NFL

What Does Tutu Atwell Bring to the Rams' Offense in 2021?

The Rams have a lot of receivers but took Atwell in the second round. What does that mean?

With the 57th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams made a pretty surprising pick by taking Louisville Cardinals receiver Tutu Atwell.

Atwell is a bit polarizing because of his size: he's 5'9" and 155 pounds, one of the lightest receivers we've seen...ever.

What does the pick mean for the Rams?

Player Comparisons

Brandon Gdula's draft database has found these 10 prior prospects to have the most similar statistical profiles to Atwell. Keep in mind that these are based not on play style or traits but age, athleticism, draft equity, experience, efficiency, and production.

Tutu Atwell Profile ComparisonsSimilarity
Elijah Moore92.9%
Andy Isabella92.5%
Tyler Lockett92.0%
Jaelon Darden89.5%
John Brown89.3%
D'Wayne Eskridge89.0%
Rondale Moore88.3%
Marquise Brown88.3%
Jamison Crowder85.6%
DeSean Jackson84.9%


Gdula's Take: Atwell has an 87th-percentile-or-better score in some key metrics: breakout age, receiving market share, and receiving efficiency but is the lightest receiver prospect in my model. There are some elite comps here, but his initial role with the Rams is a little puzzling.

Atwell's 2021 Fantasy Football Projection

JJ Zachariason's 2021 projections for Rodgers include 21 catches, 226 yards, and 1.9 touchdowns, making him the WR106 in PPR formats.

Atwell joins a team with a good quarterback in Matthew Stafford but with two established receivers -- Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp -- in front of him this year. He could be involved on special teams and on gadget plays, but a high-volume 2021 role seems virtually impossible.

On FanDuel Sportsbook, the Rams are listed at +1300 to win the Super Bowl and +175 to take the NFC West, and they have a win total projection of 10.5 -- with -143 odds on the under -- on FOX Bet.