A rookie out of BYU, Nacua has a long road to go if he wants to become a starter in the NFL, and a Fantasy-relevant one at that. But landing with Sean McVay and the Rams is a great place to start. Their receiving room is crowded but wide open behind Cooper Kupp. For now, view Nacua as a Dynasty-only option, and even in that format he shouldn't be drafted in the first three rounds of a rookie-only draft. But if the offseason buzz surrounding him continues into training camp, don't ignore it.
Although Nacua (oblique) has been given a questionable designation for Monday's matchup with the Bengals, head coach Sean McVay "expects him to play," Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.
Nacua logged back-to-back limited practice sessions to close out the week after being a non-participant Thursday. McVay's optimism regarding his status for MNF is promising, but the rookie pass catcher still needs to continue progressing in the right direction in order to ultimately get the green light. More clarity on his status will presumably come Monday.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Returns as limited participant
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Nacua (oblique) practiced on a limited basis Friday, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Per Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register, Nacua got back on the practice field Friday after sitting out Thursday's session, but the rookie wide receiver still isn't able to handle a full workload due to a lingering oblique injury. Nacua will have one more chance to get back to all activity Saturday before the Rams potentially hand him a designation for Monday's game at Cincinnati.
Nacua (oblique) caught 15 of 20 targets for 147 yards and no touchdowns while adding four yards on two carries in Sunday's 30-23 loss to the 49ers.
Nacua followed up last week's breakout 10-catch, 119-yard performance with an even-gaudier receiving line against one of the league's top defenses. The 23-year-old didn't show any ill effects from the oblique injury that left him with a questionable tag heading into Sunday's loss. Nacua also displayed his versatility on a pair of rushing attempts, highlighting a big part of his game over his last two years at BYU (39 carries for 357 yards and five TDs). The only missing piece in the rookie's fantasy game so far has been the lack of a touchdown, but the overall results have been impressive through two games. Nacua will look to continue racking up catches when the Rams take on the Bengals next Monday.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Suits up Sunday
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Nacua (oblique) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the 49ers.
After missing practice Thursday, Nacua returned to a limited session Friday, setting the stage for the ascending young wideout to play Sunday. With Cooper Kupp (hamstring) on IR and out until at least Week 5, Nacua has taken on a prominent role in the Rams' passing offense alongside fellow WRs Van Jefferson and Tutu Atwell. In the team's 30-13 win over Seattle in Week 1, Nacua parlayed his 63 snaps into a 10/119-0 receiving line on a team-high 15 targets. With Nacua's active status confirmed, look for the 2023 fifth-rounder to remain a key target for QB Matthew Stafford in the absence of setbacks during Week 2 versus a rugged San Francisco defense that allowed seven points to Pittsburgh last Sunday.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Questionable to face 49ers
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Nacua (oblique) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the 49ers after returning to a limited practice Friday.
Coach Sean McVay said Friday that he expects Nacua to play despite being a mid-week addition to the injury report. If so, the rookie should be one of the focal points of the Rams offense after catching 10 passes Week 1 at Seattle, though Nacua gets a tougher matchup this time around against the vaunted 49ers defense. In the event of a setback ahead of Sunday's 4:05 ET kickoff, Ben Skowronek would be the favorite replace Nacua alongside Van Jefferson and Tutu Atwell in the three-wide formations that dominate McVay's offense.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Expected to play
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Coach Sean McVay said Friday that he expects Nacua (oblique) to play in Sunday's game against San Francisco, with the wideout returning to a limited practice Friday and likely listed as questionable on the final injury report, Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site reports.
