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The Los Angeles Rams passing game has struggled to have any fantasy relevance over the past few years. From the injury prone Danny Amendola to the wildly inconsistent Jared Cook, there hasn’t been a consistently solid fantasy option in the Rams passing game since Torry Holt. However, the potential for a breakout sleeper is always there. Here are a few guys I think have that potential heading into 2016.
(Note: these players are deep sleepers. Outside of Todd Gurley and the Rams defense, most of the roster should be available in the late rounds of the draft. The only other player likely to be drafted in most leagues is Tavon Austin.)
Tyler Higbee, TE – I’m all aboard the Tyler Higbee fantasy hype train. The Rams have found ways to involve Jared Cook and Lance Kendricks in the offense throughout the Jeff Fisher era, despite neither one fully taking advantage of their opportunities. Higbee dropped to the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft simply because of off-the-field issues. If Higbee can get it together, he’ll be a threat in the passing game, and likely the Rams’ No. 1 receiving option in the red zone. It wouldn’t shock me in the slightest if he led the Rams in receiving touchdowns. Higbee is worth a late round flyer as a backup tight end option with the potential for a breakout season.
Tavon Austin, WR – Tavon Austin will likely be drafted in most leagues this year simply because of his big play potential. He’s the kind of player that could get you 14 points or get you one point week to week. He’s easily the second-most talented player on the Rams offense and one of the most talented guys on the team. But the lack of options around him in the passing game has prevented Austin from becoming consistent on a week-to-week basis.
When the focus of a team’s passing game is a 5’8 receiver, who isn’t the greatest route runner in the world, it’s fairly easy to come up with a gameplan to stop him. Regardless, when Austin gets the ball in the open field, he’s as dangerous as any player in the league. With (another) new offensive coordinator taking over, I think there’s a chance that Austin finds some consistency and becomes a solid flex/WR3 play. However, it’s still a chance play, and I’m not sure I would bet on it.
Brian Quick, WR – Calling Brian Quick a deep sleeper is an understatement. He’s basically in cryogenic sleep at this point. His four years on the team since the Rams drafted him in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft have been nothing short of depressing. However, there has to be a reason the Rams have yet to cut a draft bust who hasn’t even been able to tally up 1,000 receiving yards in his entire career. Despite all of this, I still believe that Quick is the only receiver on the roster with the potential to become an all-around threat in the passing game, and I think the Rams believe this as well.
For example, look back to his four-game stretch in 2014, where Quick had 21 receptions for 322 yards and three touchdowns with Austin Davis throwing him the ball and a severe lack of a running game. Had Quick kept up that pace, he would have been a solidified WR2 fantasy option and put up Pro Bowl-caliber numbers. However, I can’t ignore the fact that Quick has barely resembled an NFL player outside of this stretch, and there’s a decent chance he doesn’t even make the team this year. Quick is a player that I wouldn’t necessarily draft. Instead, I would keep an eye on his progress in the preseason and see if he’s worth picking up on waivers.
Steve Rebeiro is a staff writer for Rams Talk and an undergraduate student at Marquette University. For more of his opinions, follow him on Twitter here.
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The Los Angeles Rams passing game has struggled to have any fantasy relevance over the past few years. From the injury prone Danny Amendola to the wildly inconsistent Jared Cook, there hasn’t been a consistently solid fantasy option in the Rams passing game since Torry Holt. However, the potential for a breakout sleeper is always there. Here are a few guys I think have that potential heading into 2016.
(Note: these players are deep sleepers. Outside of Todd Gurley and the Rams defense, most of the roster should be available in the late rounds of the draft. The only other player likely to be drafted in most leagues is Tavon Austin.)
Tyler Higbee, TE – I’m all aboard the Tyler Higbee fantasy hype train. The Rams have found ways to involve Jared Cook and Lance Kendricks in the offense throughout the Jeff Fisher era, despite neither one fully taking advantage of their opportunities. Higbee dropped to the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft simply because of off-the-field issues. If Higbee can get it together, he’ll be a threat in the passing game, and likely the Rams’ No. 1 receiving option in the red zone. It wouldn’t shock me in the slightest if he led the Rams in receiving touchdowns. Higbee is worth a late round flyer as a backup tight end option with the potential for a breakout season.
Tavon Austin, WR – Tavon Austin will likely be drafted in most leagues this year simply because of his big play potential. He’s the kind of player that could get you 14 points or get you one point week to week. He’s easily the second-most talented player on the Rams offense and one of the most talented guys on the team. But the lack of options around him in the passing game has prevented Austin from becoming consistent on a week-to-week basis.
When the focus of a team’s passing game is a 5’8 receiver, who isn’t the greatest route runner in the world, it’s fairly easy to come up with a gameplan to stop him. Regardless, when Austin gets the ball in the open field, he’s as dangerous as any player in the league. With (another) new offensive coordinator taking over, I think there’s a chance that Austin finds some consistency and becomes a solid flex/WR3 play. However, it’s still a chance play, and I’m not sure I would bet on it.
Brian Quick, WR – Calling Brian Quick a deep sleeper is an understatement. He’s basically in cryogenic sleep at this point. His four years on the team since the Rams drafted him in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft have been nothing short of depressing. However, there has to be a reason the Rams have yet to cut a draft bust who hasn’t even been able to tally up 1,000 receiving yards in his entire career. Despite all of this, I still believe that Quick is the only receiver on the roster with the potential to become an all-around threat in the passing game, and I think the Rams believe this as well.
For example, look back to his four-game stretch in 2014, where Quick had 21 receptions for 322 yards and three touchdowns with Austin Davis throwing him the ball and a severe lack of a running game. Had Quick kept up that pace, he would have been a solidified WR2 fantasy option and put up Pro Bowl-caliber numbers. However, I can’t ignore the fact that Quick has barely resembled an NFL player outside of this stretch, and there’s a decent chance he doesn’t even make the team this year. Quick is a player that I wouldn’t necessarily draft. Instead, I would keep an eye on his progress in the preseason and see if he’s worth picking up on waivers.
Steve Rebeiro is a staff writer for Rams Talk and an undergraduate student at Marquette University. For more of his opinions, follow him on Twitter here.
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