Davante Adams just lit up the New York Giants last week, pulling down eight catches for a massive 195 yards and two scores. Anyone who watched that game, or had him on their fantasy roster, is probably still buzzing from that dominant performance. But hold up, because for Adams and the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday Night Football against the Denver Broncos is looking like a totally different beast, and we absolutely cannot expect a repeat.
Patrick Surtain Is a Problem, Period.
The biggest reason to pump the brakes on another huge Adams night? Patrick Surtain. Straight up, this dude is the NFL’s best shutdown corner, even if Trent McDuffie is making the debate interesting. The problem for Adams gets even worse because Puka Nacua is doubtful to play. That means Surtain can narrow his focus completely on Adams, no distractions. We’re talking hyper-targeted coverage. And if you pop the hood on the advanced metrics, things look even grimmer. FantasyPoints data shows Adams has been one of the best separators in football through the first two weeks, getting open against both man and zone coverage. He’s averaging 11.1 yards per target against cover one, which is man coverage with a single high safety. Sounds great, right? Not so fast. The Broncos, with Surtain leading the charge, are allowing just 4.9 yards per target against that same coverage. That’s a huge drop, and it points to a serious uphill battle for Adams.
Who Steps Up When the Rams’ Passing Game Stalls?
Surtain isn’t the only headache for the Rams’ passing game. Riley Moss is severely underappreciated in that Broncos secondary, and their slot players have been better than expected, adding another layer of coverage the Rams have to deal with. Through two weeks, the Rams’ passing game has been underperforming, and with Nacua likely out, they desperately need someone else to step up. Who’s gonna take the burden off Adams’ shoulders?
One name that flashed last week was Terrance Ferguson, the second-year tight end. He had a coming-out party against the Giants, with Matthew Stafford targeting him nine times, leading to six receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown. That was his biggest workload by far in his career. Ferguson is the key to unlocking the Rams’ 13 personnel package. He’s not a strong enough run blocker to be on the field in 11 or 12 personnel, but in 13, he functions as a legitimate vertical threat receiver. He’s McVay’s ace, still waiting to be fully unleashed. Maybe he can catch Denver by surprise. Jordan Whittington, a wide receiver, is another name mentioned who might need to step up too.
So, the Rams travel to Denver for Sunday Night Football. It’s going to be a tough road game, and with Adams facing Surtain, and Nacua likely out, it’s time for other guys to make their mark if the Rams want to move the ball. Get ready to see who rises to the occasion.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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