Height/Weight: 6-3/207
| Birthdate: 5/6/1988
| Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA, USA
| Team: St. Louis
| College: Boise State
| NFL Experience: 3
| Owned/Started%: 0/0
News: Rams wide receiver Austin Pettis found the end zone during the Week 17 regular-season finale at Seattle Sunday. Quarterback Sam Bradford found Pettis in the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter for the Rams' first score of the game. Pettis finished the contest with three catches for 24 yards. He was targeted five times overall by Bradford in the final game of the season for the Rams.
Analysis: Pettis finished out the season with touchdowns in back-to-back games. He doesn't see a ton of catches per game, but Bradford clearly looks his way in the end zone. Pettis finished the year with four touchdowns but was by no means a reliable and consistent Fantasy option. We're not sure that will change next year so Pettis is just a possible sleeper. He should not be targeted on Draft Day at this point.
News: Coming off back-to-back games in which he hauled in five passes, Rams wide receiver Austin Pettis wasn't much of a factor in the passing game Week 16 at Tampa Bay, catching just one pass (on one target) for 5 yards. But that one pass was in the end zone, giving him his third touchdown of the season.
Analysis: Prior to Weeks 14 and 15, Pettis hadn't caught more than three passes in a game this season. With Danny Amendola back up to speed after missing time with a foot injury, Pettis is probably too far down the pecking order to make a relevant impact in Fantasy, this one touchdown notwithstanding. You can leave him on the waiver wire.
News: Coming off a five-catch, 33-yard performance at Buffalo last week, Rams wide receiver Austin Pettis seemed destined to take a step back with Danny Amendola (foot) returning to the lineup Week 15 against the Vikings. But instead, he took a step forward, catching five passes for 55 yards. His six targets tied him with Daryl Richardson for fourth-most on the team, behind Amendola (12), Steven Jackson (10) and Brandon Gibson (eight).
Analysis: Quarterback Sam Bradford set career highs for completions (35) and passing yards (377) in this one, which is the main reason why Pettis remained a relevant contributor. The most interesting part of Pettis' performance is that he was more of a factor in the passing game than big-play threat Chris Givens, who had one catch (on four targets) for 22 yards. Still, unless Amendola or Gibson goes down, Pettis is unlikely to make an impact in Fantasy. You can leave him on waivers.
News: St. Louis wide receiver Austin Pettis posted two catches for a team-high 46 yards during the Rams' 27-13 loss to the Jets in Week 11. Pettis had not topped 30 yards in his previous seven games this season, but easily eclipsed that mark with his 36-yard reception on St. Louis' opening possession that helped set up a touchdown. He finished with six targets from quarterback Sam Bradford, which was also a season high.
Analysis: While he isn't targeted as much as Danny Amendola or flashy like Steven Jackson, Pettis has provided a steady hand for the Rams recently. He has scored a touchdown in two of his past four games while his targets have steadily increased. Still, he has to compete for looks with several other St. Louis receivers and remains a little too unreliable to trust in the majority of Fantasy formats at this point in the season.
News: Rams wide receiver Austin Pettis scored the second touchdown of his career in Week 10 against the 49ers. He hauled in a 2-yard scoring strike from quarterback Sam Bradford in the fourth quarter and finished with three catches for 15 yards in the 24-24 overtime tie. Pettis was targeted four times in the contest.
Analysis: Pettis has been pretty quiet so far this season but has two touchdowns in the last three games and appears to be getting more involved in the offense. He appeared to limp off with an injury late Sunday so keep an eye on his status leading up to Week 11 against the Jets. Given his inconsistencies thus far, though, continue to ignore Pettis in the majority of Fantasy formats.
News: Rams receiver Austin Pettis saw five targets his way in the Week 8 blowout loss to the Patriots from London Sunday. Pettis caught three passes for 15 yards in the game from quarterback Sam Bradford.
Analysis: Pettis was targeted a good amount in the Week 8 game in London as Bradford is looking his way more. While that definitely increases his value, Pettis still hasn't done enough consistently to really be considered a viable Fantasy option. Pettis has yet to top 25 yards receiving in a game this season and can be benched or on waivers in all formats for Week 9 with the Rams on bye. They return Week 10 at San Francisco.
News: Rams wide receiver Austin Pettis had an unfamiliar experience Week 7 against the Packers. He scored a touchdown, the first of his career. It came on a 3-yard pass from quarterback Sam Bradford with 15 seconds to go in the contest. Pettis finished the game with two catches for 17 yards. He was targeted three times.
Analysis: Not only was Week 7 the first time Pettis scored a touchdown in a game, but it was only the second time he had more than one catch in a game. Yeah, he's clearly a player to ignore in Fantasy.
News: Rams wide receiver Austin Pettis, who missed the first two games of the season because of a suspension, was reinstated Monday. He is eligible to return Week 3 at Chicago.
Analysis: Pettis managed 27 catches for 246 yards and no touchdowns as a rookie in 2011. He still has a long ways to go to becoming a Fantasy reliable player, so don't add him to rosters just yet.
News: The NFL suspended Rams WR Austin Pettis four games on Wednesday for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Analysis: Pettis could appeal his suspension but it looks as though he will be done for the rest of the 2011 campaign. The rookie caught just 27 passes for 256 yards this season, getting a chance to play because of injuries to the team's receiving corps. His suspension will continue into the first two games of the 2012 season, hurting any Fantasy value he has going into next season.
News: St. Louis WR Austin Pettis finished with four catches for 38 yards during the Rams' 20-13 loss to Cincinnati in Week 15. Pettis finished with a staggering nine targets from QB Kellen Clemens, one shy of the team lead held by RB Steven Jackson.
