Rams receiver Cooper Kupp has been a fantasy football stud in 2018, but he suffered a torn ACL in Week 10 and is out for the year. Here are three possible replacements to add to your team.
Cooper Kupp will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, but if you had him on your fantasy football team, there are options to replace the Rams breakout receiver.
Kupp was an absolute monster, averaging about 70 receiving yards per game with around one receiving touchdown per game when healthy. His masterpiece came in Week 4 when he toasted the Vikings secondary for 162 yards and two touchdowns.
For owners looking to replace Kupp, here are three possible options, with Kupp’s teammate, Josh Reynolds, included on that list.
Josh Reynolds, Rams
Reynolds caught three passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers, taking advantage of Kupp’s last week away from the team due to his previous knee injury. Though stars Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods figure to pick up most of the production left behind by Kupp, the fact that Reynolds caught two touchdown scores in a game bodes well for his future fantasy numbers.
A fourth-round pick in 2017, Reynolds has caught just 18 passes in his career, but three of them have gone for touchdowns. That could be something to watch for, especially if defenses start keying in on Cooks and Woods. The Kansas City Chiefs are up next for the Rams, and that could be a soft matchup for Reynolds. With Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff set to go blow-for-blow as MVP candidates, this game has the makings of a shootout.
Anthony Miller, Bears
Available on waivers in most leagues, Anthony Miller had the game of his life in Week 10 against the Detroit Lions, catching five passes for 122 yards and a touchdown. Miller came into Week 10 as a rising star in the Bears offense, and he’s firmly established himself as Mitchell Trubisky’s go-to guy in the slot.
Though Trubisky must also feed star wide receiver Allen Robinson and pass-catching running back Tarik Cohen (with tight end Trey Burton in the mix, too), there should be plenty of targets for Miller. He’s now caught five passes or a touchdown in his last three games, and given his role in the Bears offense, Miller is an attractive option in PPR leagues.
Fantasy owners can’t expect Miller to replicate his success against the Lions, but it is possible that the 120-yard outburst is a sign of things to come. Whatever the case, he is likely the best option on waivers in most fantasy leagues and should be treated accordingly.
Donte Moncrief, Jaguars
Over the past three weeks, Donte Moncrief has quietly emerged as a strong fantasy option at the wide receiver position. The former Indianapolis Colts No. 2 wide receiver might be playing the best football of his career, as he’s hauled in over 50 receiving yards in each of his past three games. Furthermore, Moncrief has cleared 75 receiving yards in four of his past six appearances.
Next week, Moncrief will face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which is an admittedly difficult matchup for the veteran receiver. That said, Moncrief turned three receptions into 98 yards and a touchdown in Week 10 against the Colts, and it’s possible that revenge game will fuel more touchdowns for him.
Moncrief averages roughly 15 yards per reception, and he could be the playmaker Blake Bortles needs to lean on, particularly against difficult opponents like Pittsburgh. Bortles had a critical bounce-back game in Week 10, and if the passing yardage stats continue to be gaudy in Jacksonville, Moncrief looks like the main beneficiary.