Due to Puka Nacua’s injury, fantasy football managers could have a hole in their roster. Let’s look at the extent of the injury and the players you can target on your fantasy football waiver list this week. And check out all of our fantasy football waiver list picks for the week.
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire – Injury Replacements
Injury prospects
Puka Nacua (knee) leaves the game on Sunday evening, excluded
Los Angeles Rams star receiver Puka Nacua left the game due to a knee injury and will not be back in action against the Detroit Lions.
Fantasy influence
Nacua leaves the game at halftime with the score at 10-3 as he deals with a knee injury. He had four catches on as many targets for 35 yards and one run for seven yards, for a PPR total of 8.2. This moves WR Cooper Kupp into the sole WR1 role and upgrades the roles of WRs Jordan Whittington, Tyler Johnson and Demarcus Robinson. His situation will need to be monitored going forward to see if he is out for an extended period of time.
Jordan Epp – Jepp Sports
Waiver Wire replacement player in sight: Wide Receiver
Written by Derek Brown
Brandin Cooks (DAL): 32% in the squad
- Next opponents: NO, BAL, @NYG
- True Value: $5
- Urgent Need: $7
- For bargain hunters: $3
Analysis: Cooks is coming off a rough first week with a respectable 40 receiving yards and a score. He averaged 1.33 yards per route run with a 21.8% target share (per PFF). Not bad considering he was going up against one of the NFL’s best outside corner duos. Cooks is the clear No. 2 in this passing offense, and that difference is even more pronounced with Jake Ferguson now dealing with a knee injury. Cooks’ Week 1 performance provides some confidence if you need a flex play over the next three weeks, as Cooks has three more tough matchups ahead. Last year, the Saints, Ravens and Giants were all among the 10 stingiest secondaries in terms of PPR points per target allowed to perimeter wide receivers.
Demarcus Robinson (LAR): 6% of the squad
- Next opponents: @ARI, SF, CHI
- True Value: $5
- Urgent Need: $7
- For bargain hunters: $3
Analysis: With Puka Nacua injured, Robinson could play a more prominent role while Nacua is out. Robinson was fantastic down the stretch last year. He was at his peak from Weeks 13-18, ranking 36th in yards per route run, 28th in first downs per route run, and 26th in fantasy points per route run among 109 qualified receivers (per Fantasy Points Data). Robinson could easily be the WR2 in the Rams’ offense. Stafford is a kingmaker, and Robinson could be the king in fantasy while Nacua is on the bench.
Andrei Iosivas (CIN): 13% in the squad
- Next opponents: @KC, WAS, @CAR
- True Value: $4
- Urgent Need: $6
- For bargain hunters: $2
Analysis: Iosivas started alongside Ja’Marr Chase in Week 1 with Tee Higgins out. While Iosivas had a strong 20.6% pass completion percentage, he struggled with just 26 receiving yards (0.74 yards per route run). Cincinnati’s next opponent, New England, may not have a strong roster overall, but their secondary is strong. Better days are ahead for Iosivas and the Bengals offense. The Chiefs are also a brutal opponent next week, so I can understand him being benched, but after that Iosivas gets Washington and Carolina. Those are two pass defenses we’ll probably focus on this season.
Greg Dortch (ARI): 5% of the squad
- Next opponents: LAR, DET, WAS
- True Value: $3
- Urgent Need: $4
- For bargain hunters: 1 USD
Analysis: Dortch only played 60% of the snaps in Week 1, but that didn’t stop him from ranking second on the team in targets (25.8% target share) and receiving yards (47). Dortch’s 1.80 yards per route run was impressive. I don’t expect him to produce more weekly than Marvin Harrison Jr., but that doesn’t mean Dortch can’t be a strong flex player, especially in PPR leagues. After his matchup with the Rams, Dortch gets the Lions and Commanders, who allowed the sixth-most and THE most PPR points per target to slot receivers last year (per Fantasy Points Data).
Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG): 10% in the squad
- Next opponents: @WAS, @CLE, DAL
- True Value: $3
- Urgent Need: $4
- For bargain hunters: 1 USD
Analysis: Robinson may not be a sexy addition, but as we always say, “In fantasy, volume is king.” Robinson hit volume in Week 1 with a monstrous 28.5% target share (12 targets). He did this despite playing just 67% of the Giants’ offensive snaps. When Robinson was on the field, Daniel Jones immediately looked for him. Robinson offers instant flex appeal in PPR leagues next week against a lame Washington secondary that allowed the most PPR points per target last year (per Fantasy Points Data).
Alec Pierce (IND): 2% in the squad
- Next opponents: @GB, CHI, PIT
- True Value: $3
- Urgent Need: $4
- For bargain hunters: 1 USD
Analysis: Pierce broken out in Week 1 with 125 receiving yards and a touchdown on three targets. Will he repeat such numbers the rest of the season? Probably not, but after an offseason full of strong camp reports, this is notable. In Week 1, Pierce was the only other full-time receiver on the Colts offense besides Michael Pittman. You may be wondering why I included Pierce here and not AD Mitchell, but Mitchell was not a full-time player in Week 1 as he shared slot duties. Once Josh Downs returns, I fear Mitchell will be on the bench. Pierce could have a few more stellar weeks in his next three games against the Packers and Steelers secondaries. Those two pass defenses allowed the sixth-highest and fourth-highest long pass completion rates last year (per Fantasy Points Data).
Jakobi Meyers (LVR): 48% in the squad
- Next opponents: @BAL, CAR, CLE
- True Value: $2
- Urgent Need: $3
- For bargain hunters: 1 USD
Analysis: Meyers’ Week 1 stats weren’t pretty, as he finished with 61 scoreless receiving yards and only had a 9% target share. Meyers remains the Raiders’ only other full-time receiver besides Davante Adams (though he was outperformed by rookie TE Brock Bowers). I have faith in Meyers’ talent, as he still averaged 1.74 yards per route run (per PFF) in Week 1. Meyers was the WR24 in fantasy points per game last year and ranked 29th in first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). I don’t want to dismiss that kind of performance after just one week of football. He should have some flex-worthy weeks ahead of him in the next few weeks.
Josh Reynolds (DEN): 1% in the squad
- Next opponents: PIT, @TB, @NYJ
- True value: $1
- Urgent Need: $2
- Budget conscious: $0
Analysis: The Denver offense looks like a disaster this season, but volume is volume, and Reynolds earned it in Week 1. Reynolds is probably just a new addition to the deep league, but he’s still serviceable. In Week 1, he had a 19% target share and led the team in receiving yards. His upcoming matchups are brutal, but like I said, target volume is key in deeper formats.