It's possible the outlook changes Friday afternoon after Nacua actually practices. His 10-catch performance last Sunday in Seattle was one of the biggest stories (and surprises) of Week 1, and he made it through the game healthy but was then a mid-week addition to the injury report this Thursday (listed as a non-participant). In the event McVay is wrong and Nacua doesn't end up playing, Ben Skowronek would be the favorite to join Van Jefferson and Tutu Atwell in three-wide sets.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Dealing with oblique injury
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Nacua didn't practice Thursday due to an oblique injury, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Nacua was perhaps the biggest surprise of Week 1, when he torched the Seahawks on the road to the tune of 10 catches (on 15 targets) for 119 yards. The performance made him one of the biggest pickups during Week 2 roster management, but he now is dealing with a health concern. Considering his sudden emergence on the practice report, Nacua may have suffered the injury during Thursday's session. In any case, his status now bears monitoring, with his listing Friday key to his potential (or lack thereof) to play Sunday against the 49ers.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Week 2 Adds (WR Preview)
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If you don't have a glaring need, Nacua should be the top waiver wire add this week regardless of position. Nacua's 40.5% target share ranked second only to fellow rookie Zay Flowers this week. Matthew Stafford looked like himself again and Cooper Kupp is out for at least three more weeks. View Nacua as a borderline WR2 for the next three weeks, and then we'll see if he can settle into a Robert Woods-like role opposite Kupp.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Breaks out in pro debut
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Nacua finished with 10 receptions (on 15 targets) for 119 yards in Sunday's 30-13 win over Seattle.
Nacua was elevated into the starting lineup with Cooper Kupp (hamstring) being ruled out earlier in the week. The rookie fifth-round selection out of BYU did his best Kupp impression by leading the Rams in receptions, targets and yardage. Matthew Stafford looked refreshed Sunday following a down year in 2022, so Nacua has the opportunity to generate numbers while Kupp mends on injured reserve for a minimum of four weeks. The rookie will attempt to follow up this eye-catching performance against a tough 49ers defense Sunday.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: No. 3 wideout for Week 1
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Nacua will serve as the Rams' No. 3 wide receiver with Cooper Kupp (hamstring) ruled out for Sunday's contest against Seattle, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Atlantic reports.
The rookie fifth-round pick out of BYU will be thrust into a fairly significant role to start his career as one of the starting wideouts for the Rams along with Van Jefferson and Tutu Atwell. Nacua made his only appearance in the preseason count, posting three catches for 32 yards and a touchdown on five targets in a 34-17 loss to the Chargers on Aug. 12. Kupp's hamstring injury could be serious enough for him to begin the season on injured reserve, so Nacua's increased role could extend beyond this week.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: May play a lot Week 1
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Nacua could step into a top-three role at wide receiver if Cooper Kupp (hamstring) isn't ready for Week 1 at Seattle, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
The Rams don't have much else behind Kupp at wide receiver, with Nacua joined by Van Jefferson, Tutu Atwell, Ben Skowronek and Demarcus Robinson. The report suggests Nacua likely would play ahead of Skowronek and Robinson, two veterans with experience as NFL starters but not much in the way of receiving production. It sounds like Nacua, a rookie fifth-round pick, will be only fourth or fifth on the depth chart if Kupp is able to play.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Scores in preseason debut
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Nacua secured three of five targets for 32 yards and a touchdown in the Rams' 34-17 preseason loss to the Chargers on Saturday night.
The highlight of the rookie fifth-round pick's night was an 11-yard scoring grab from the arm of fellow first-year player Stetson Bennett with 1:48 remaining in the first half. Nacua's target tally was also the third highest of the night for the Rams, making it a solid debut all around. Nacua's competition for a depth receiver role, Tutu Atwell, didn't see any action Saturday, but he put some encouraging play on film last season and could jump into the fray during the Rams' second preseason game next Saturday night against the Raiders.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Could earn No. 3 role
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Nacua and Tutu Atwell are currently in competition for the No. 3 wide receiver role in the Rams' offense, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
Nacua's status as a rookie hasn't stopped the Rams from giving him a large workload in spring OTAs and training camp. With Cooper Kupp (hamstring) likely sidelined for a few weeks, Nacua will likely have an expanded role in preseason games as he and the incumbent Atwell fight for the third receiver spot behind Kupp and Van Jefferson. While he can't compete with Atwell's blazing speed, Nacua's physical attributes and ability to run through the catch and break tackles make him an intriguing weapon for offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur if he were to win the role.
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Rams' Puka Nacua: Back to practice
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Nacua returned to practice Saturday after suffering from cramping Thursday, Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site reports.
Nacua shined during a practice that took place Saturday and was open to fans. Jackson specifically notes a 30-yard, over-the-shoulder catch near the corner of the end zone. Selected in the fifth round of the 2023 Draft, Nacua has the opportunity to move pretty far up the Rams' positional depth chart with not a lot of clarity in the pecking order behind Cooper Kupp and Van Jefferson.
