What We Saw: Week 15

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Jets @ Rams

The impossible has happened…. the New York Jets have won a football game, defeating the Los Angeles Rams 23-20. Whether this has an effect on their chance to draft Trevor Lawrence is still to be determined but in the present day, the Rams did not look like their usual selves, having some issues getting things going on offense as the Jets jumped out to an early held and did not let it up.

New York Jets

Quarterback

Sam Darnold: 22/31, 207 yards, 1 TD, 2 sacks | 5 carries, 18 yards

Sam Darnold had himself a very efficient day, not throwing any interceptions while being conservative with his passes while taking advantage of less pressure than normal. His lone touchdown pass took place inside the Redzone on a short outside pass to Ty Johnson, which he took the remainder of the way to the endzone.

Running Backs

Frank Gore: 23 carries, 59 yards, 1 TD | 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards

Ty Johnson: 3 carries, 16 yards | 6 targets, 6 receptions, 39 yards, 1 TD

Frank Gore took advantage of the opportunities he got, finding the endzone down at the goal line for a touchdown while seeing the vast majority of work in the backfield as the Jets hoped to continue to establish the run. However, when the time came to throw the ball, it was Ty Johnson who saw those opportunities taking advantage of those for 6 receptions in an active role in the passing game, including his touchdown reception.

Gore with the score.#FantasyFootball | #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/V3fj88iZWt

— QB List (@TheQBlist) December 20, 2020

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Jamison Crowder: 8 targets, 6 receptions, 66 yards

Chris Herndon: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 48 yards

Breshad Perrimam: 1 target, 1 reception, 21 yards

Denzel Mims: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 18 yards

Braxton Berrios: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 9 yards

Throughout the season the most important receiver in the Jets offense has been Jamison Crowder and that did not change on Sunday. In the more important situations of the game, it was clear that Darnold was trying to get the ball to Crowder, after taking some dump off chances to Ty Johnson. This game also saw an increase in opportunities for Chris Herndon which included a target down at the goal line as the Jets attempted to score a touchdown. Due to the shorter nature of Darnold’s passes the remaining receivers were a bit quiet on the stat sheet, with Brehad Perriman gaining some yards after the catch. Denzel Mims took advantage of those short opportunities he got, with Braxton Berrios doing the same.

Los Angeles Rams

Quarterback

Jared Goff: 22/34, 209 yards, 2 TD’s, 1 INT, 3 sacks | 1 carry, 9 yards

Jared Goff was unable to take advantage of this matchup with a struggling Jets team, throwing against pressure throughout the game and unable to get off a big play on offense. Among his struggles were three sacks taken and an interception thrown while running out the pocket and throwing on the run with the defender stepping in front to pick the ball off. The two touchdowns thrown included one at the goal line to the outside for Tyler Higbee and a low pass in the red zone caught by Robert Woods. It was a disappointing day for Goff, as even in a game where the Rams trailed throughout, he was unable to put up a good fantasy performance in an excellent matchup.

Running Backs

Cam Akers: 15 carries, 63 yards | 3 targets, 1 reception, -1 yard

Malcolm Brown: 1 carry, 4 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards

Darrell Henderson Jr.: 1 carry, -2 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 5 yards

Cam Akers continued his stronghold, taking the vast majority of work in the backfield throughout the game, even regaining the role after he left with a brief injury. While others took the opportunities here and there, Akers remained the lead back through the game, even being somewhat involved in the passing game when the game script required the Rams to throw the ball to try and come back. Akers had a long touchdown called back on a holding penalty and had at least one more long run called back on another penalty. While this was a frustrating day for the offense as a whole, Akers remains the lead back in this offense, and is set up well for the coming weeks. Malcolm Brown was used primarily on passing downs and was seldom used, and Darrell Henderson Jr. has been almost completely phased out of this offense.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Robert Woods: 8 targets, 6 receptions, 56 yards, 1 TD | 1 carry, 40 yards

Cooper Kupp.: 5 targets, 5 receptions, 39 yards

Tyler Higbee: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 67 yards, 1 TD

Gerald Everett: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 28 yards

Robert Woods was the clear top receiver on the field on Sunday, showing off his speed with some yards after the catch as well as a long end-around run. He also made an impressive catch for a touchdown on a low pass from Goff.

Robbywood#FantasyFootball | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/6U8ViPjQGJ

— QB List (@TheQBlist) December 20, 2020

On the other hand, Cooper Kupp was still involved in catching each of his targets, though those were mainly shorter routes. Goff was also able to get both his tight ends involved, including a long pass to Tyler Higbee along with a touchdown reception down at the goal line. Overall, the struggles of Goff and the pass protection seemed to be more of the problem than the pass-catchers themselves. Still, seeing Goff struggle in a prime matchup is a concern for the Rams passing game weapons as a whole.