It's make or break for LA Rams WR Tutu Atwell in his contract year

Nacua's season illustrates stark contrast to Atwell's production

If you look at the two players Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell's first four games of 2023, perhaps you can discern what differences began to show up between the two players in those first four games:

So what does the data table reveal? Well, two items jump out from this direct comparison. The first is that Nacua attracted far more targets, and deliver on those targets when targeted. The other item is the fact that despite his blazing speed, Atwell's longest reception in those first four games of the season was nowhere near the depth that I might have expected. So, what gives?

If you hold the two receivers up another way, we begin to see more variations in their style and offensive contribution. For Nacua, he averaged 6.0 yards after the catch (YAC) in 2023. For Atwell, the faster player, he averaged just 3.3 yards after the catch (YAC) in 2023. That seems to defy logic on two fronts. If Atwell is the faster receiver, shouldn't he have more separation from defensive backs leading to more yards after the catch? And even if the separation is similar, shouldn't his faster afterburners kick in, giving him more yards after the catch than his teammates?

It's no coincidence that Nacua elevated his role throughout the 2023 NFL season, while Atwell's role diminished dramatically. As veteran WR Demarcus Robinson began to flourish in this offense in 2023, he all but benched Atwell in return. It was Robinson's much expanded role in Week 12 that carved out offensive snaps from Atwell, ultimately putting Atwell in very light use until the Rams rested starters in Week 18 against the San Francisco 49ers.