Start Rams WR Tutu Atwell Or Jordan Whittington In Fantasy Football?

Whittington has become the kind of player coaches love to keep on the field. He is reliable, consistent, and smart with how he finds space. In his second season, he has caught 10 passes for 112 yards while adding 12 rushing yards on designed motion plays.

His best game of his career came last year in a loss versus the Packers, where he caught 7 balls for 89 yards, which would be 15.9 fantasy points in PPR formats.

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Over the past few weeks, Whittington’s role has grown as the Rams have leaned more on quick, timing-based throws to balance their struggling protection. He will not stretch the field like Nacua, but he gives the offense stability when drives start to stall. For fantasy leagues using the PPR format, Whittington is a better play simply because there’s a higher likelihood he gets more points that way.

Atwell’s value comes from the opposite end of the spectrum. He is the definition of a boom or bust fantasy player. The Rams re-signed him on a one-year deal to be a steady third option behind Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, but that role hasn’t fully taken shape yet.

When he and Nacua were the top two receivers early in 2023, Atwell averaged 6 catches on 9 targets for 82 yards per game. That stretch showed he could handle volume and provide explosive plays.

In 2024, with both Cooper Kupp and Nacua missing time, Atwell stepped into a bigger role and posted 42 catches for 562 yards on 62 targets. He had flashes, such as 93 yards against San Francisco and 82 against Chicago, but never found the end zone and struggled with consistency.

He’s not a guy that gets a ton of volume like Puka or Cooper Kupp, but the occasional deep shot is maybe worth a flier.

Through five games this season, Atwell has 4 receptions for 164 yards and one touchdown, most of it from two deep plays, an 88-yarder against the Colts and a 38-yarder versus the 49ers.

That’s the Atwell experience, one or two big moments surrounded by quiet weeks. For a one-week or two-week start, he’s an ok option for flex, but not for the whole year.

With his leg injury lingering, fantasy managers face a choice. Jordan Whittington offers a safer floor, while Atwell’s deep speed brings a higher ceiling if you need a home run swing. Until he proves he can do it every week, Whittington remains the steadier play.