Can Matthew Stafford elevate LA Rams WRs to Top-10 status?

Here we go again, another Top-10 list of the NFL’s most lauded, if not respected, receivers, and not one LA Rams wide receiver among the bunch. Of course, we’re talking about the latest version of Madden, this time it’s Madden NFL 22, and the listings show how they, and the public at large for the most part, perceive the value of receivers this year.

Rember that lobbying campaign by All-Pro Jalen Ramsey? The one that bore no fruit? Well, there was good reason for Ramsey to seek Jones per this ranking, as he is the fifth-best receiver entering the 2021 NFL season. So all of this started me thinking…

Is it the receiver, or the quarterback that is measured on these lists? I mean, Davante Adams is numero uno on this list. But is that all him? Or is it because he is playing catch with Aaron Rodgers? Or for that matter, because he was thrown to 149 times in one season?

For comparison purposes, the Rams Cooper Kupp was targeted just 124 times in 2020.  Robert Woods was targeted 129 times. So the question is: Will the performance of newly arrived quarterback Matthew Stafford help elevate the game of one or more wide receivers on the Rams offense to Top-10 status?

It’s well within the scope of reality, at least launching one or both into the statistical neighborhood of the 10 wide receivers named above. Here’s why. The true difference in 2020 was the average yards per target. Davante Adams averaged 9.2 yards per target. Amari Cooper averaged 8.6 yards per target. In 2020, Cooper Kupp averaged 7.9 yards per target while Robert Woods averaged just 7.3 yards per target. To help out a trigger-happy quarterback, the Rams shortened their routes and ran closer to the line of scrimmage.

With Stafford, the Rams get a stronger-armed quarterback who reads his progressions instantly. No, that does not mean that the guy will complete 90 percent of his passes, but when he does connect, it will be to a receiver further downfield. And the Rams offense, while still relying upon the running game, will certainly have far more passing than ever before under head coach Sean McVay. After all, the Rams have placed their money into paying receivers and trading a premium package for a quarterback. That all didn’t take place to hand off the football.

We’ll talk about this again, and yes, probably again. For now, suffice it to say that Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp could very likely have career seasons.