Puka

Nacua

A week after setting the rookie records for most receptions and most receiving yards in Week 18, Nacua set yet another rookie receiving record by amassing a robust 181 yards and a score in the Rams’ Wildcard loss to the Lions. Nacua ends his rookie season as the WR6 in PPR points per game and should have the bulk of the same supporting cast entering the new league year, most notably quarterback Matthew Stafford’s likely return while in the third year of a four-year contract. It would not be a surprise to see Nacua at the end of the first round in dynasty leagues moving forward.

The effort gave Nacua 1,486 receiving yards on 105 catches and enabled him to break the records for most receiving yards and receptions in a season by a rookie. The Rams were clearly targeting him early and often, hoping they could get him in the record books and preserve his health ahead of the playoffs. Once he broke the record early in the third quarter, head coach Sean McVay pulled him from the game immediately. It’s been a pretty special season for the fifth-round pick out of BYU.

Nacua had a sleepy Week 17 going into the fourth quarter. He had four receptions for 38 yards and no carries. Then, early in the third quarter, Matthew Stafford hit him on a short hitch route. Nacua shed one tackle and sprinted down the field before being brought down inside the five-yard line. Kyren Williams capped off the drive with a short score. Nacua finished second on the team in targets and first in yards. He will rank as a fringe WR1 for his Week 18.

The news doesn’t come as a surprise as Sea McVay told reporters Nacua was expected to play despite getting listed as questionable. Nacua will rank as a fringe WR1 for the final week of the fantasy season. Inactive for the Rams are OL Alaric Jackson, CB Tre Tomlinson, RB Zach Evans, OLB Ochaun Mathis and DL Earnest Brown.

McVay said Nacua felt some tightness in his hip on Friday and won’t practice. He mentioned that Nacua could be listed as questionable before saying he shouldn’t be affected by the issue come Sunday. Barring a setback, Nacua will suit up as a low-end WR1 once more, this time for the final week of the fantasy football season.

Nacua added two carries for a rugged 16 ground yards. The 164 receiving was a new career-high for the otherworldly rookie, who is now up to 96 receptions through 15 games. The touchdown was somehow only his fifth, though he could have had a sixth had Matthew Stafford not missed a wide-open red zone look. For the score the duo did convert, Nacua simply beat his man to the spot on a two-yard end zone grab. Nacua made an absurd sliding, sideline catch on the opening play of the second half. You could feel his production this evening. He went out and took the yards. The Giants are a plus Week 17 matchup for the fantasy finals.

Nacua’s eight targets tied Cooper Kupp for the team lead, but Kupp had far more success on the day than Nacua did. Credit Nacua for making several nice plays to keep drives alive and the Rams’ offense on schedule; it just wasn’t his day against a porous Commanders’ secondary. He’ll look to get back on track in Week 16 against the Saints, where he can be treated as a high-end WR2.

Nacua’s biggest play came on a 34-yard reception in the second quarter. The rookie receiver took an intermediate pass upfield for the big gain, helping to set up an eventual seven-yard receiving touchdown by fellow rookie Davis Allen. Nacua would later haul in a diving catch for 23 yards to put the Rams in position for another touchdown in the fourth quarter, coming up clutch on more than one occasion in this one. Nacua has gone for 70+ yards in three of his last four games and continues to be a fringe WR1. He’ll be on track for another big outing in Week 15 when the Rams take on the Commanders.

Nacua was limited in Wednesday’s walkthrough, but head coach Sean McVay said he was a full participant. After that, Nacua both participated in full and was listed as a full participant for the remainder of the week. It’s safe to say Nacua will play without any limitations versus the Ravens. In a brutal matchup with Baltimore’s stingy defense, Nacua will rank as a high-end WR2.

This, after coach Sean McVay said Nacua was full on Wednesday even though he was listed as “limited.” Although Nacua is more of a WR2 than WR1 for Sunday’s brutal Ravens matchup, he is in zero danger of sitting.