Sarah Barshop reported that Los Angeles Rams superstar WR Puka Nacua left practice early today due to a calf injury. Nacua already missed a couple of games earlier this season due to a groin and hip injury.
With Davante Adams recently placed on IR with a hamstring injury that required surgery, the Rams and fantasy football managers were hoping for Puka to have some monster games to carry the load. Konata Mumpfield, who put up 93 yards and a TD in one of the games Puka previously missed, was already expected to benefit from Adams on IR but could become a priority add in redraft if Puka misses. Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell would also be on the radar. Managers will need to keep an eye on Puka’s practice participation status tomorrow.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said on Wednesday ...
Los Angeles Rams veteran wide receiver Davante Adams ...
The Los Angeles Rams officially placed veteran wide receiver...
Adams suffered the dreaded non-contact injury late in the Rams’ week 6 loss to the Cardinals, pulling up in the back of the end zone before limping off the field. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Monday that Adams is expected to have a procedure to clean out the hamstring tendon, with the hope that he returns around the week 11 bye or shortly after. Through six games, Adams led the Rams in receiving yards with 30 receptions for 480 yards and four touchdowns, and his 16.0 yards per reception would be a career best.
Although the Rams lead the NFL with 46.6 pass plays per game, Adams’ absence does not open a one-to-one replacement for his workload, as his target share had already fallen to 13% once Puka Nacua returned from injury. At wide receiver, Konata Mumpfield, a 2025 seventh-round pick, is likely the primary beneficiary, after logging 63% and 70% snap shares during Nacua’s earlier absence. The tight end room should also see elevated usage, with Tyler Higbee already boasting a 73% route share and with Terrance Ferguson expected to return from injured reserve in week 8. Fantasy football managers will need to keep an eye on the shifting target hierarchy to find value in the Rams’ passing attack.
Sean McVay notes that Puka Nacua will be limited in practice as he works his way back from a Week 1 groin injury.
Boasting a brilliant 3.89 Yards Per Route Run and an elite target share, Nacua operates as an automatic WR1 option whenever he steps onto the field. Fantasy managers must monitor his practice participation over the next two days to ensure he handles a full workload against the Eagles on Sunday.
The hip injury that caused Puka Nacua to miss Week 2 against the Giants has not improved enough for him to practice, forcing him to miss his second consecutive session of the week. While head coach Sean McVay stressed that the team doesn’t view this as a long-term issue, the lack of practice points heavily toward Nacua missing Sunday night’s showdown against the Broncos.
Given the late kickoff, fantasy football managers will need to monitor his Friday status closely and have a backup plan heading into Sunday night. Assuming he sits, expect Davante Adams (10 targets in Week 2) and Terrance Ferguson (9 targets in week 2) to once again shoulder the load, as no other Rams receiver saw more than two targets last week.
Rams superstar WR Puka Nacua will officially be inactive for Monday Night Football vs. the Giants in the Week 2 contest, per Adam Schefter. He reported yesterday on ESPN Gameday that Nacua was “trending in the wrong direction” and he will now officially be inactive.
This likely means Matthew Stafford takes a hit with a shift to more of a run-first offense, lead by the duo of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, as the Rams have a shallow WR room. It will elevate Davante Adams to the WR1 role for the night and may provide a chance for 2nd-year TE Terrance Ferguson to have his breakout game. Tutu Atwell, Konata Mumpfield and Xavier Smith are the only other active WR’s besides Adams.
If Puka Nacua—who commanded a 22.9% target share and put up 1,715 yards last year—misses this game due to his psoas injury, Sean McVay will assuredly shift the playcalling toward Williams and Corum on the ground. Williams already handles heavy volume with a 46.7% opportunity share, and will absorb the highest-value touches in this offense.
Meanwhile, Davante Adams ceiling will reach new heights and Terrance Ferguson will have an improved second chance at a sophomore breakout after running routes on just 41 percent of Stafford’s dropbacks in Week 1.
