Puka Nacua on pace to break single-season rookie receiving record

Puka Nacua needs to average 83 yards per game in the final 7 week to break the rookie receiving record. Can he do it?

Puka Nacua has been one of the Rams’ most productive players this season despite being a fifth-round rookie. Through 10 games, he has 69 catches for 897 yards and three touchdowns, ranking in the top 10 in receptions and yards among all NFL players this season.

Though he’s already set several records, he’s got a chance to set another one this year. With 897 yards in his first 10 games, Nacua is currently on pace for 1,524 receiving yards in 2023. If he keeps up that pace, he’ll set the single-season receiving record for a rookie, which is currently held by Bill Groman at 1,473 yards. He set that record in 1960 and the closest anyone has come to breaking it is Ja’Marr Chase, who had 1,455 yards in 2021.

Nacua would need to average just 82.3 yards per game the rest of the way to break Groman’s record, which is very doable considering he’s currently averaging 89.7 yards per game. He actually hurt his pace on Sunday despite catching five passes for 70 yards and a touchdown, but he gets a favorable matchup with the Cardinals in Week 12.

If Nacua does finish with 1,524 yards, that would be the fifth-most in a single season in Rams history. Cooper Kupp holds the franchise record with 1,947 yards, which was set in 2021.