Can Puka Nacua Be a Breakout Fantasy Football Star?
The LA Rams were one of the most disappointing teams in 2022, and you could see how frustrated Head Coach Sean McVay was each week. He was so frustrated that he almost left the coaching ranks for the TV booth this offseason. Fortunately for the Rams, he decided to return for this season, and I believe he will have his team ready to get back on track in 2023.
It would help to have a healthy Matthew Stafford for a full season. Stafford played just nine games last season, and if the Rams are going to get back to the playoffs this season, he will have to remain healthy and play in at least fifteen games or more this season. McVay’s offense needs a smart and experienced quarterback and a bell-cow running back. He doesn’t like to have a committee at running back, so that should make Cam Akers a very valuable fantasy asset this season. Akers should be a bell-cow running back because he is talented and there is not a lot of depth behind him. I don’t believe Kyren Williams or Zach Evans is ready to overtake Akers for the starting job just yet. Copper Kupp was on pace to have almost 200 targets last season if he did not have the ankle injury that cost him the rest of the season. I believe if he stays healthy, he will be a top-three wide receiver in all PPR fantasy football leagues this season.
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Sleeper: Van Jefferson Fantasy Football Outlook
The Rams have some young and unproven offensive weapons for this year, and Van Jefferson is one of the more talented and experienced ones. Jefferson was going to have a big role last year, but a preseason knee injury cost him most of the season. If he can stay healthy this season, I could see him take the next step in his development as the starting wide receiver opposite Copper Kupp. Since Kupp will draw all the coverage to his side of the field, Jefferson will see a lot of single coverage and could have a nice season.
Bust: Kyren Williams Fantasy Football Outlook
Kyren Williams was drafted by the Rams in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft after a good college career and despite a bad combine performance. Last season he looked like a player who was slow and looked lost at times. This coaching staff and front office drafted him so they will give him every opportunity to win the backup running back position, but I would not be surprised to see rookie sixth-rounder Zach Evans surpass Williams on the depth chart early in the season.
Rookie to Watch: Puka Nacua Fantasy Football Outlook
Puka Nacua was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Nacua is being compared to Robert Woods in Rams training camp. He has the same skillset as Woods, where he can run the jet sweeps but is also big enough to play as an outside receiver. He has good body control on contested catches. If he can beat out Ben Skowronek for the third receiver spot, then I could see Nacua having a nice rookie season. I have drafted him in the late rounds of all my fantasy football Dynasty leagues this year.
Bold Prediction: Tyler Higbee finishes the season as a top-10 tight end in PPR scoring.
Tyler Higbee will be Matthew Stafford’s second favorite receiver on the team for 2023. Higbee will likely finish this season second on the team in receptions after only Copper Kupp. While Matthew Stafford missed half the season in 2022, Higbee still finished as TE9 on the season. According to our ADP Tool, Higbee is currently coming off draft boards as the TE13 in the 12th round. I would easily draft him in the top 12 of the tight end position, so don't hesitate to take him as early as the 11th or even 10th.
