Grab This WR in Fantasy Football After Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp Injuries

The Los Angeles Rams have started the 2024 NFL regular season with back-to-back road defeats, but they've got even bigger losses to worry about after losing star wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp to injuries.

Both of their star pass-catchers are now expected to miss significant time, which is a huge blow to Rams fans, but also fantasy football managers who invested high draft picks into two of the best receivers in the league.

So, what now?

Well, there's always the "next man up" mentality in football, and that should be the case for any fantasy team who wants to take advantage of the vacated targets that are now up for grabs in Sean McVay's offense with Nacua and Kupp both on the shelf.

There are more experienced veterans who will now enter the starting lineup in Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson, but both of them are more likely to already be on a fantasy roster, unless you play in a deeper dynasty league. That means you might still have a chance to grab rookie Jordan Whittington off waivers this week.

A sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Texas, Whittington showed flashes of potential in the preseason, and the Rams have already tried to find some creative ways to get him the ball in space, even on rushing attempts. He's a tough competitor with a solid frame who can play through contact and win at the catch point, and he's got enough agility and explosiveness to create separation and pick up yards after the catch.

The Rams run plenty of three-receiver sets, and they still have one of the league's better veteran quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford. So, while Robinson and Johnson are sure to get their share of targets now that Nacua and Kupp are out of the lineup, Whittington could be the player who gives you the most bang for your buck out of that trio.

If he's still available in your league, especially if you're one of the teams losing out on Nacua and Kupp for the next month or so, now's the time to cash in that waiver priority and make sure you get him on your roster.

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