Puka Nacua’s injury could leave fantasy football managers with a hole in their squad. Let’s take a look at the extent of the injury and which players you can target on your fantasy football waiver wire this week. Plus, check out all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for this week.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Injury Replacements

Injury Prospects

Puka Nacua (knee) leaves Sunday evening’s match, ruled out
Los Angeles Rams star receiver Puka Nacua was forced off the field with a knee injury and will not return for the game against the Detroit Lions.

Fantasy impact

Nacua exited the game at halftime with a 10-3 lead due to a knee injury. He had four catches on as many targets for 35 yards and one carry for seven yards, good for a PPR total of 8.2. This moves WR Cooper Kupp to the lone WR1 role and increases the roles of WRs Jordan Whittington, Tyler Johnson and Demarcus Robinson. His situation will need to be monitored going forward to see if he misses any significant time.

Jordan Epp – Jepp Sport

Replacements on the Waiver Wire to target: Wide Receivers

Written by Derek Brown

Brandin Cooks (DAL): 32% on the list

• Next Opponents: NO, BALL, @NYG
• Real value: $5
• Desperate Need: $7
• Budget Friendly: $3

Analysis: Cooks comes away from a tough Week 1 with a respectable 40 receiving yards and a score. He managed 1.33 yards per route run on a 21.8% target share (per PFF). Not bad considering he was facing one of the best outside corner duos in the NFL. Cooks is the clear No. 2 overall prospect in this passing offense, and that distinction will be even more pronounced with Jake Ferguson dealing with a knee injury. Cooks’ Week 1 performance should instill a bit more confidence if you need a flex play over the next three weeks, considering Cooks has three tough matchups coming up. Last year, the Saints, Ravens and Giants all ranked among the top 10 poorest secondaries in PPR points per target allowed to perimeter wide receivers.

Demarcus Robinson (LAR): 6% on the list

• Next opponents: @ARI, SF, CHI
• Real value: $5
• Desperate Need: $7
• Budget Friendly: $3

Analysis: With Puka Nacua out with an injury, Robinson could step up to the plate while Nacua is out. Robinson was fantastic in the final stretch of last year. From Weeks 13-18, he was on fire, ranking 36th in yards per route run, 28th in first downs per route run and 26th in fantasy points per route run among 109 qualifying receivers (per Fantasy Points Data). Robinson could easily be the WR2 in the Rams’ offense. Stafford is a kingmaker, and Robinson could be a fantasy king with Nacua on the shelf.

Andrei Iosivas (CIN): 13% on the list

• Next opponents: @KC, WAS, @CAR
• Real value: $4
• Desperate Need: $6
• Budget Friendly: $2

Analysis: Iosivas stepped into the starting lineup alongside Ja’Marr Chase in Week 1 with Tee Higgins out. While Iosivas had a strong 20.6 percent target share, 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, but their secondary is solid. Better days are ahead for Iosivas and the Bengals’ offense. The Chiefs are also a brutal matchup next week, so I can understand benching him, but after that Iosivas gets Washington and Carolina. Those are two pass defenses we seem to be targeting this season.

Greg Dortch (ARI): 5% on the list

• Next opponents: LAR, DET, WAS
• Real value: $3
• Desperate Need: $4
• Budget Friendly: $1

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 leading the team in receiving yards (47). Dortch’s 1.80 yards per route run was impressive. I don’t foresee him outperforming Marvin Harrison Jr. on a weekly basis, but that doesn’t mean Dortch can’t be a strong flex play, especially in PPR leagues. After his matchup with the Rams, Dortch gets the Lions and Commanders, who allowed the 6th-most and ND-most PPR points per target to slot receivers last year (per Fantasy Points Data).

Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG): 10% on the list

• Next opponents: @WAS, @CLE, DAL
• Real value: $3
• Desperate Need: $4
• Budget Friendly: $1

Analysis: Robinson may not be a sexy addition, but as we always say, “Volume is king in fantasy.” Robinson got the volume in Week 1, with a monstrous 28.5% target share (12 targets). He did it while playing just 67% of the Giants’ offensive snaps. Once Robinson was on the field, Daniel Jones was immediately gunning for him. Robinson offers immediate flex appeal in PPR leagues next week against a Washington Swiss cheese secondary that allowed the most PPR points per target last year (according to Fantasy Points Data).

Alec Pierce (IND): 2% on the list

• Next opponents: @GB, CHI, PIT
• Real value: $3
• Desperate Need: $4
• Budget Friendly: $1

Analysis: Pierce erupted in Week 1 with 125 receiving yards and a score on three targets. Will he repeat those numbers the rest of the season? Probably not, but after an offseason full of strong camp reports, it’s notable. In Week 1, Pierce was the only other full-time receiver on the Colts’ offense outside of Michael Pittman. You might be wondering why I included Pierce here and not AD Mitchell, but Mitchell wasn’t a full-time player in Week 1, as he split the slot duties. Once Josh Downs returns, I fear Mitchell will be benched. Pierce could pile up a few more standout weeks in his next three games against the Packers’ and Steelers’ secondaries. Those two pass defenses allowed the sixth-highest and fourth-highest completion percentages on deep passes last year (per Fantasy Points Data).

Jakobi Meyers (LVR): 48% on the list

• Next opponents: @BAL, CAR, CLE
• Real value: $2
• Desperate Need: $3
• Budget Friendly: $1

Analysis: Meyers’ Week 1 numbers weren’t pretty, as he finished with 61 scoreless receiving yards while drawing just a 9% target share. Meyers is still the Raiders’ only other full-time receiver besides Davante Adams (though he is outshone by rookie TE Brock Bowers). I have confidence in Meyers’ talent, as he still produced 1.74 yards per route run (per PFF) in Week 1. Meyers was the WR24th in fantasy points per game last year while ranking 29th in first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). I wouldn’t discount that kind of production after just one week of football. He should have a few flex weeks.

Josh Reynolds (DEN): 1% on the list

• Next opponents: PIT, @TB, @NYJ
• Real value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget Conscious: $0

Analysis: Denver’s offense looks like a potential mess this season, but volume is volume, and Reynolds earned it in Week 1. Reynolds is likely only a deep league add, but he’s still viable. In Week 1, he had a 19% target share and led the team in receiving yards. His upcoming matchups are brutal, but again, target volume is crucial in deeper formats.