Team news: Seattle Seahawks | Page 16

Sean McVay said Cooper Kupp will start practicing next week, indicating the team will open the 21-day window to activate him off of IR.

It could still be a few weeks, but it's worth putting on your radar now, as his return will almost assuredly result in a huge dip in production for Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell.

A game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday is the last one that Rams star receiver Cooper Kupp is mandated to sit out because he is on injured reserve. But there is no guarantee that Kupp will return from his hamstring injury for the Oct. 8 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Coach Sean McVay said Wednesday it is “the hope” that Kupp will play against the Eagles but stopped short of proclaiming it a done deal.

Related Players: Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell, Van Jefferson

The 2021 NFL offensive player of the year suffered a season-ending ankle injury last year. Early in training camp, he suffered the hamstring injury that caused him to be placed on injured reserve.

It sounds as if the team will shoot for next week, but there is no guarantee on when he could return. Week 6 vs. the Arizona Cardinals feels the most likely.

The Vikings are planning to get newly acquired tailback Cam Akers involved in at least part of their game plan for their next game Sunday at the Carolina Panthers.

Related players: Alexander Mattison

The story was mainly about head coach Kevin O'Connell threatening to bench players because of turnovers. As the story said, Mattison fumbled twice against the Eagles in Week 2, and fumbled two more times in Week 3 - however he was ruled down on one and that his forward progress stopped on another. While Mattison produced better fantasy numbers, Akers looks to be a threat to some of his touches going forward. Also, Kirk Cousins threw an interception at the goal line and another in the end zone while TE T.J. Hockenson lost a fumble this past week.

Per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns are exploring Rams running back Cam Akers and former Cleveland running back Kareem Hunt.

Related players: Jerome Ford, Pierre Strong

Just as we posted this news item, it broke the Browns are hosting Hunt for a visit. The Browns would obviously have to give up a draft pick to get Akers. As for Hunt, he spent the last four seasons with the Browns so a reunion makes sense. He has not signed with anyone since his contract expired following last season. In late August, Hunt had reportedly received offers from four teams. But the running back was waiting for “the right offer” and didn’t sign any of them, the story went on to say. The team recently said the RB1 duties will go to Ford while Strong sits behind him on the depth chart for now.

Rams head coach Sean McVay addressed running back Cam Akers’ status at his press conference following the team’s 30-23 loss to the 49ers on Sunday.

Akers was inactive and a report from Jay Glazer of Fox Sports indicated that the Rams are trying to trade him. If that sounds familiar, it is likely because Akers asked to be traded last season and the Rams tried to make it happen but Akers remained with the team.

Related players: Kyren Williams, Ronnie Rivers, Royce Freeman

McVay, according to the story, said, “this is different” than last year’s situation and said the decision to sit Akers was “in the best interest of our football team.” Perhaps the biggest fantasy take from this is Williams, Rivers, and Freeman handled the running back duties and McVay said that will remain the case “as we move forward.”

If Williams is still on your wire, he likely won't be there for long. Williams played a majority of the snaps, and again played well scoring two more TDs, while Rivers ended up with one catch for four yards. It remains to be seen if Akers will play for the Rams again but as the story said, it's looking like his time in LA is over.

The Rams had not just one, but two receivers with more than 100 receiving yards on Sunday. Tutu Atwell set career highs with six catches for 119 yards, and rookie fifth-round pick Puka Nacua’s 10 catches for 119 yards were the most receiving yards in a rookie debut in team history.

And although fourth-year receiver Van Jefferson finished with just four catches for 24 yards, McVay said after the game that the receiver “is going to continue to be a big part of this as well.” Unlike last season when Jefferson was out with a knee injury, where defenses knew Kupp was Stafford’s most likely target, the Rams had multiple successful options.

Related players: Cooper Kupp, Matthew Stafford

The story said the depth at WR is one reason the team has a chance to survive without Kupp in the lineup, for at least the next three weeks. Another reason is the health of QB Stafford, who ended up not throwing for a touchdown but did have over 300 yards passing in the surprise win over Seattle. Atwell and Nacua will likely be waiver wire targets this week in your league, and along with Jefferson, are certainly worth looks if you're in need at the WR position.

Kyren Williams out-touched Cam Akers 14 to 11 until the Rams took a 24-13 lead.

Our very own John Daigle also pointed out Akers recorded 11 touches (all carries) to Kyren's 1 over the last 9:09 of the fourth quarter to ice the game. Williams ran 30 routes (73%) to Akers' 4 (10%). Williams could be one of the bigger fantasy-related stories of Week 1, at least at the running back position. Williams finished with a rushing line of 15-52-2 while Akers ended with 22 carries and just 29 yards before adding a TD to help owners salvage some fantasy production. Williams will likely be a heavily-targeted free agent pick up this week in your league.

The Rams trailed 13-7 at halftime, but they scored the final 23 points of the game with wide receivers Tutu Atwell and Puka Nacua playing a major role. Each of them posted 119 receiving yards as part of a big return to action for quarterback Matthew Stafford and head coach Sean McVay showered both wideouts with praise in his postgame comments.

Related players: Cooper Kupp

Atwell and Nacua are probably most known around dynasty communities, especially Nacua who garnered some attention this offseason when he was being used in a similar way to Deebo Samuel, and getting touches out of the backfield as well. Both players will likely get some attention this week on waiver wires after their Week 1 performances. With Kupp out of action for at least three more weeks, Atwell and Nacua could continue to get targets and touches.