Puka

Nacua

Nacua made easy work of an Arizona defense that wasn’t terribly interested in defending Rams players in Week 14. Nacua dominated the LA passing attack with a 35 percent target share and led the team in air yards. He bullied his way into the end zone for his second touchdown against a dismal Cardinals secondary that allowed 281 yards and three scores to Matthew Stafford. Week 14 was only the fourth time Nacua has exceeded 100 receiving yards this season. His touchdowns were the first time he’s found pay dirt in nearly a month. He’ll be an elite option in Week 15 against a deteriorating Lions coverage unit.

Nacua was surprisingly held in check for most of this one, with three of his receptions coming on the Rams’ final two drives. One of those catches, however, came in the form of one of the more impressive one-handed grabs you will ever see, which resulted in a 31-yard gain to put the Rams within seven yards of a score. Kyren Williams would punch the ball in on the following play to ensure Nacua’s herculean effort wasn’t in vain. Nacua didn’t blow up the box score in this one, but his 6-72-0 line was solid and his nine targets still led the team by a wide margin. Fantasy managers will hope for a “better” performance in Week 14 against the Cardinals.

Nacua ranks behind only Ja’Marr Chase and Drake London in targets per game in 2025 as he continues to churn out consistent production as the focal point of one of the most potent pass offenses in the league. The only thing typically missing, as it was against the Buccaneers, is a robust red zone role, which manifested again in Week 12 as Davante Adams scored twice from inside the red zone. Up next for Nacua and the Rams is the Cover-3-heavy Carolina defense, against whom he should once again serve as Stafford’s top option through the air.

It was the rare touchdown-less performance for Nacua, who tied Davante Adams for the team lead in targets and saw a couple late game rushing attempts as the Rams drained the clock. Nacua continues to lose out on easy touchdown opportunities as Adams dominates as Matthew Stafford’s go-to guy inside the five yard line. Nacua hasn’t had a truly big game in more than a month, but will be a top-5 fantasy option in Week 12 against a beatable Bucs secondary.

He played on just 35 of the Rams’ 68 snaps, but he took a screen pass from Matthew Stafford on a blitz to make it 14-0 early. We’re guessing the Rams were just playing cautiously with Nacua after he left last week’s game with a chest injury, and that he probably could have played more had the team not established a big lead. Nacua will remain a must-start regardless — look at what he did despite this snap count — but there is a little more floor potential than usual next week against the Seahawks’ defense.

The Rams’ No. 1 wide receiver would never leave a fantasy squad in the lurch. The team gave Nacua a half-day on Wednesday before upgrading him to full participation on Thursday and Friday. The No. 5 wide receiver in half-PPR per-game scoring (18.7) is ready to rock in a divisional tilt against the 49ers on Sunday. He is an elite WR1.

Ever willing to play through injury, even reportedly injured ribs, Nacua is firmly on track to play in Week 10 against the 49ers, whose injury-depleted pass rush should struggle to pressure QB Matthew Stafford. Expect Nacua to perform as an elite WR1, per usual, while Stafford slings it from cozy pockets on Sunday. Hopefully, we see Nacua once again practice in full on Friday.

Nacua suffered a chest injury in Week 9 against the Saints and did not return. Head coach Sean McVay after the game explained Nacua suffered a rib injury and could have returned. Nacua was officially listed as a limited participant on Wednesday as McVay said earlier in the day that the 24-year-old is expected to play Week 10 against the 49ers.

Nacua left Week 9’s game against the Saints with the rib injury and did not return. McVay did tell reporters after the game that he could have returned. The Saints weren’t threatening the Rams late in the game, so there was no point in sending Nacua back out. Nacua underwent testing after the game, but clearly no serious issues were found. Though the minor scrapes and bruises are mounting for Nacua, he’s a WR1 anytime he’s active. That will remain the case versus the 49ers this week.

A scan means we’re not completely out of the woods yet, but Nacua has bled on the field this year and we doubt a small-scale fractured rib would keep him out. (Easy for us to say.) Nacua’s status will be worth tracking, but we’d enter Week 10 expecting him to play based on the rhetoric so far.