The first week of the 2023 NFL season is nearing a close and the Los Angeles Rams were among the teams that came away with a win. We learned quite a few things in the Rams’ season-opening win over the Seattle Seahawks, including who is going to have roles in the offense until Cooper Kupp returns from his stint on injured reserve.
For those who play fantasy football, there are a few players on the Rams that should now be considered given what we saw in Week 1. With Week 2 right around the corner, Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell, and Kyren Williams are all players worth targeting on the waiver wire in your fantasy football leagues.
WR Puka Nacua
What a debut it was for Nacua, who made an immediate impact with Kupp sidelined for the Rams. The rookie wideout would lead the Rams with 15 targets, turning those into 10 receptions for 119 yards. As a result of Sunday’s impressive outing, Nacua produced 16.9 fantasy points in half-PPR formats, which is the eighth-most among wide receivers (pending Monday Night Football).
Nacua seemed to have a fantastic connection with Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay utilized Nacua in a similar role as Kupp, allowing him to work the intermediate part of the field. Kupp will miss at least three more games and Nacua is a priority add on the waiver wire while he’s rostered in only 2.5 percent of leagues on ESPN.
WR Tutu Atwell
Along with Nacua, Atwell was another wideout who took advantage of Kupp not being available for the Rams. The third-year receiver hauled in six of his eight targets for 119 yards, showing off his vertical ability in the passing game.
Stafford never shies away from taking a couple of deep shots each game, and it was Atwell who was the primary beneficiary of those downfield attempts in Week 1. Atwell finished with one more offensive snap than Nacua, though, the rookie pass catcher is who I’d prioritize more on the waiver wire if both are available. In ESPN fantasy football leagues, Atwell is only rostered in 5.9 percent of them.
RB Kyren Williams
It was Cam Akers who drew the start at running back for the Rams on Sunday against the Seahawks, but Kyren Williams ended up seeing more snaps by the end of the game. Williams received 25 more offensive snaps than Akers, and he turned his 15 rushing attempts into 52 yards and two scores. On the other hand, Akers managed to record only 29 yards and a touchdown on 22 attempts.
The Rams seemed to trust Williams more in the new-look offense and he made the most of his opportunities in Week 1. While the Rams could certainly deploy a split backfield in the coming weeks, it’s clear that Williams has a defined role and he could emerge as the starter soon. The second-year back is rostered in only 10.2 percent of leagues and that percentage should increase dramatically ahead of Week 2.
