Shark Bites are the latest fantasy football news & NFL updates. Draft Sharks has been in business since 1999. And when we started, redraft was the dominant form of fantasy football. Check out what we've learned about this most basic form of fantasy football along the way.
Rams WR Cooper Kupp (hamstring) was doing some light work off to the side of Tuesday's practice. Here's video, courtesy of The Los Angeles Times' Gary Klein. It's further confirmation that, barring a setback, Kupp will be ready to roll come Week 1.
Rams HC Sean McVay labeled WR Cooper Kupp "day-to-day" with his hamstring injury and said, “I don’t think it’s anything to be overly concerned with.” McVay added that he's hoping to have Kupp back for joint practices with Raiders in a week and a half. It's the latest indication that Kupp's injury should be in the rearview by the time Week 1 rolls around. He continues to sit fourth overall in our fantasy football rankings.
Rams OC Mike LaFleur said Thursday that WR Cooper Kupp (hamstring) is day-to-day and "he'll be fine," according to Turf Show Times. We'll keep watching for more on this situation at least until Kupp returns to the field. For now, he hasn't budged in our WR rankings.
Rams WR Cooper Kupp left Tuesday's practice with a hamstring injury. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports he had an MRI and that the team expects him back "for scrimmages in a few weeks." We'll watch for more detail on that end of it, but the Rams have obvious reason to be cautious with Kupp's health.
Rams beat writer Cameron DaSilva writes that “in all likelihood,” the team will use a rotation at WR3. Van Jefferson holds the WR2 role behind Cooper Kupp. But we’ll see training camp sort the depth chart beyond that, with Tutu Atwell, Ben Skowrenek, and Puka Nacua as leading contenders. Atwell brings big-play appeal, making him a late-round option in best ball leagues. Nacua, though, has drawn the most buzz this offseason. The real takeaway is that Kupp remains a strong candidate to lead the NFL in targets.
Rams WR Cooper Kupp participated in full team practice on Tuesday for the first time since suffering a season-ending high-ankle sprain last November that required surgery. Kupp, though, is still rehabbing and hasn't been fully cleared. "Playing football, you can't simulate this stuff. So I don't know if we'll really know," Kupp said. "I feel right now we've been pushing it pretty hard. I feel like I'm asking for more, wanting to do more and feeling like you're getting held back versus feeling like they're pushing you to do more. We're in a good place now where I feel like I want to get out there and play." We'll continue to keep an eye on Kupp's progress, but he should be back to 100% before Week 1.
The Rams are hiring Mike LaFleur as their new OC, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. LaFleur replaces Liam Coen, who left Los Angeles after just 1 season to return to his previous post as Kentucky's OC. LaFleur struggled as Jets OC the past 2 years, with both of those teams finishing bottom 8 in both total yards and points. Like Rams HC Sean McVay, LaFleur comes from the Shanahan coaching tree, so there should be plenty of synergy here. McVay will still be running the show, though, so don't expect a big change to the Rams' play calling.
The Rams are expected to pick up QB Matt Stafford's 2023 option bonus and 2024 salary, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. It'll pay Stafford a combined $62 million in guaranteed money. There had been questions about Stafford's football future after a spinal cord contusion ended his 2022 season. He's avoided surgery, though, and is expected to be ready for the offseason program. With HC Sean McVay also returning for 2023, the Rams offense has bounce-back potential with better health and improvements along the offensive line.
Rams HC Sean McVay admitted Tuesday that he'd be "hard-pressed" to envision WR Cooper Kupp (ankle) playing again this season. There's no reason for the 4-9 Rams to push Kupp back from a significant high-ankle sprain that required surgery. You can cut Kupp from redraft rosters if you've been hanging on.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Rams WR Cooper Kupp is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after surgery for his high-ankle sprain. He adds that the team will need to turn things around to "give Kupp any chance to return this year." At 3-6, the Rams will need to make an extreme rebound to have any shot at the playoffs, and they just lost the only offensive player having a good season. We'd bet that Kupp doesn't play another snap in 2022.
Rams WR Cooper Kupp will undergo ankle surgery on Wednesday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He’ll be placed on IR and miss at least 4 games, but fantasy owners should plan on a lengthier absence. The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue notes that the tightrope procedure Kupp is undergoing usually knocks players out for 4-8 weeks. Kupp is droppable in shallow leagues if you need the roster spot. The Rams’ schedule ends with the Packers (Week 15), Broncos, Chargers and Seahawks.
Rams WR Cooper Kupp has been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. A source tells Schefter that it "doesn't sound good." No timetable is given, but high-ankle sprains are generally 4-6 week injuries. So, for now, Kupp owners should brace to be without him until at least Week 15 -- and possibly longer. Kupp leaves behind a massive 30% of Rams targets. Allen Robinson, Van Jefferson, Ben Skowronek and Tyler Higbee should all pick up extra volume, but this Rams passing game could be a disaster with Kupp sidelined.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport hears that Rams WR Cooper Kupp "may miss time" but that his ankle injury is "not catastrophic." Rapoport adds that Kupp is believed to have avoided a fracture but could miss "the next couple of weeks." We should get a more precise diagnosis and timeline after Kupp undergoes additional testing on that ankle on Monday.
The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue hears that Rams WR Cooper Kupp "appears to have avoided a worst-case scenario" with his ankle injury. He's scheduled for additional testing on Monday to get a better look at the damage. Kupp owners should still be preparing for him to miss time, but it at least sounds like he has a chance to play again this season.
Rams WR Cooper Kupp injured his right ankle in the 4th quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Cardinals. He went up to try to snag an overthrown pass and had a defender come down right on the ankle. This is the same ankle that Kupp hurt back in Week 8. We'll update his status when we know more.
Update: Kupp is officially doubtful to return.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport calls Rams QB Matt Stafford (concussion) a "long shot" to play against the Cardinals today. "Not ruled out yet, but not a great chance," Rapoport adds. Our current projections assume that QB John Wolford to be under center for the Rams today.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that Rams QB John Wolford is expected to start Sunday's game vs. the Rams, barring a "drastic change." QB Matt Stafford remains in the concussion protocol. We've had Wolford projected to start since Thursday.
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