Los Angeles Rams (4-9) vs. Green Bay Packers (5-8)
- Spread: Packers -7
- Over/ Under: 39.5
Breakdown
In years past this matchup between the Rams and Packers would be enticing, yet, both teams have been underwhelming and this game has a very low over/ under of only 39.5. The Rams have been plagued by injury this season and have shut down Matthew Stafford for the rest of the season. Elite wide receiver Cooper Kupp is also on the IR and will not be playing in this game and most likely will not be returning this season. The newest LA Ram, Baker Mayfield, is the starting quarterback and is taking this time as a tryout. He made a ridiculous comeback last week against the Raiders in his Rams debut. Cam Akers should be the primary rusher in this matchup. Akers has had a very up and down and in the middle of the season, he was a healthy scratch and seemed to have requested a trade. The Rams eventually ended up releasing Darrell Henderson Jr. and giving Akers the backfield. Allen Robinson had a down year and has now been on the IR since week 12, ending his season. Van Jefferson should serve as the team’s primary receiver. Tutu Atwell had the best game of his career last week with Mayfield, bringing in 5 catches on 9 targets for 50 yards.
The Packers have not been themselves this season. The loss of Davante Adams has been a huge hit to the efficiency of this offense. Aaron Rodgers has been good but not at the same elite level he has played at, especially coming off back-to-back MVP seasons. Rodgers has 2,864 yards, 22 passing touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. The Running back duo of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon has the potential to be one of the best in the league. Dillon is more of the bruising, between-the-tackles runner, while Aaron Jones is a great rusher and has excellent ability in the pass-catching game. Aaron Jones has these spike weeks rushing where he can take over the game and rush for 110 yards or more, a feat he has hit 4 times this season. Besides these weeks he has only had more than 50 yards rushing once this season. The emergence of Christian Watson has been a huge spark to this offense that it desperately needed. The rookie wide receiver in weeks 10-13 has been electric, totaling 313 receiving yards and 7 receiving touchdowns. He even added a 46-yard rushing touchdown in his last game. Allen Lazard is a good receiver and a good counter to the speedy Watson. Lazard is more of a big-body possession type of receiver and has seen 6 or more targets in all but 3 games this season.
Keys To Victory
Rams: Cam Akers. It is going to be cold in Green Bay and the Rams should not risk too many passes if they can avoid it. Akers has had a down year but has looked better in the last 2 games, rushing for 102 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Packers rank in the bottom 5 in the league at defending running backs so the Rams Should utilize their young halfback. A positive rushing attack, will free up the offense and allow the passing game to work off play action.
Packers: Make things tough for Baker and the Rams offense. The Packers defense has struggled at stopping the run so that should be a major focus. Baker has taken 14 sacks in his last 5 games, (played 4 of the games with Carolina). The Packers offense is used to playing in the cold weather and should be able to score on a Rams defense that is missing Aaron Donald in this game. Getting pressure on the quarterback will be the difference-maker in this game.
Prop Bet Pick
Ben Skowronek Over 30.5 receiving yards (-113)
I am expecting Skowronek to get many of the underneath targets. With both Tutu Atwell and Van Jefferson both having a deep ball/ speedster pedigree, Skowronek could catch plenty of underneath passes. In his first game with Baker last week, he brought in 7 receptions on 8 targets for 89 yards.
DFS Plays
Rams: Tutu Atwell. Atwell is the least expensive of all the Rams starting pass catchers. Coming off a game where he led the team in targets and showed his chemistry with Baker Mayfield, I feel that he is a good option to take a shot on in DFS lineups. Putting him in your lineup frees up plenty of salary to spend elsewhere on other players.
Packers: Romeo Doubs. Doubs is returning from his ankle injury and logged full practices this past week. Doubs has had an up and down but that’s the life of a rookie receiver. Doubs is less salary than Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb and could easily see a higher snap count than both of them in this matchup.