Analysis: Pettis matched a season best with his four catches as he posted an average of 9.5 yards per reception. The rookie out of Boise State has emerged as a decent option in the Rams' limited passing game and finished with at least 30 receiving yards in three of his past four outings. However, he has marginal Fantasy value with Clemens under center and should not be considered a worthwhile WR option for the remainder of the season.
News: Rams WR Austin Pettis was limited on Sunday of Week 12 against the Cardinals until late in the third quarter. That is when Pettis connected with QB Sam Bradford for a 35-yard reception. Pettis still finished the game with just three catches for 45 yards, however. Pettis, the team's third option in the passing game, did not score.
Analysis: Pettis has definitely become a more consistent option in the passing game for Bradford of late. That said, the rookie receiver out of Boise State has yet to score a touchdown for the Rams this season. St. Louis plays at San Francisco Week 13 and the Rams will have to throw early and often if they have any chance at beating the Niners. San Francisco is one of the best rush defenses in the NFL, so Steven Jackson will be held in check. The defense is still solid against the pass, but Pettis could make some receptions Week 13. Still, Pettis is just a low-end Fantasy option, at best, for the Week 13 game against the Niners.
News: For the second game in a row, and for the fourth time in his career, Rams rookie WR Austin Pettis made multiple catches, as he contributed to a 13-12 win over the Browns in Week 10. Pettis was second on the team in targets with four, and he made three catches for 31 yards.
Analysis: Pettis is starting to get involved a little more in the Browns' passing game, but he is still not producing very much. He is someone to watch in deeper leagues, but for now, Pettis can remain on waivers in nearly all Fantasy formats.
News: Rams WR Austin Pettis was targeted five times in Week 9 against the Cardinals, catching four of them for 43 yards. Entering Sunday, Pettis had just seven catches for 47 yards in five outings. The Rams ended up losing the game, 19-13, in overtime to the Cardinals.
Analysis: Pettis isn't one of QB Sam Bradford's main targets, but with another receiver going down with an injury in Week 9 (Greg Salas), Pettis could move up the ranks. St. Louis also has Mark Clayton waiting in the wings, so there is some uncertainty of the depth chart so Fantasy owners should leave him on waivers for now. The Rams face the Browns in Week 10, a team that has been allowing just 165.2 passing yards per contest this season.
News: Rams rookie WR Austin Pettis was a pleasant surprise on Sunday of Week 4 in a loss to Washington. Entering the game with just one game played and two catches for 8 yards against the Ravens in Week 3, Pettis looked like QB Sam Bradford's favorite target late in the game as the Rams were trying frantically to come back on Washington. Pettis finished the game with four catches for a career-high 32 yards. He was targeted seven times in the game and did fumble two balls. The fumbles ended up being recovered by the Rams, however.
Analysis: Pettis, a rookie, showed some toughness and the ability to get open late in the game as the Rams frantically tried to come back on Washington in the loss. Pettis could begin seeing more and more looks his way as he appeared to begin establishing a nice little rapport with Bradford. Still, entering the Week 5 bye week for the Rams, Pettis remains too low-end for Fantasy owners to be picking up off waivers and starting just yet.
News: The Rams listed the following players as inactive for Week 1 against the Eagles: TE Michael Hoomanawanui, WR Danario Alexander, WR Austin Pettis, DB Jermaine Hines, DL Robert Quinn, LB Jabara Williams and OL Tony Wragge.
Analysis: None of the players listed were expected to have any Fantasy appeal. Hoomanawanui's absence should allow rookie Lance Kendricks to get a few more reps against the Eagles.
News: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Rams rookie receivers Austin Pettis and Greg Salas are in danger of not making the final roster. "Personally, I just don't worry about that too much," said Pettis. "Either I'm good enough to play or I'm not. I don't need to see how the next guy's doing. Everyone out here is trying to get better, and it's a better atmosphere if everyone is competing and encouraging each other. I think that's what it's been the whole entire time out here." Salas is taking a similar approach. "You can't think about that right now," said Salas. "All you can think about is doing the best you can do when your number's called."
Analysis: Keep an eye on what happens with Pettis, but even if he makes the final roster he would not be worth drafting in the majority of leagues. He should only be taken with a late-round pick in dynasty and rookie leagues.
News: Ex-Rams VP of Player Personnel Tony Softli reported for WXOS-FM that rookie WR Austin Pettis looked raw, but good, in player-only workouts. Pettis' natural receiving skills were a positive but his route running needed work.
Analysis: If Pettis can't learn the routes in Josh McDaniels' complicated offense, he won't play much. The tall ex-Boise State Bronco scored 39 touchdowns and caught 229 balls for 2,838 yards in his collegiate career and will at least bring some depth to the Rams' receiving corps. He shouldn't get drafted in seasonal leagues at this point, but he's worth a late-round pick in dynasty/keeper leagues and a mid-round pick in rookie-only drafts.
News: With a third-round pick the Rams added size to their receiving corps with Boise State WR Austin Pettis. Standing at 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds, Pettis finished college as the Broncos' all-time leading receiver. He scored 39 touchdowns and caught 229 balls for 2,838 yards.
Analysis: The Rams have a plethora of meandering talent at receiver, so Pettis has a shot to work his way into a prominent role. He could very easily push out Laurent Robinson, a free agent to be, from returning to the team in 2011. He shouldn't get drafted in seasonal leagues at this point, but he's worth a late-round pick in dynasty/keeper leagues and a mid-round pick in rookie-only drafts.
