportunity for receivers in their passing game this year. There is the dynamic duo of Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. There the fleet-footed savvy veteran DeSean Jackson. and then there is a host of new faces who are all eager to catch the attention of the Rams coaching staff.

Yes, everyone is aiming for the few roster spots. These LA Rams lost WR Josh Reynolds to free agency, and it seems that the team intends to replace him with four or five new players. Wait. Um, wait a minute. That can’t be right, can it? Well yes, in a way. The Rams lost a wide receiver in Reynolds, a tight end in Gerald Everett, and a running back in Malcolm Brown. But the influx of offensive weapons is such that anyone who is returning from 2020 who did not touch the football on offense should be prepared to fight tooth and nail for a roster spot.

In the rush to make acquaintances with all of the newly arrived hopeful players to the team, there is always the risk of overlooking some of the returning players who are poised to become breakout stars in this news season. One such player is second-year wide receiver, Van Jefferson. If you recall, Jefferson was an arriving rookie who appeared to be custom-made for the LA Rams’ third wide receiver slot.  But veteran WR Josh Reynolds put up the best season of his NFL career and continued to gobble up the lion’s share of the offensive snaps.

Instead, Jefferson put on a late surge when he filled in for Cooper Kupp’s absence. That may not have seemed like much to the naked eye, but it was possibly the most important page of his rookie season. When I say late surge, it was more like an emergency life raft. He stepped in against the Green Bay Packers and hauled in six of seven passes for 46 tough yards and a touchdown.  His only other TD of the season? The one scored against the Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

His two scores from his rookie season came at the expense of the two best teams of the season. Yes, that is enough to put him firmly into the offensive planning for 2021. Now, what to expect from him this year?