Los Angeles Rams WR Tutu Atwell went from a curious second-round pick during his first few NFL seasons to being a scary downfield threat for Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay. However, a big hit and a potential injury puts his availability in question. What happened to Atwell?
Tutu Atwell Injury Update
After Stafford scrambled around to make a play, he let a pass loose for Atwell along the sideline. As the ball arrived high, so did Marcus Williams.
#Rams WR Tutu Atwell was slow to get up after taking a massive hit on this play.
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 10, 2023
Trainers took Atwell to the blue medical tent, where he was evaluated for a possible concussion. He is currently questionable to return.
Atwell landed hard on his left shoulder/head/neck area, but he also appeared to grab toward his right foot after he landed on the ground. Any hit with that sort of impact is scary, and Atwell’s 165-pound frame certainly didn’t help in this particular instance.
MORE: Los Angeles Rams Depth Chart
The Rams’ WR was selected with the 57th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by Los Angeles. The speedy receiver didn’t become a full-time starter until 2023. Although speed is his greatest weapon, Atwell’s not a pure downfield threat, which has limited his overall impact on the field throughout the start of his young career.
Fantasy Impact From Atwell’s Injury
Atwell was a distant third in this WR room, so his injury doesn’t open up a ton of usage (eight targets total in his three games heading into Week 14). This injury stabilizes the value of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp a little bit while giving Tyler Higbee (when healthy) a touch more interest for those streaming the TE position.
Stafford isn’t a quarterback you can feel great about (no matter the extent of this injury), but if you’re desperate, he’ll be on the streaming radar next weekend against a vulnerable Washington defense. This injury, in theory, shifts a higher percentage of Stafford’s targets going to his top two weapons and that’s good for business as far as we are concerned.
