Puka Nacua
24-Year-Old
2023 Receiving Stats
REC
105
YDS
1486
TD
6
AVG
14.2
TAR
160
2024 Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Nacua came into the NFL as a fifth-round pick and had nearly as many receiving yards (1,486) in his rookie season as in all four years of his college career combined (1,749). It helped that he played all 17 games, after averaging eight between his time at Washington and BYU. It also helped to have QB Matthew Stafford and HC Sean McVay on his side, and WR Cooper Kupp's hamstring injury in September contributed to Nacua drawing 52 targets over his first four games. After that, Nacua averaged 5.2 catches for 78.7 yards on 8.6 targets in the 12 games both he and Kupp played, continuing to flirt with fantasy WR1 status. Kupp averaged 4.9 catches for 61.4 yards on 7.9 targets in those same 12 games, and it was Nacua who exploded for 9-181-1 in a wild-card loss to the Lions, setting a single-game rookie receiving record for the playoffs (after breaking the season-long record a week earlier). Nacua did most of his damage on short and intermediate passes, but he was efficient with his deep chances as well, catching 10 of 17 targets 20-plus yards downfield. He looked a step quicker than his 4.57 40 time suggests, though it was his strength, toughness and agility that really stood out while he recorded the fourth most yards after catch (689, 6.4 average) among WRs. Kupp has already shown that a receiver can post huge numbers under McVay/Stafford without top-notch athletic traits, and Nacua appears to be the new No. 1 in an efficient offense that's heavily concentrated among its star players. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Posts 181 rec yards in playoff loss
Nacua caught nine of 10 targets for 181 yards and a touchdown while rushing once for minus-2 yards in Sunday's 24-23 wild-card round loss to the Lions.
ANALYSIS
Nacua delivered a stellar performance in his playoff debut after a record-setting rookie season, highlighted by a 50-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. The game's pivotal play was an incomplete pass to Nacua, though, as a Detroit defender grabbed his jersey on a third-down target from Matthew Stafford in the final minutes. A penalty would have set the Rams up in field-goal range, but the missed call led to a punt, and Detroit proceeded to run out the final 4:07, putting an end to Nacua's magical rookie season. After racking up 105 catches, 1,486 receiving yards and six touchdowns in the regular season, Nacua has gone from an unheralded fifth-round NFL Draft pick in 2023 to one of the league's most coveted targets in fantasy drafts heading into the 2024 season.
Nacua delivered a stellar performance in his playoff debut after a record-setting rookie season, highlighted by a 50-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. The game's pivotal play was an incomplete pass to Nacua, though, as a Detroit defender grabbed his jersey on a third-down target from Matthew Stafford in the final minutes. A penalty would have set the Rams up in field-goal range, but the missed call led to a punt, and Detroit proceeded to run out the final 4:07, putting an end to Nacua's magical rookie season. After racking up 105 catches, 1,486 receiving yards and six touchdowns in the regular season, Nacua has gone from an unheralded fifth-round NFL Draft pick in 2023 to one of the league's most coveted targets in fantasy drafts heading into the 2024 season.
NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Puka Nacua's 2023 advanced stats compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank.
The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
Air Yards Per Game
84.3Air Yards Per Snap
1.51% Team Air Yards
33.8%% Team Targets
28.6%Avg Depth of Target
9.1 YdsCatch Rate
65.6%Drop Rate
8.8%Avg Yds After Catch
6.2% Targeted On Route
29.1%Avg Yds Per Route Run
2.71Loading Advanced NFL Stats...
2023
2023 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Puka Nacua lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
Detailed
Grouped
Side
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2023 Puka Nacua Split Stats
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Measurables Review
View College Player Page
How do Puka Nacua's measurables compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
* All metrics are from his Pro Day (not the combine).
Height
6' 2"Weight
205 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.56 secShuttle Time
4.36 secCone Drill
7.32 secVertical Jump
33.0 inBroad Jump
121 inBench Press
15 repsHand Length
9.62 inArm Length
32.00 in
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Confident heading into Year 2
Nacua, who set rookie records with 105 receptions and 1,486 receiving yards in 2023, says he's looking forward to the challenge of putting together a successful encore in his second season, Grant Gordon of NFL.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Nacua noted during an appearance on the NFL Network's Schedule Release '24 event that he was "super excited for the challenges" that he expects this coming season. The talented wideout will get a high-profile first opportunity to start building on his phenomenal rookie campaign, as the Rams will travel to Detroit in Week 1 for a Sunday night rematch of January's NFC Wild Card Game matchup, one in which Nacua posted nine receptions for 181 yards and a touchdown.
Nacua noted during an appearance on the NFL Network's Schedule Release '24 event that he was "super excited for the challenges" that he expects this coming season. The talented wideout will get a high-profile first opportunity to start building on his phenomenal rookie campaign, as the Rams will travel to Detroit in Week 1 for a Sunday night rematch of January's NFC Wild Card Game matchup, one in which Nacua posted nine receptions for 181 yards and a touchdown.
2023 Fantasy Outlook
The fifth-rounder out of BYU didn't post earth-shattering numbers in college, but his versatility as both a receiver and a rushing option (25-209-5 rushing line as a senior) along with good height and size makes Nacua a flexible option for new offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. Nacua has worked his way into the competition for the No. 3 wide receiver role, and should find a few targets behind Cooper Kupp and Van Jefferson in a weak Rams offense.
More Fantasy News
Fittingly surpasses expectations
Nacua corralled all four of his targets for 41 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 21-20 win over the 49ers.
ANALYSIS
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Will exit after notching record
The Rams plan to remove Nacua from Sunday's game against the 49ers once he records 29 receiving yards, which would allow him to break the single-season rookie receiving record of 1,473 yards, Jay Glazer reported on "Fox NFL Sunday."
ANALYSIS
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Just 28 yards from rookie record
Nacua (hip) caught five of eight targets for 118 yards and rushed twice for 19 yards in Sunday's 26-25 win over the Giants.
ANALYSIS
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Suiting up Sunday
Nacua (hip) is active for Sunday's game at the Giants, Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times reports.
ANALYSIS
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Should play through hip injury
Nacua will miss Friday's practice with a hip injury and will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game at the Giants, but head coach Sean McVay said the wide receiver is still expected to play, Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times reports.
ANALYSIS
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