The Los Angeles Rams enter the regular season finale having already secured a Wild Card playoff berth. Davante Adams has now missed two consecutive games with a hamstring injury. Will fantasy football managers have their star wide receiver available for the final game of the regular season?
Davante Adams Injury Update
Adams has been dealing with a left hamstring issue since the Rams’ Week 13 game at Carolina and has remained on the injury report for multiple weeks. He managed just a single limited practice in the lead-up to Week 16, then aggravated the injury running a route late in the win over Detroit, immediately grabbing at his hamstring and leaving the game for good.
Since aggravating the injury, Adams has yet to practice. He was never going to play either of the past two weeks, but there was a chance he might return for Week 18. Not practicing on Wednesday is not a great sign.
Adams went through his usual routine during pre-game warmups ahead of Week 17, and he looked good, suggesting he is likely healthy enough to play. However, the Rams are locked into a Wild Card spot after being officially eliminated from NFC West title contention when the 49ers and Seahawks both won on Sunday. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Los Angeles is likely to hold Adams out for the final regular-season games so he is fully ready for the playoffs.
The Rams are still planning on playing starters in Week 18 (for now), but the playoffs are the priority. There is no reason to risk further aggravation in a game that will either matter very little or not at all. The focus is on ensuring Adams is ready to go for the Wild Card round next week.
There is definitely a chance the wide receiver gets in a limited practice later this week as he progresses in his recovery. However, there is absolutely zero chance he plays on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Fantasy managers should expect Adams to return for the postseason. Those playing in playoff fantasy leagues can operate under the assumption he will be ready to go when the Rams’ playoff run begins.
Adams’ Fantasy Outlook
With Adams out, the Rams will continue to utilize 13 personnel and throw to Puka Nacua a ton. Nacua functioned as a one-man show against the Seahawks in Week 16, seeing massive volume and shredding them for 12 receptions, 225 yards, and two touchdowns on 16 targets. He followed that up with another solid performance against the Falcons, catching five passes for 47 yards and a touchdown.
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Konata Mumpfield remains the WR2 in Adams’ absence, but no player in this passing attack has any meaningful fantasy value besides Nacua. Mumpfield operated as the secondary receiver but his role still pales in comparison to Adams’, and his weekly floor remains extremely fragile. He is more of a deep-league flier than a player managers should feel good about starting in lineups.
Fantasy managers should continue treating Nacua the best wide receiver in fantasy with or without Adams. The Rams are clearly comfortable funneling the passing game even more through Nacua, and he has delivered elite fantasy production in response. Once Adams returns for the playoffs, he will resume his role as the Rams’ No. 2 receiving option and the primary “goal line back.”