Fantasy alert: Rams’ Puka Nacua suffers knee injury during practice for Seahawks game | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on Puka Nacua’s availability in Week 9 against the Seattle Seahawks, as the Los Angeles Rams wide receiver left practice on Thursday with a knee injury.

According to The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue, Nacua was unable to participate in his weekly press conference after suffering a knee injury and was listed as “limited” on Thursday’s injury report in Los Angeles. According to Rodrigue, it is the same knee that previously caused him to miss five games this season.

Nacua dealt with knee issues in training camp before aggravating the injury during the Rams’ 26-20 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 1. He was diagnosed with a PCL sprain and subsequently placed on injured reserve, with he missed each of the team’s next five games. .

Los Angeles struggled in his absence, finishing with a 2-3 record while missing the Pro Bowl receiver.

Nacua made his return in Week 8 and didn’t show many signs of rust during a 30-20 win over the Detroit Lions, hauling in seven of his nine targets for a team-high 106 yards. He appeared to be in line for a bigger role in the future, as he was on the field for just 57 percent of the Rams’ offensive snaps in his first game back (h/t Pro Football Reference).

The 23-year-old was a breakout fantasy performer as a rookie, recording 105 receptions for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns in 2023. Los Angeles made a surprise appearance in the playoffs and Nacua finished No. 2 in Offensive Rookie of the Year to vote.

If he can’t handle it against the Seahawks, Cooper Kupp should step up as Matthew Stafford’s top target. For fantasy managers looking for a potential waiver wire replacement, Demarcus Robinson could be an option.

Robinson recorded 35 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions and is currently available in 89 percent of Yahoo leagues and 87 percent of ESPN leagues, via FantasyPros.