Which Rams receiver will end up as team's fantasy WR2?
In the Yahoo Fantasy Football Forecast, Matt Harmon and Dalton Del Don look at Los Angeles' Van Jefferson and Allen Robinson for fantasy purposes after the departure of Robert Woods
Video Transcript
MATT HARMON: We talked about benefiting from chaos at the running back position. At the wide receiver position, it's not the worst thing to do either. And Van Jefferson, I think, is like-- for whatever your running back insurance is, he's that guy for wide receiver. If Allen Robinson gets hurt-- and he struggled with injuries last year-- Cooper Kupp, God forbid, gets hurt, Van Jefferson's just going to smash his ADP.
And I think he has some standalone value too. He has big-play juice. I think Van Jefferson just kind of an underrated player. I think people are dogging on him after his Super Bowl performance. The guy's kid was born like that night. So if his mind was a little elsewhere, I'm willing to write it off. I think he is an ascending young player, a guy I'm willing to bet on. Super, super affordable in drafts right now.
I think he is a guy worth taking. And again, there's upside if, just like last year, Robert Woods goes down. And I'm-- dude, I'm so all the way back in on Allen Robinson, it's not even funny. But just in case something happens to Allen Robinson, Van Jefferson would step into that role and, I think, is more than good enough to hold it down.
DALTON DEL DON: Great points. Underutilized in fantasy football is the insurance wide receiver position because-- and this is a great example of that. Although a lot of Tutu Atwell-- some buzz there from the 5'9" receiver there.
So my question-- I was going to go back to you-- is Allen Robinson. Because I have been warming to him. And I might even treat him as like a top 25. You think he can be a wide receiver two if Kupp stays healthy? I agree with you that Jefferson, if injuries strike. But can we treat Robinson-- in a way better environment now, can he be a wide receiver two even with Kupp staying healthy? It's definitely possible, right?
MATT HARMON: There's no reason he can't do at least what Robert Woods was doing last year. And I think he's a better player than Robert Woods. People act like Robinson was terrible on film last year. No, he was not terrible on film last year. He wasn't as good as 2020 or 2019 or something like that, but more than good enough to be excited about him as the number two receiver for the Rams offense.
Dude, Justin Fields was not good. I know every Justin Fields backer wants to take a couple of shots at Allen Robinson to make the rookie look a little bit better. The inverse of that relationship is not good. That's all I'll say about that. So--
DALTON DEL DON: OK, I have a question. Allen Robinson or Darnell Mooney now getting all the targets in Chicago?
MATT HARMON: Allen Robinson.
DALTON DEL DON: Who drafting first? OK.
MATT HARMON: Allen Robinson.
DALTON DEL DON: No question.
MATT HARMON: No question.
DALTON DEL DON: No question, OK.
MATT HARMON: Just the ecosystem there. No question. No hesitation. And I like Darnell Mooney too. I think Darnell Mooney is underrated at this point. But I think from-- yeah, ecosystem standpoint, touchdown stand-- Robinson hasn't scored double-digit touchdowns since his big 2015 season. I think we can book him for 10-plus this year. I would project it that way.
DALTON DEL DON: I love it. I would not argue. But to give reference, Mooney right now, his ECR is wide receiver 26. Allen Robinson, 29.
MATT HARMON: Oh, yeah, you can go ahead and flip those and bump Allen Robinson a couple of spots up for me. I'm very, very, very excited about him.