Los Angeles Rams vs. Washington Football Team Odds & Pick

The Washington Football Team dropped their 3rd straight game of the season last week with a 31-17 loss to the Ravens. Despite the downtrend, Washington has shown some signs of improvement, making their home game against the Rams in week five relatively intriguing from a betting standpoint. The Rams are 3-1 SU on the season and are coming off an ugly 17-9 victory over the Giants in week 4. Despite the solid record, the Rams have not exactly played well, and all of their wins are a result of NFC East opponents, which are without question the worst division in football. Therefore, we have a unique opportunity where we have a team that is not exactly playing well and yet is listed as nearly double-digit favorites on the road.

QB Kyle Allen to start against Rams

After watching the Washington Football Team in week 4, it is safe to say the offense has shown significant improvements since the opener. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins had one of his most accurate performances of his young career against Baltimore, hitting 32 of 45 passing (71%) for 314 yards despite 0 touchdowns and 0 picks. Despite the performance, Washington has decided to make a change at the quarterback position and will hand Kyle Allen his first start of the season. Allen was with Coach Ron Rivera last year in Carolina, so he is comfortable in this type of offense and presents more of a pure passing threat, which should help the offense attack the field vertically. In my opinion, Terry McLaurin remains one of the most underrated receivers in the league with 387 yards and one touchdown through the first four games.

I have watched several of Washington’s games this year, and McLaurin is masterful at creating space with his quickness and speed. Haskins has just been unable to get the star WR the ball consistently and effectively. With Allen at quarterback, the hope is that narrative could change. Additionally, I would also call out the fact that the offense really committed to rookie running back Antonio Gibson last week, and that will be a critical focal point moving forward. Gibson is an elusive talent, and Washington did a good job of getting him the ball in space against Baltimore, including four catches for 82 receiving yards. I know this is a big “if” statement, but if Washington can build on the success they had last week and get a little better help behind center, they can make this game against Los Angeles very competitive.

Bet on Washington’s defense in week 5

One of the main reasons that I believe Washington will contend in this football game surrounds their ability to frustrate QB Jared Goff. If you play fantasy football, then perhaps you have realized that Goff has produced very pedestrian type numbers through the first four games with 1,073 passing yards, six touchdowns, and two picks. To be fair, Coach Sean McVay has put a lot of focus towards the running game, which is likely their best path to victory again this week. In recent weeks, running backs Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson have carried the offense but expect rookie Cam Akers to rejoin the mix this week after recuperating from a rib injury in week 2.

If the Rams do not have a ton of success running the football, Washington’s defense will have a chance to make some noise. Washington’s pass defense ranks 4th in the NFL through the first four weeks allowing just 208 yards per game through the air. Furthermore, the Washington defensive line does a tremendous job of applying pressure to opposing quarterbacks, and that is something that Goff has struggled with throughout his career. Therefore if Washington can win the early downs and play decent against the run, I feel like they can frustrate the Rams passing attack for a full 60 minutes of play to keep this game within reach.

Rams vs. WFT Betting Trends

• The Rams have hit the “over” in five of the last seven games.
• The Rams are 4-1 SU in the last five games.
• The Rams are 6-3 ATS in the last nine meetings against Washington.
• Washington is just 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven games.
• Washington is just 1-7 SU in the last eight games.
• Washington has hit the “over” in six of the last seven games.
• Washington has hit the “under” in the last five home games against the Rams.