The Los Angeles Rams are 2-4, tied for last place in the NFC West with the 49ers sitting in the catbird's seat at 5-0 after Davante Adams' crushing hamstring rupture. The Rams' offense was blasted by Dan Orlovsky and now they must pick up the pieces with an October 25 road game against the Raiders looming.
The Rams got 194 passing yards in their frustrating 18-16 loss to the Cardinals in Week 6, and Adams finished second on the team in receiving yards.
Replacing him going forward won't be easy, and it could change the way Los Angeles' Nate Scheelhaase-led offense operates going forward. The Rams will likely rely more on the tight ends, while also giving running backs and receivers a chance to replace the missing production Adams' absence will leave.
Adams' season is cooked
Adams' team is headed into Week 7 of a 17-week season which means that there is a strong chance he won't play again before the end of it. It's a tough pill to swallow for a veteran who had found new life in Matthew Stafford's high octane passing attack.
If you have Adams, he is generally not worth keeping on your roster, unless you feel like gambling with your team's future. Even if he does come back, he likely won't be the same player until a week or two after he gets going again.
Nacua's stock just rose again
Puka Nacua is a one-man passing attack in a bottle and Stafford is the perfect guy to get him the ball. Stafford's short passing skills have blossomed since he's been in the NFL and continue to improve.
If Stafford has to throw his young workhorse the ball 10-20 times a game to keep the chains moving, he will do it. The Rams' rushing game is good, but Nacua will now become more of a possession receiver as the Rams will seek to play the field position and defense game.
The Rams will seek to keep their complicated Aaron Donald-led defense off the field and possess the ball more without Adams, which could lead to more short passes and longer huddles.
Buy big on Rams tight ends
Tyler Higbee and Colby Parkinson are both talented tight ends who have had their moments in the sun with coach Sean McVay's team. Each guy now has a chance to enhance their rapport with Stafford going forward, and to receive and extra 2-3 targets per game each. Parkinson has more potential as a downfield target and Higbee has now become an exciting red zone threat. Both are worth adding or playing, especially in fantasy leagues with ten or more teams.
Wideouts a big risk
Konata Mumpfield and Jordan Whittington are expected to fill in for Adams and neither guy has much upside until they prove it on the field. Both were late-round draft picks and both haven't shown much consistency, albeit in limited action.
Article Continues BelowMumpfield did have a four-catch, eight-target, 93 yards and one touchdown performance against the Denver Broncos on September 27. He is worth a flier if you're looking for wide receiver help, but remains a big question mark headed toward the middle of the season.
Stafford loves to throw the ball in the middle part of the field and to the edges of the field to his wide receiver, so there is opportunity for both guys to be worthwhile fantasy pickups if they get on the same page as the Rams legend.
Running backs will get more carries
Both Blake Corum and Kyren Williams have run hard and run well for the Rams this season. Both figure to get more carries and to get more work in the passing game with Adams out, making them fantasy football options to watch.
The Rams have the braintrust to remain a good offense without Adams, and will likely take a by-committee approach to fill in for him. Keep an eye on the Rams as the season unfolds to see which players emerge, as there are several candidates worth watching right now.