Los Angeles Rams

When asked if the team's Week 6 bye will help get Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee), and offensive linemen Steve Avila (knee) and Joe Noteboom (ankle) back after only missing the required four games while on Injured Reserve, head coach Sean McVay said, "They each have unique injuries that as of right now could keep them out longer than that." The Rams officially placed all three players on IR on Wednesday, meaning they have to sit out Weeks 2-5. The 23-year-old Nacua will have an extra week to recover because of the team's bye, but it sounds like he may not even be ready for Week 7 against the Raiders due to a PCL sprain in his right knee that he suffered in the Week 1 loss to the Lions. WR1 Cooper Kupp is going to eat with Nacua sidelined, while Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson will also be much more involved in the passing game, as well as tight end Colby Parkinson.

The Los Angeles Rams officially placed wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) on Injured Reserve on Wednesday. The team announced early in the week that he would go on IR, but it is now official, and he must sit out at least the next four games. It's an unfortunate development for Nacua and his fantasy managers who took him in the first or second round of preseason fantasy drafts following a 105-catch, 1,486-yard, six-touchdown season as a rookie. He will be first eligible to return following Los Angeles' Week 6 bye leading up to the matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7. While he's out, Cooper Kupp, who saw 21 targets in Week 1, should continue to dominate targets. However, wideouts Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson and tight end Colby Parkinson will see increased opportunities. In deep leagues, Tutu Atwell might be worth stashing.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said this week that Tutu Atwell is ready to get more opportunities with Puka Nacua (knee) sidelined. McVay noted that with Cooper Kupp and Demarcus Robinson as the outside receivers, Atwell, Tyler Johnson, and rookie Jordan Whittington all have similar skill sets that can complement Kupp and Robinson. While Johnson was the standout in Week 1 against the Lions once Nacua exited, McVay's thoughts hint that it could be Atwell who comes through in Week 2 against the Cardinals. It would be speculative to add Atwell because of these comments but it is a situation that is worth monitoring and could fluctuate each week while Nacua misses time. Right now Johnson is the popular waiver-wire add but maybe Atwell will be next week.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) is heading to the injured reserve after injuring his knee during Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions. He appeared to re-aggravate the bursa sac injury in his right knee, which he picked up in early August at training camp. The 23-year-old had a stellar rookie season, breaking the rookie receiving yards record, but will now miss at least four games. This is a massive blow to the Ram's offense, as Nacua won't be eligible to return until Week 6 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Cooper Kupp managers can expect him to see a huge target volume after seeing 21 targets in Week 1 with Nacua out most of the game. At the same time, Demarcus Robinson should see an uptick in targets as the Rams' No. 2 wide receiver with Nacua sidelined. Robinson is worth adding in most formats for managers looking for a replacement for Nacua.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) aggravated the right-knee injury he dealt with during training camp in the summer in the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday night at Ford Field in the overtime loss to the Detroit Lions. While Nacua is still going through additional testing on Monday after leaving Sunday's game early, he is expected to be considered week-to-week, according to sources. It's unclear exactly when the Rams and fantasy managers might get the 23-year-old second-year wideout back, but nobody should be expecting him to play in Week 2 against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. Nacua was dealing with a bursa-sac injury in his knee back in camp. With Nacua leaving on Sunday, Cooper Kupp caught a league-high 14 passes on 21 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown, so his value will rise for however long Nacua is out. Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson figure to see bigger roles as well.