How 6 Rams rookies can flip the entire NFC Playoff race on its ear in Week 3

(3) - WR Jordan Whittington

You hate to see opportunities for rookies created in this offense due to veterans getting injured. But when it comes to the Rams offense, that's the pattern. Sadly, the injuries to starting wide receivers like Cooper Kupp is the all-too-familiar pattern as well. So, the Rams must somehow turn the page once more, this time to see if the hype over Texas Longhorns rookie wide receiver Jordan Whittington was on target, or simply offseason bluster to excite the fans.

Unlike many of the other rookies on this list, WR Jordan Whittington did get a rather extensive workout in two preseason games, and his 126 receiving yards and 63.0 receiving yards average per game were outstanding. But as we are learning, the NFL season brings a new set of challenges and raises the bar of competition that much higher.

Whittington has already caught both passes thrown his way for 22 yards. But he is about to get a whole lot busier in Week 3. While I'd prefer the team to ease Whittington into the Week 3 offense by leaning more heavily on 12 personnel plays, I won't hold my breath. But I can see Whittington putting up 60+ receiving yards in Week 3. He may even get his first NFL touchdown.

(2) - DB Kamren Kinchens

It's pretty clear that the LA Rams secondary is the latest group that is subject to the onslaught of injuries. Already hurting from injuries to DB Derion Kendrick and Darious Williams, the team has learned that one of their best secondary performers, John Johnson III, had to be assigned to IR now as well. And so, the era of the double Kam defense begins.

The Rams have been starting veteran safety Kamren Curl. Now, he will team up with Miami Hurricanes rookie safety Kamren Kinchens. While he has not shown much yet in 2024, now that he is getting a steady dose of defensive snaps, I look for that to change.

To be fair, 14 defensive snaps over two games is not a lot of work. And Kinchens entered a game facing a red hot Arizona Cardinals team that was already shredding the defense, both on the ground and in the air. So Kinchens allowing two completions on two targets is a bit skewed.

I like Kinchens upside in Week 3. He is a stealthy defensive back who knows how to pick off passes. I look for Kinchens to cook in Week 3, getting five tackles, allowing no better that 60 percent of passes targeting his receiver to find their mark, and I give him better than 50/50 odds of picking off his first NFL pass in Week 3.