Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp were two popular targets in fantasy football drafts this year, each going in the first couple of rounds. Unfortunately for anyone who drafted them, both Rams receivers will be out awhile.
Nacua is already on injured reserve and Cooper Kupp is likely to join him, opening the door for other pass-catchers on the Rams’ roster to step up. Demarcus Robinson and Colby Parkinson could be the two biggest beneficiaries of the increased opportunities from a fantasy perspective.
That makes both of them waiver targets this week ahead of the Rams’ Week 3 game against the 49ers. Robinson is sure to be a popular pick-up for those at the top of the waiver order considering he’s now the Rams’ No. 1 option at wide receiver. Through two games, he’s caught just six passes for 92 yards but he should see more targets now that Kupp and Nacua are out.
Obviously, he won’t produce to the level that either of those guys have, but Robinson is a very good option when you look at how he played late last season as the No. 3 receiver. From Week 13-17, he caught 21 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns in those five games. We could expect similar production from him moving forward.
As for Parkinson, he too could see an uptick in fantasy points. He’s run 67 total routes in two games, per PFF, second-most of any tight end in the NFL, behind only Sam LaPorta. He’s only caught five passes for 59 yards, but it’s not for a lack of routes run. He’s only stayed in to block on nine passing plays so far, which means when the Rams are throwing the ball, he’s likely to be one of the five eligible receivers.
He’ll be competing with Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell for targets but Matthew Stafford likes his tight ends and with his size, Parkinson should be a weapon in the red zone.
Outside of Robinson and Parkinson, Johnson, Whittington and Atwell could all be waiver wire targets in fantasy this week, too. But it’s Robinson and Parkinson who should be at the top of your list, especially if you had Kupp or Nacua.