Week 12: Givens vs. Chargers
Chris Givens wasn’t targeted in the Rams’ Week 11 win over the Broncos. He remains a situational deep threat in Brian Schottenheimer’s offense and holds zero fantasy value.
Week 11: Givens vs. Broncos
Chris Givens caught two-of-four targets for two yards in the Rams’ Week 10 loss to the Cardinals. He was also open midway through the fourth quarter for what would have been a first down along the sideline but quarterback Austin Davis woefully underthrew him and was picked off by Patrick Peterson. In four games Givens has been targeted just nine times. He’s simply not a part of St. Louis’ game plans and should be avoided in all fantasy formats.
Week 10: Givens vs. Cardinals
Chris Givens failed to record a catch in the Rams’ Week 9 win over the 49ers, although he was targeted twice in the victory. Givens continues to be a situational deep threat in St. Louis’ limited passing game and thus, should be avoided in all fantasy formats.
Week 9: Givens vs. 49ers
Chris Givens caught one pass for 12 yards in the Rams’ Week 8 loss to the Chiefs. Even with Brian Quick out for the season due to an injury, Givens will remain a situational deep threat in the Rams’ offense. He has no fantasy value.
Week 8: Givens vs. Chiefs
Chris Givens caught his lone target for 30 yards in the Rams’ Week 7 win over the Seahawks. The reception came at a crictical moment in the fourth quarter with St. Louis facing a third-and-six from Seattle’s 44-yard line. Givens got a free release off the line and created enough separation to catch a perfectly-placed pass from Austin Davis for a first down. Unfortunately even with Austin Pettis (released) gone, Givens will be relegated to being a situational deep threat. Avoid him in all formats.
Week 5: Givens vs. Eagles
Chris Givens caught one pass for five yards in the Rams' Week 3 loss to the Cowboys. Leave him on your waiver wire as he remains buried on St. Louis' WR depth chart.
Week 3: Givens vs. Cowboys
Chris Givens caught 1-of-2 targets for 15 yards in the Rams' Week 2 win over the Buccaneers. Even though Tavon Austin is expected to miss Sunday's game with a knee injury, Givens' opportunities aren't likely to grow as Stedman Bailey also returns from his shortened suspension this week. Givens isn't on the fantasy radar.
Week 2: Givens vs. Bucs
Chris Givens caught two passes for 30 yards and was targeted three times in the Rams' 34-6 loss to the Vikings. He actually caught the third target but was flagged on the play for pushing off of the defender along the sidelines. Givens has emerged as a situational deep threat in the Rams' meager passing game but continues to be behind Brian Quick, Jared Cook, Kenny Britt and Tavon Austin for targets. He'll also lose playing time when Stedman Bailey comes back from his four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Givens isn't a fantasy option and ranks as our No. 97 WR for Week 2.
Week 1: Givens vs. Vikings
Until he turned a slant pattern into a 75-yard touchdown in Week 3, Givens was having a quiet camp and preseason. Despite being the team's defacto No. 1 a year ago, Givens remains stuck behind Kenny Britt, Brian Quick and Tavon Austin in the Rams' run-first offense. And once Stedman Bailey returns from his four-game suspension, then Givens will be buried further down the depth chart. No longer a viable starting option, Givens will be relegated to being a situational deep threat. Leave him on your waiver wire.
Fantasy Upside
Chris Givens flashed the same playmaking ability in the third preseason game this year as he did as a rookie in the 2012 regular season. Against Cleveland, he caught a pass on a crossing route, broke a tackle and raced 75 yards for a touchdown. There's no question that he has the straight-line speed to be a factor in the passing game and it was only a year ago that he was starting in the Rams' offense.
Fantasy Downside
Givens was more productive as a part-time player in his rookie year of 2012 than he was as a full-time starter in 2013. He caught just 34 passes for 569 yards and failed to score a touchdown while finishing as fantasy's WR82 last season. Making matters worse, he's tumbled down the Rams' depth chart this offseason as Kenny Britt and Brian Quick have emerged as the starters. In fact, before he caught his touchdown against the Browns in Week 3 of the preseason, there was talk that he could be one of the team's final cuts.
Bottom Line
Even if one of the starters were to be injured, Givens offers no fantasy value. The league seemingly figured him out a year ago when defenses took away his deep threat potential and forced him to win on contested passes at the second level. He failed, and now he'll have to carve out a role as a situational deep threat in order to stick with the Rams. Avoid him on draft day.
