What We Saw: Week 13

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Jaguars @ Rams

Final Score: Rams 37, Jaguars 7

Writer: Josh Kurzer (@jkurzer52 on Twitter, jk303030 on Reddit)

Both of these teams came into this game looking to snap three-game losing streaks, and it was the favored Los Angeles Rams who came out on top. It proved to be a get-right game for the Rams, dominating in all three phases. Sony Michel ran for a season-high 121 yards on 24 carries, Matthew Stafford threw for over 300 yards and 2 touchdowns, and the number one receiver Cooper Kupp had another monster day. It was another disappointing day for the Jaguars on offense, mustering just over 200 yards on the contest. Laquon Treadwell was Jacksonville’s biggest playmaker in the contest, and he finished the game with a paltry 62 receiving yards.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Quarterback

Trevor Lawerence: 16/28, 145 yards | 4 carries, 10 yards, 2 sacks

Lawerence has had the deck stacked against him since the moment he was drafted by Jacksonville. Thanks to unstable management, a lack of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball, and a suspect offensive line, the number one overall pick has not posted strong numbers in his rookie year. But with Lawerence, the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Lawerence did not make many mistakes today, but he did not have the opportunity to make big plays either. He was constantly under pressure and scrambling for his life, as has been the case for most of the season. It wasn’t his worst game with the Jaguars, but it certainly wasn’t his best either.

Running Backs

Carlos Hyde: 9 carries, 24 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 fumble | 1 target, 1 reception, -1 yard

James Robinson: 8 carries, 24 yards, 1 fumble | 4 targets, 1 reception, 11 yards

James Robinson was listed as questionable to play before the game due to heel and knee injuries but ended up suiting up and splitting carries with Carlos Hyde. Neither of the two were effective on the ground, but Hyde did score Jacksonville’s only rushing touchdown of the game. This was Hyde’s opportunity to earn a larger share of carries for the Jaguars, but it was largely squandered. I expect Robinson to get fully healthy this week and go back to being a reliable fantasy starter.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Laquon Treadwell: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 62 yards

Laviska Shenault Jr.: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 30 yards | 3 carries, 1 yard

James O’Shaughnessy: 6 targets, 2 receptions, 13 yards

Marvin Jones Jr.: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 11 yards

Jaydon Mickens: 2 targets, 2 reception, 10 yards

Tavon Austin: 2 targets, 1 reception, 9 yards

The Jaguars receiving corps did not get much going on Sunday afternoon. Jacksonville completed just one pass of more than 20 yards, and Treadwell was the benefactor of a missed offensive pass interference on the play. The lack of a dynamic playmaker on the outside has plagued Jacksonville all season. Life is hard enough for a rookie quarterback to begin with, and things become all the more difficult when there is no real number one option to help.

Los Angeles Rams

Quarterback

Matthew Stafford: 26/38, 295 yards, 3 TD | 1 carry, 2 yards

Stafford got the Rams back on track with a 295-yard, three-touchdown performance in the win. Stafford picked apart the holes in the Jacksonville defense and found Kupp eight times for 129 yards and a touchdown. His most impressive touchdown came on a fade to Odell Beckham Jr. in the fourth quarter that reminded this Giants fan of the good old days.

He just self revived .. One of the coldest touchdown celebrations @obj 🤦🏽‍♂️🔥 pic.twitter.com/gmQgk4smr3

— Dockery (@realDockery) December 5, 2021

Stafford has flourished in his first year under Sean McVay, he is top five in the league in both passing yards and touchdowns. As far as fantasy is concerned he is a QB1, but he has a lot to prove in order to make a playoff run in LA.

Running Backs

Sony Michel: 24 carries, 121 yards, TD | 4 targets, 3 receptions, 8 yards

Mekhi Sargent: 2 carries, 5 yards

Though Darrell Henderson was active for this game, he did not play. Backup Sony Michel stepped into his place and made the most of a juicy matchup against a weak Jaguars defense. Michel finished the game with 121 yards on the ground, nearly doubling his prior season-high of 67. The Rams were dominant up front, the offensive line opened up massive holes from Michel to accelerate through all game long. It seemed like Michel picked up five yards before being touched every time he carried the ball. McVay is a coach who has been known to ride the hot hand, and I would be very worried if I was rostering Darrell Henderson heading into the playoffs.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Cooper Kupp: 10 targets, 8 receptions, 129 yards, TD

Tyler Higbee: 6 targets, 5 receptions, 48 yards

Van Jefferson: 8 targets, 6 receptions, 41 yards, TD

Ben Skowronek: 2 targets, 1 reception, 35 yards

Odell Beckham Jr.: 5 targets, 2 receptions, 28 yards, TD

Kendall Blanton: 2 targets, 1 reception, 6 yards

Since Robert Woods tore his ACL there have been questions about who would step up for the Rams in his absence. The offense looked lost the last three weeks without him, but today Stafford elevated everybody on the field. It started with Kupp, who dominated the game with eight catches for 129 yards and a touchdown. With so much attention being paid to Kupp, Stafford spread the ball relatively evenly to the rest of his pass-catchers. Tight End Tyler Higbee matched his season-high with five receptions, and Beckham Jr. got in the endzone with a beautiful grab on a fade in the fourth quarter.