McVay ‘not sure’ if Puka will play Week 3

Nacua operated as the primary option through the air for a Rams team that attempted more than 50 passes for the third straight game. The veteran alpha was mostly confined to short-area work, something that could be attributed to the groin injury that continues to have his name on the injury report in practice, but that would not keep Nacua from returning another elite WR1 performance. Nacua was also inches away from padding his stat line further after failing to come down with what would have been a 51-yard touchdown reception on the final play of the first half. Nacua and the Rams fall to 2-3 ahead of a Week 6 divisional showdown against the Cardinals, where he will remain one of the top fantasy assets in the league.

It was the third consecutive game in which Stafford attempted 51 passes or more in what has become the most voluminous passing offense in the league. The two powerhouses felt each other out throughout the first half as only 20 combined points per scored before the break. Things would get aggressive for the final 30 minutes as seven combined touchdowns were scored on nine second half possessions, four of which were accounted for by the Rams. Stafford directed a whopping 24 targets toward alpha wide receiver Puka Nacua, who set a career high with 17 receptions in a short-area role. The reigning MVP returned an instant classic performance against the 2024 MVP, ultimately coming up short in overtime following a blocked field goal attempt from Harrison Mevis. The Rams fall to 2-3 ahead of a home matchup against the more forgiving Cardinals in Week 6. Stafford is once again a fantasy QB1 in that matchup.

Nacua’s rushing score came on a second quarter end-around. Out there for the first time since Week 1, Nacua did what he always seems to do when active and post a dominant statline. We say “active” rather than “healthy,” as FOX’s Erin Andrews confirmed during the broadcast Nacua is dealing with some sort of sports-hernia situation. That could make him something of a week-to-week proposition but hopefully the superstar wideout has found some way to manage the pain for the rest of the season. He has a Week 5 smash spot in the Bills’ shootout-prone defense. He will also have an extra day to get healthy with the game taking place on Monday Night Football.

Stafford put the Rams behind the eight ball with a pair of first half interceptions but was better after the break as the Rams slowly erased a 20-10 deficit. Not that he was amazing, but with the Eagles finishing an inconceivable 0-12 on third down, Stafford needed to make just enough plays, and that’s what he did despite leaving some meat on the bone. It was forgivable on a rainy day in Philly, though Stafford now has at least one interception in all four of his starts. In fact, he has as many scores (six) as picks. Hopefully that trend reverses with Puka Nacua back in the lineup, though the schedule is not lightening up with the Rams hosting the Bills for Monday Night Football in Week 5. That should nevertheless be a fantasy football bonanza.

Andrews broke the news while reporting from the sideline of the Rams’ Week 4 game against the Eagles. Signs have been pointing to this type of injury for a while now, with the Rams referring to Nacua’s nagging injury as both a hip and groin issue. Just over two minutes remain in the third quarter, and Nacua has only come off the field for a few plays thus far. It appears as though the team has handled the injury well, though one imagines re-injury risk is still a factor. That said, he is a WR1 whenever he is active.

Looks like we’ve got ourselves an old-fashioned source-off here. Schefter says Nacua won’t be limited, while The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero said over the weekend that Nacua may be on “a stricter snap count than usual.” Even if his snaps are cut back, Nacua is one of the best per-route receivers in the NFL. He will get by for fantasy managers in whatever role the Rams give him. He is, at worst, a low-end WR1 for Week 4.

Rams HC Sean McVay said Nacua, who has been dealing with a groin injury, is good to go after getting a full practice in on Friday. The coach also noted that they’re still working through Nacua’s snap count and now Pelissero reports that it could be stricter than usual. Fantasy managers should still treat Nacua as a high-end WR1 even in a difficult matchup against the Eagles in Week 4.

This escalated quickly. Ferguson briefly returned in Week 3 after getting X-rays on his injured ankle, but he was ultimately unable to continue. Ferguson can be kept on squads possessing an injured reserve spot, but dropping him for a needed starter makes sense. He will be eligible to return in Week 8 against the Chargers.

Ferguson suffered the ankle injury in Week 3 against the Broncos and was taken to the locker room for X-rays. He was cleared to return, but only did so briefly. The intriguing youngster remains a worthwhile hold, but he could end up being questionable to play next week.

Nacua will return after getting in a Friday full practice and should be a WR1 play, even against the Eagles’ vaunted secondary. McVay noted that they are still working through how they will navigate his snap count, so Davante Adams should remain near the WR1 line this week as they reintegrate Nacua. But nobody is sitting Puka Nacua in a standard league.