NFL expert expects Rams to bench Davante Adams until the playoffs

The 11-4 Los Angeles Rams may be the sixth-seeded NFC playoff team, but don't let that fool you. This team has enough firepower on the current roster to win four consecutive games, all on the road, if necessary. But the truth of the matter is that it only happens if the roster is healthy. Right now, that appears to be the main goal of the organization.

Even now, LA's most likely playoff opponent appears to be the 10-5 Philadelphia Eagles. That being said, Los Angeles will fare better if injured players get healthy. One of the key contributors is wide receiver Davante Adams, who has been struggling with a late-season hamstring injury. He sat out Week 16.

Now with two games to go, ESPN NFL expert Jeremy Fowler expects him to be shut down until the NFL Playoffs.

And he's likely spot on.

Even as fans are eager for the team to get back on track, there are reasons to be a bit conservative right now. Like it or not, as soon as the Horns locked up a playoff berth, the priorities shifted. Now, the most urgent need for the Rams roster is to get healthy. And benching a touchdown-scoring wide receiver who remains afflicted with a hamstring injury is a key step in doing so.

Davante Adams needs to be 100 percent healthy for the playoffs

Playoff teams are the best of the bunch. But not all NFL playoff teams are created equal. Some teams won plenty of games early in the season and coasted into the postseason. Other teams had the benefit of playing a last-place team's schedule or simply competing in an easy division.

Los Angeles competed in a tough division on a first-place team's schedule. And this team did so by carving through many other playoff teams. Unfortunately, heated competition takes its toll on the health of players. Los Angeles has lost multiple key starters over the course of this season. Not all have ended up on injured reserve.

During the loss to the 12-3 Seattle Seahawks, starting right guard Kevin Dotson suffered an ankle injury. That puts this offensive line down two starters, the offensive weapons down two starters, and the secondary down two starters.

So yes, getting healthy is a priority right now.

Adams is a special type of player in this offense. Of the 457 total points scored, 84 have been due to his touchdown receptions. That's huge. But his impact forces secondaries to give him extra respect and attention, allowing other receivers to create separation as well.

Yes, it would be fantastic if Adams were on the football field in Weeks 17 and 18. But it's more important for him to be on the field in the playoffs.

As always, thanks for reading.