The Los Angeles Rams wide receivers have been on quite a ride in 2023. First, many fantasy football managers spent their first-round pick on Cooper Kupp, only to lose him to injury not once but twice. Then, there’s rookie Puka Nacua, who barely anyone drafted and is having perhaps one of the most prolific rookie WR seasons ever.
Some weeks, managers have even been able to start both WRs in the same lineup due to the quiet resurgence of QB Matthew Stafford.
This week, the Rams take on the New Orleans Saints, a team whose defense is quietly causing problems for opposing offenses, especially pass catchers. New Orleans has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season, and they haven’t allowed a WR touchdown since Week 13.
Are either or both of the Rams’ wide receivers safe options this week against the Saints?
Should You Start Cooper Kupp in Fantasy This Week?
It’s the fantasy playoffs, and I have a tough time not dancing with the players that brought me here. And for many people, that is still Kupp.
Several managers were able to stash Kupp in an IR spot while he was out, and if you managed to navigate waivers carefully, you might have made it through.
The last three weeks have been fantastic for Kupp — he has been the WR21, WR5, and WR4, respectively, and had a TD in each of the last three games. Two of those games were in tough matchups against Baltimore and Cleveland.
I think Kupp will continue to be a solid fantasy option this week against the Saints. He’s the WR8 in PFN’s Consensus Rankings.
The Rams are at home and very much still in the NFC playoff hunt. I expect head coach Sean McVay to throw everything but the kitchen sink at the Saints trying to pull out the win.
Should You Start Puka Nacua in Fantasy This Week?
With Kupp returning to the lineup, Nacua’s production dropped slightly, but this was anticipated. He went from an average of almost 12 targets a game over the first seven games to roughly seven targets in the last seven. He’s still producing, no doubt, but with fewer opportunities.
Nacua is WR16 in PFN’s Consensus Rankings this week and is a solid start if he’s on your fantasy team. He’s constantly a threat to break a long catch; Nacua has six games where he had a reception of over 30 yards.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say that Kupp is the player to start if you are deciding between the two Rams receivers. His projected 15.1 points include a projection of 61.1 receiving yards and 5.6 receptions. That is slightly more than Nacua, who is projected for 13.7 fantasy points on five receptions and 60.2 receiving yards.
My ranking for the Rams WRs aligns with the consensus. As talented as Nacua is, Kupp’s WR target share has been slowly creeping up over the last three weeks, and he’s begun to reclaim his WR1 crown in Los Angeles.
Sure, both receivers could score if the offense is fully clicking, and I can tell a story where it’s OK to start both Rams WRs. But, if you have to pick one, Kupp is the guy.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!