Fantasy football: Where to draft Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua

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Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua exploded onto the scene last season, going from overlooked 5th-round draft pick to NFL sensation seemingly overnight.

Nacua picked up the slack in a huge way with WR Cooper Kupp starting last season on the reserve/injured list due to a hamstring injury. In his first 2 NFL games, Nacua set the tone for the season, posting 25 receptions on 35 targets with 266 receiving yards while hitting at least 119 yards in each of the outings.

Kupp was able to return in early October, but Nacua didn’t really slow down. He remained consistent while never having fewer than 3 receptions at any point. He also had seven 100-yard games while finding the end zone 6 times in the regular season. And while it didn’t mean anything to most fantasy managers outside of DFS and postseason leagues, he exploded for 9 grabs, 181 yards and a TD in an NFC Wild Card loss in Detroit.

There is little reason to believe the younger Nacua will be supplanted as the WR1 in Los Angeles. It’s his job to lose now, as Kupp has dealt with injuries the past 2 seasons, and his small frame and high volume is starting to take its toll. Below, we look at Puka Nacua’s 2024 fantasy football average draft position (ADP) and where you should draft him.

As we head into the 2024 season, Nacua can be counted upon as a legit WR1 in most fantasy formats.

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Puka Nacua’s ADP: 16.96

(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com; last updated at time of this publishing – ADPs continually change as more drafts occur)

Nacua’s 16.96 ADP in redraft formats makes him a solid WR1, and he is a nice option at receiver in most leagues. The former BYU standout should start flying off the board by the end of Round 2, and there is very little chance he lasts any longer than the middle of Round 3.

Nacua’s ADP ranks him 8th among wideouts. The receivers picked in front of him include Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals, 8.21), A.J. Brown (Philadelphia Eagles, 11.33), Garrett Wilson (New York Jets, 14.97) and Marvin Harrison Jr. (Arizona Cardinals, 16.34). Nacua has been going off the board just ahead of Davante Adams (Las Vegas Raiders, 22.47), his teammate Kupp (26.37) and Chris Olave (New Orleans Saints, 27.96).

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Puka Nacua’s 2023-24 stats

Games: 17

Receptions | targets: 105 | 160

Receiving yards: 1,486

Receiving touchdowns: 6

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Where should you draft Pacua?

Nacua broke the NFL record for most catches and receiving yards by a rookie, and the yardage mark had stood since 1960 when Bill Groman rolled up 1,473 receiving yards on just 72 catches while posting 12 TDs in 14 games for the Houston Oilers.

Nacua has been nursing a nagging knee injury in training camp and the preseason, but it doesn’t sound like something which will hamper him into Week 1. He is a must-start WR1 in all fantasy formats, even with a healthy Kupp also serving as a WR1 in PPR leagues.

The Rams pass attack is going to be outstanding as long as everyone stays healthy, and even RB Kyren Williams is a threat to catch balls out of the backfield.

Once the top-notch options are off the board, grabbing Nacua at the end of Round 2 or into Round 3 is a strong pick. Could there be a backslide with a full season trying to co-exist with Kupp? Maybe. But, both receivers are likely to see a lot of single coverage, too, leading to some giant stat lines.

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