The Los Angeles Rams have a dangerous offense without Davante Adams, which is why they should shut him down for the rest of the season.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams was pulled from the big win against the Detroit Lions after suffering a non-contact injury that looked quite concerning. It was revealed that he re-aggravated the hamstring ailment he has been dealing with, which could prove costly if he is not given enough time to heal.
With an already powerful offense, the Rams need to consider shutting down Adams for the final three games of the regular season.
The idea of benching a starter already comes with a negative stigma, especially if it is someone like Adams. He continues to be a red zone threat and has accumulated a league-leading 14 touchdown passes from Matthew Stafford.
Adams' ability to get open in space and score often is a major reason why many would think it would be crazy to shut him down. However, what is the alternative?
Adams is clearly suffering from his hamstring injury that kept him out of practice for Week 15. Instead of shutting him down then, the Rams' star went into the game and has now suffered a potentially worse injury.
Again, Adams' ability to get open and cause opponents to have to count on him is a major reason why the Rams and Sean McVay may not want to do so.
Before the injury occurred against the Lions, Adams had a low start, only to come alive in the third quarter to haul in two passes for 36 yards. He ended the day with 71 yards on four receptions.
Clearly, Adams is a threat when he is healthy, but he current is not.
The Rams have a Thursday night game against the Seattle Seahawks, which is on a short week, and Adams is already unlikely to suit up for that game.
That leaves two more games on the Rams' schedule, and there could be a big chance that they lock up the top seed in the NFC before their Week 18 game against the Arizona Cardinals.
If the Rams were to secure the top spot in the NFC, or if the team has no path to securing the top seed, McVay might choose to rest starters anyway. This would hypothetically knock Adams out for two of the final three games anyway.
This leaves Week 17 against the Atlanta Falcons. Is Adams really needed in that game?
The Rams' offense has been rocking, as Puka Nacua continues to showcase his elite pass-catching abilities to the tune of 1,367 receiving yards this season thus far.
The rushing attack for Los Angeles has also been solid, as Kyren Williams and Blake Corum continue to split carries and are producing at a high level.
This is also not to mention tight end Colby Parkinson, who has also continued to showcase his own pass-catching prowess. Parkinson has 230 yards and six touchdowns in his last six games, with all of his scoring plays coming in those last six outings.
Simply put, the Rams offense is already playing at a high level, which could prompt McVay to take things a bit easier with Adams being back out on the field. He is already injured, and there could be nothing worse than his hamstring getting worse and knocking him out for longer than the rest of the regular season.
Adams has been integral as a leader in the Rams locker room, as well as producing at a high level with 789 yards and 14 touchdowns through the regular season. He is a big piece of this offense, but the offense can afford to allow him to rest and be ready for the playoffs.
Another aspect of this idea is that the Rams just activated Tutu Atwell off the IR. Atwell was used sparingly, as he was targeted twice and caught the ball once for nine yards.
It could be the Rams taking it easy with Atwell, as he suffered a hamstring injury of his own, which has kept him out for multiple games.
Atwell is likely to be far more utilized in Week 16 and beyond, which could also give Adams the chance to heal completely.
The Rams have already punched their ticket to the postseason, and securing the NFC's top seed is something the team is also aiming to do. However, if their path to that accolade becomes too difficult, starters may be rested.
That said, Adams should be the first and most important player to be allowed to rest longer for the playoffs. The Rams will need him healthy and ready to go to hang with the upper-echelon teams in the NFC come playoff time.
The Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are already tough teams to deal with, but the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, and Green Bay Packers can pose some big problems in the postseason as well.
It makes sense for the Rams to rest starters, but it makes more sense for Adams to be shut down for the final three games so his body is healed enough for the team's deep playoff push.