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ProFootballFocus posted their 2020 receiver rankings this week but they focused their attention not just on wide receivers, but any players likely to catch the ball, including tight ends and running backs. They ranked the Tampa Bay Buccaneers first with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard, and Cameron Brate. Then the Kansas City Chiefs with Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins, and Mecole Hardman. But while the LA Rams could recently go toe-to-toe with the Chiefs, they were only 15th as ranked by PFF.
The Rams will have to replace Brandin Cooks with either Van Jefferson or Josh Reynolds next season, which is a hit to the offense. Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp is still a pretty nice combination at the top of the wide receiver depth chart, though, and both Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee can pose a threat as receivers from the tight end position. Higbee really picked things up towards the end of last season — his 522 receiving yards over the last five weeks of the season were more than any other player in the NFL, and his 91.2 receiving grade over that span also sat near the top of the league. The big question for the Rams on offense is how well their offensive line can hold up for Jared Goff to get the ball out to those weapons.
The Rams have two of the best wide receivers in the NFL in Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods, and as mentioned, Tyler Higbee had 522 yards over the final five weeks alone and that was tops in the NFL for any position. DeVante Parker of the Miami Dolphins was next at 507 yards, followed by another surprise in Breshad Perriman with the Bucs. Woods is fifth at 471 yards. Kupp is 31st at 281 yards, but his five touchdowns in those games ranked tied first in the league.
In those games, Jared Goff completed 66% of his passes for 1,643 yards, 11 touchdowns, four interceptions, and he was only sacked four times.
In addition to those three players, Goff will have a new running back in Cam Akers and a new wide receiver in Van Jefferson. It is understandable how this is viewed as a downgrade from Todd Gurley and Brandin Cooks when they are healthy, but perhaps it could be an upgrade from what the Rams got out of those players last season.