Van Jefferson named a breakout player for 2020

[ROD-BOT]

Van Jefferson named a breakout player for 2020 by Peter Schrager

Peter Schrager is high on Van Jefferson heading into the 2020 season.

theramswire.usatoday.com

Van Jefferson named a breakout player for 2020 by Peter Schrager

The Rams made the bold decision to trade Brandin Cooks this offseason, ridding themselves of the bloated contract they signed him to just two years ago. They already had a replacement on the roster with Josh Reynolds, but they added another talented wideout to the mix when they drafted Van Jefferson in the second round.

There may not be a player on the Rams’ roster who has had a better training camp than Jefferson, as the rookie has shined in everything from walk-throughs to the team’s two scrimmages at SoFi Stadium.

Jefferson still has three quality veterans ahead of him on the depth chart, but his camp performance is setting up for a promising rookie year. Peter Schrager of NFL Network has higher expectations for Jefferson than just “promising,” though. He expects the rookie to have a breakout year, putting Jefferson sixth on his list of 10 breakout stars for 2020.

He’s nailed Mahomes, Marlon Humphrey, & Danielle Hunter in recent years.

This is @PSchrags' Top 10 Breakout Players of 2020.

Let's start with 6-10

10. Cardinals TE Dan Arnold
9. Jaguars DE Josh Allen
8. Ravens S Chuck Clark
7. Bills RB Zack Moss
6. Rams WR Van Jefferson pic.twitter.com/BcEcMscCbu
— GMFB (@gmfb) August 31, 2020

“You’re saying, ‘What about Kupp? And what about Woods? And what about Reynolds?’ Let’s just say this: The comparison I have been hearing for Van Jefferson is not Odell Beckham, it’s not Julio Jones. It is a technician. It is Keenan Allen. That is the comparison I am hearing out of Rams world on Van Jefferson,” Schrager said on Good Morning Football.

Schrager said Jefferson has “been putting on a show all summer long” for the Rams, continuing to prop up the rookie out of Florida. A breakout season might be hard to see happening because of the depth the Rams already have at wide receiver, but Jefferson has the makings of a quality (and versatile) wide receiver in the NFL.

His ceiling will be even higher in 2021 if the Rams can’t re-sign Cooper Kupp and Reynolds, who are both set to be free agents in March.

 

[thirteen28]

View: https://media.giphy.com/media/c5av6uHZRy0vu/giphy.gif

 

[kurtfaulk]

.

i'm as excited about van jefferson as anyone else but let's wait until he proves it on the field in real action before we celebrate too much.

.

 

[Mackeyser]

Well, I made a stupid bet based on my belief in Kupp as a rookie that he’d get 60 catches and 800 yards and he did it.

Not gonna make that bet again, but I think it entirely reasonable for Jefferson to get 50 catches for 700 yards. He may get more if Woods or Kupp is dinged or they have great matchups on the nickel db or safety covering him.

 

[TexasRam]

I’m a big fan of the kid and think he will be a solid player. Might be limited year 1.

I love how the Rams always get these high character non-diva WR’s that run precision routes and work on their craft relentlessly.

 

[Ram65]

So far Van Jefferson has been showing as expected from all reports we get. He is a well-polished route runner that is advanced for a typical rookie WR. I hadn't really thought of his projected numbers this year. Been seeing and hearing estimates in the low 300's or so yards with more or less 30 catches with a high of 500 yards with 50 catches. I guess those make sense as the Rams have many other options to go to in the passing game. I high completion percentage and some TDs would make the numbers be better. I would say 5-6 TDs at over 65% completion would make a nice impact.

 

[Snaz]

I think he might do much better than expected. Wood has been mostly healthy. Kupp who knows if he stays healthy, already with the ankle. Reynolds is a lesser player. So he may be the one getting a lot of balls thrown his way.

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

I think he might do much better than expected. Wood has been mostly healthy. Kupp who knows if he stays healthy, already with the ankle. Reynolds is a lesser player. So he may be the one getting a lot of balls thrown his way.

I don't think he will get many balls his way unless someone gets hurts. Woods, Kupp, Higbee, Everett will be a higher priority right away, and Reynolds will get a chance to prove himself first. There's not enough balls to go around.

