Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, top fantasy waiver-wire WRs after Puka Nacuas injury | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

Puka Nacua’s second season with the Los Angeles Rams was cut short by a knee injury sustained during a loss to the Detroit Lions on Football on Sunday evening.

Nacua was eventually placed on the injured list due to a strained posterior cruciate ligament, meaning he will not be able to return to the field for at least four weeks.

From a fantasy football perspective, the 23-year-old’s impending absence is a major blow to managers after he proved to be a shooting star in 2023. A fifth-round pick, Nacua made 105 catches for 1,486 yards in his rookie year.

While it’s extremely difficult to replace his performance, here are some potential waiver additions that could help mitigate the loss of the Rams receiver until he can return.

Cooper Kupp is expected to continue to serve as Matthew Stafford’s primary target in Los Angeles’ offense, but Demarcus Robinson could step in in Nacua’s absence.

The veteran receiver has been a reliable backup option throughout his career, eclipsing 440 yards in three of the last five seasons. Robinson was targeted seven times on Sunday night and made four catches for 42 yards.

He has some experience in a larger role with Los Angeles. According to Pro Football Reference, Robinson has appeared in over 60 percent of the Rams’ offensive snaps in four games during their 2023 season. In those four appearances, he accounted for 264 yards and three touchdowns.

It is available in 94 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues and 86 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues.

Tyler Johnson is also a candidate for an expanded role in head coach Sean McVay’s offense. The former fifth-round pick finished the game against the Lions as Los Angeles’ second-best receiver, recording five catches for 79 yards.

Johnson has also been targeted seven times, which puts him in a tie with Robinson for the team’s highest point total other than Kupp. He has been targeted seven times in two preseason games and could be targeted even more with Nacua out.

The Arizona Cardinals, the Rams’ opponent in Week 2, allowed the ninth-most passing yards of any NFL team in their loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 1.

Thielen may be harder to get in some leagues, although he is still available in 66 percent of Yahoo Fantasy leagues.

The Panthers lost their game against the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 by a final score of 47-10, but Thielen still had a remarkable start to the season. He caught a total of three balls and thus achieved the most yards on his team.

The 34-year-old has had strong starts in the past, scoring 509 yards and four touchdowns in his first six appearances of the 2023 season.

As Bryce Young tries to rebound from two interceptions against New Orleans, he could rely on Thielen even more in the coming weeks.

Mitchell’s NFL debut was not exactly a great success, as the 2024 second-round pick recorded just one catch for two yards in a 29-27 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday.

However, he was targeted five times and nearly caught several long passes that would have improved his fantasy performance. As Mitchell progresses in his rookie season, it’s safe to assume he will eventually be on the same wavelength as quarterback Anthony Richardson.

He could also benefit from the Colts’ passing attack, which featured big plays in Week 1, when Richardson managed 212 yards through the air on just nine successful passes.

Mitchell could be a risky signing, but he could also help fantasy owners if he remains a top target for Richardson. He is currently available in 68 percent of Yahoo leagues and 65 percent of ESPN leagues.