Sammy Watkins has been the NFL's most efficient WR in 2017
Cameron DaSilva
[
theramswire.usatoday.com]
When the Los Angeles Rams traded for Sammy Watkins this offseason, they were expecting to land a true No. 1 receiver who can take the top off of a defense and elevate the play of Jared Goff. Through two weeks, he was reliable, but the big plays weren’t there. He had just seven catches for 88 yards, which aren’t exactly eye-popping numbers.
However, in Week 3, he went off. Against the 49ers, Watkins caught six passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns, looking more like the player the Rams thought they were getting in the blockbuster trade.
His impressive start goes beyond the box score, too. He’s been the NFL’s most efficient wide receiver this season. Watkins has caught 13 of the 14 passes thrown his way, good for a 93 percent catch rate – best in the NFL among receivers with at least 10 catches.
According to Football Outsiders, Watkins’ DVOA – or Defense-adjusted Value Over Average – is 81.3 percent, which ranks No. 1 in the NFL. His DYAR (Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement) is second only to Stefon Diggs. In DVOA, Diggs ranks fifth, which makes Watkins the NFL’s most efficient wideout.
It’s clear Watkins has had a huge impact on the Rams thus far, proving to be the team’s most reliable receiver. He’s as sure-handed as they come in 2017, with his lone incompletion coming on a play in which he and Goff weren’t on the same page.
If he can continue to grow in the Rams’ offense, he and Goff could become one of the best duos in the NFL. It’s still very early, of course, but Thursday night’s performance was a sign of things to come.