 

[FarNorth]

So far Van Jefferson has been showing as expected from all reports we get. He is a well-polished route runner that is advanced for a typical rookie WR. I hadn't really thought of his projected numbers this year. Been seeing and hearing estimates in the low 300's or so yards with more or less 30 catches with a high of 500 yards with 50 catches. I guess those make sense as the Rams have many other options to go to in the passing game. I high completion percentage and some TDs would make the numbers be better. I would say 5-6 TDs at over 65% completion would make a nice impact.

Jefferson is both really good and more pro ready than any receiver since Kupp. I expect him to exceed those numbers, much like Kupp his first year, and also convert a lot of third downs and red zone plays.

If the passing game works out as it should he could be used essentially interchangeably as a target with Woods and Kupp, and play both the slot and on the outside. However, he may well draw the least capable DBs.

Bottom line: imo it is possible that Jefferson's numbers could rival Woods and Kupp.

 

[jrry32]

I’m a big fan of the kid and think he will be a solid player. Might be limited year 1.

I love how the Rams always get these high character non-diva WR’s that run precision routes and work on their craft relentlessly.

Brian Quick says, "You are too kind, sir!"

 

[dieterbrock]

Anything less than breaking all of Jerry Rice's records, (individual season and career) in 2020 alone, makes him a wasted pick.

 

[CanadaRam]

How can a rookie be a breakthrough player?

That said I believe Van will be the next Kupp.

 

[Corbin]

Lol Peter Schrager. People are tweeting lists by Peter Schrager now and that means something? I love Van but that is funny.

 

[Ram65]

Jefferson is both really good and more pro ready than any receiver since Kupp. I expect him to exceed those numbers, much like Kupp his first year, and also convert a lot of third downs and red zone plays.

If the passing game works out as it should he could be used essentially interchangeably as a target with Woods and Kupp, and play both the slot and on the outside. However, he may well draw the least capable DBs.

Bottom line: imo it is possible that Jefferson's numbers could rival Woods and Kupp.

Kupp had 62 catches for 869 yards with 364 yards after the catch. I was tempering my expectations for Jefferson simply because the Rams have so many options in the passing game. I expect Higbee to be right up there with Kupp and Woods in targets. It could be Everett teams with Higbee a lot in the 2 TE sets with McVay finally get him more consistent targets.. I expect McVay to run and pass more with the RBs than last year. There still is Reynolds who should still get his reps early in the season. It's hard to say how many targets Jefferson will get a game. If Jefferson got the targets that Kupp and Woods get he should be right with them in all receiving categories. He will be involved and make important plays for the Rams at critical times. I;m looking forward to seeing how many.

 

[FarNorth]

I was tempering my expectations for Jefferson simply because the Rams have so many options in the passing game.

I admit my expectations may be intemperate... we'll see!!

 

[JonRam99]

he's in a good spot w/ Goff, McVay, etc. O'Donnell adds a wrinkle, but otherwise the team is fairly stable & returns same HC & QB & offensive identity.
imagine being a talented rookie drafted to a team that's in rebuild mode, rookie QB, etc.

 

[SeminoleRam]

How can a rookie be a breakthrough player?

That said I believe Van will be the next Kupp.

Two Kupp’s on the team sounds pretty (Actually, REAL!) good to me!!!

 

[FrenchRams]

I always wait to see how a player is performing on the field before i get excited, but from the last news on him it's sound promising !

 

[Merlin]

I suspect we will throw the ball a ton early in the season as the line gets sorted. Van will benefit from that and he will for the most part destroy the depth corners he faces.

So I think Van will start fast, slow down as teams start focusing him about midway, and end up around 800 yards on the season.

 

[yrba1]

I suspect we will throw the ball a ton early in the season as the line gets sorted. Van will benefit from that and he will for the most part destroy the depth corners he faces.

So I think Van will start fast, slow down as teams start focusing him about midway, and end up around 800 yards on the season.

I'm expecting the passing game to involve a lot of short passes, getting that going with a good run game will hopefully neutralize the pass rush and sustain drives.