Latest news with #Nacua
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Rams' 25 most important players for 2025 – No. 2: WR Puka Nacua
Puka Nacua's ascent to stardom was rapid – as fast as any player in recent memory for someone drafted as late as he was. He went from being a fifth-round rookie who was hardly a lock to make the 53-man roster when camp began to nearly winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and becoming one of the most popular players in football. He's well past just being popular now after a terrific second season. He's undeniably a top-tier player regardless of position, a legitimate candidate to compete for Offensive Player of the Year. His value to the Los Angeles Rams is huge, both as a receiver and a blocker in the run game. With Cooper Kupp gone, Nacua's importance to the team is even higher. He ranks No. 2 on our list of the team's 25 most important players entering the 2025 season. How he got here Nacua was a relatively unknown player to most in 2023 when the Rams selected him with the 177th overall pick in the fifth round. The BYU product was injured often in college and didn't test particularly well before the draft, causing his stock to slip. 2024 stats 11 games (11 starts): 106 targets, 79 catches, 990 yards, 3 touchdowns, 11 carries, 46 yards, 1 touchdown Projected role Kupp is out of the picture, which naturally elevates Nacua's opportunities a little bit. However, the signing of Davante Adams prevents Nacua from being the overwhelming favorite to be the go-to receiver. Both Nacua and Adams will both see a ton of targets from Matthew Stafford, especially considering they're different types of receivers. Nacua will play in the slot often and also line up wide to the right, while Adams' best spot might be as an X-receiver to the left side of the field where he'll be isolated against a cornerback. Why he's important Nacua missed five of the first six games last season and in those games, the Rams were 2-3. They also lost the opener against the Lions in a game where Nacua left in the second quarter with a knee injury. It's no coincidence that the Rams went 8-2 in the other 10 games, showing just how valuable he is to the team. If not for his five-game injury absence, he might've led the NFL in receiving yards; he was third in yards per game, averaging 90.0 in his second season, trailing only Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. The Rams don't have a receiver who can do the things that he can, from catching drag routes and turning them into big gains to blocking on the edge to running fades down the sideline. He improved in a big way last season despite his numbers declining, displaying more reliable hands, better route running and footwork, too. Los Angeles' offense is just different when he's on the field. Follow Rams Wire on X, Facebook and Threads for more coverage!
Fox Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Which 10 Players Have The Best Odds to Win 2025 Offensive Player of the Year?
Last season, Saquon Barkley dazzled the NFL world in his debut season with the Eagles, helping Philadelphia win Super Bowl LIX and earning 2024 NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors along the way. However, 2025 is a new year, and anything is possible. That said, who's the favorite to win 2025 OPOY? Here are the 10 players with the best odds to do just that, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Top 10 Players With Best Odds to Win NFL Offensive Player of the Year 10. San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (+2200) McCaffrey's 2024 campaign was a disaster, with the superstar running back playing just four games due to calf, Achilles and knee issues. At the same time, the two-time All-Pro is just one season removed from rushing for an NFL-high 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns on 5.4 yards per carry, while tallying 67 receptions for 564 yards and seven touchdowns, all of which helped him become a finalist for the 2023 NFL MVP Award and win 2023 Offensive Player of the Year honors. The slippery back has electric speed, is elusive and also an essential element of San Francisco's passing game. A healthy McCaffrey has been arguably the best running back in the NFL in recent memory. T-8. Dallas Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb (+2000) Lamb continues to make No. 88 shine bright. A four-time Pro Bowler and 2023 All-Pro, Lamb has totaled 1,100-plus receiving yards in each of the past four seasons and 100-plus receptions in each of the past three. Last season, Lamb logged 101 receptions for 1,194 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games in a year that saw quarterback Dak Prescott miss nine games due to a hamstring injury. Lamb has led Dallas in receiving yards in four consecutive seasons and is entering the first season of a four-year, $136 million deal. T-8. Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua (+2000) Nacua missed six regular-season games in 2024 (five due to a knee injury and one due to rest) but was still sharp in the 11 games that he did appear in, totaling 79 receptions for 990 yards and three touchdowns. He then logged 11 receptions for 141 yards in the Rams' two playoff games. Nacua was first among wide receivers with a 92.8 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus. Just one year ago, Nacua was a Pro Bowler, totaling 105 receptions for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns during his rookie season. T-6. Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson (+1700) Jefferson is arguably the best receiver the game has to offer. He's a menace in space, gets behind secondaries like nobody's business and produces consistently. A two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler, Jefferson totaled 103 receptions for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Jefferson, the 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, has totaled 1,000-plus receiving yards in each of his five seasons in the sport and ranked eighth among wide receivers with an 87.2 overall grade last season, per PFF. His production could be difficult to forecast for next season, though, as the Vikings are rolling with QB J.J. McCarthy, who they traded up to select at No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. T-6. Houston Texans WR Nico Collins (+1700) Collins has become one of the most reliable receivers in the sport. Last season, Collins totaled 68 receptions for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns, helping him earn his first career Pro Bowl nod. He then logged 12 receptions for 203 yards and one touchdown in Houston's two postseason games. Collins was second among wide receivers with a 91.6 overall grade, per PFF. He did all that despite missing five games due to a hamstring injury. The receiver has posted 1,000-plus receiving yards in each of the past two seasons. T-4. Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson (+1600) After a plausible and efficient 2023 rookie campaign, Robinson shouldered a larger role in Atlanta's backfield in 2024 and answered the call. Rushing for 1,456 yards and 14 touchdowns on 4.8 yards per carry and reeling in 61 receptions for 431 yards and one score, Robinson, who got the call on the run 90 more times than he did the year before (304 carries in 2024, compared to 214 carries in 2023), earned a Pro Bowl nod. Robinson, who's the focal point of the Falcons' offense, ranked second among running backs with a 92.8 overall grade last season, per PFF. T-4. Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry (+1600) The Ravens brought in Henry to strengthen an already potent running game, and the 252-pound back did just that and then some. In what was his ninth NFL season, Henry rushed for 1,921 yards and an NFL-high 16 touchdowns on a career-high 5.9 yards per carry. Henry, a one-time All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowler and the 2020 Offensive Player of the Year, ranked first among running backs with a 94.0 overall grade, per PFF. The star running back projects to remain the No. 1 source of offense for Baltimore next to quarterback and two-time MVP Lamar Jackson. T-2. Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs (+950) Gibbs is one of the most balanced running backs in recent memory. He has blazing speed, makes quick cuts and is a tremendous pass-catching back. Last season, Gibbs rushed for 1,412 yards and an NFL-high 16 touchdowns on 5.6 yards per carry, while totaling 52 receptions for 517 yards and four touchdowns. Gibbs, who ranked sixth among running backs with an 88.5 overall grade, per PFF, has been an integral part of Detroit's offense and a Pro Bowler in each of his first two NFL seasons. T-2. Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase (+950) Like his former LSU teammate Jefferson, Chase has a reputable case for being the NFL's top receiver. Last season, Chase logged 127 receptions for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns, all three totals leading the sport. A one-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler in each of his four NFL seasons, Chase has tallied 1,000-plus yards in each of his four seasons and has consistently been star quarterback Joe Burrow's No. 1 target in the Bengals' passing game. Chase signed a four-year, $161 million extension with the Bengals earlier this offseason. 1. Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley (+550) Full-blown hurdling a defender, setting NFL rushing records and becoming part of the Eagles' DNA, Barkley had a special debut season in Philadelphia. Rushing for an NFL-high 2,005 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns on a career-high 5.8 yards per carry, Barkley earned All-Pro honors and was an MVP finalist. Already becoming just the ninth player all-time to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season, Barkley later set the NFL record for combined rushing yards in a single season (regular season plus postseason), finishing with 2,504 yards on the ground. To top it off, Barkley and the Eagles won Super Bowl LIX. Check out all of our Daily Rankers . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience National Football League recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
WWE star doesn't think Puka Nacua is a 'game-changing wide receiver'
The discourse around the best wide receivers in the NFL continued this week when ESPN released their top-10 rankings based on a survey from executives, coaches and scouts. Neither Puka Nacua nor Davante Adams were ranked inside the top-10 despite both playing like two of the best receivers in 2024. WWE star Seth Rollins agreed with Nacua's absence. While he guest-hosted the Rich Eisen Show, Rollins said that the Rams receiver isn't "a game-changing wide receiver" because he's more of a possession receiver who makes a lot of catches but doesn't break free often. 'I don't think Puka's gotta be in [the top-10]. He's not a game-changing wide receiver for me. Not yet," Rollins said. 'He's legit, but I don't know that he strikes fear into my heart.' Nacua may not be in the upper echelon of receivers in Rollins' mind, but his stats certainly are. The Rams' wideout has 184 receptions for 2,476 yards and nine touchdowns in just two years — and he missed six games in 2024. Those numbers rank eighth, seventh and 37th since 2023. So, if Nacua just ups his touchdowns he should easily clear the bar for being a top-10 guy. Nacua will once again have Matthew Stafford under center and Sean McVay calling plays, so that always helps. Oh yeah, and Davante Adams is now in town to take more defenders away from Nacua. This will be the year for Nacua to prove he can change games for the Rams.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
3 Rams make PFN's top-100 player list for 2025
The Los Angeles Rams have a lot of star power on the roster heading into 2025. From veterans like Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams to young studs like Jared Verse and Puka Nacua. Where those players stand in the pantheon of the league is up for debate, but Pro Football Network's Brandon Austin ranked his top 100 players for 2025 based on their site's model. He ranked three Rams players in the top 100: defensive tackle Kobie Turner, Nacua and Verse. Here's how they all ranked out: No. 50: Kobie Turner Kobie Turner has solidified himself as a cornerstone of the Los Angeles Rams' defensive line in the post-Aaron Donald era. Playing in all 17 regular-season games, Turner recorded 62 tackles, including 35 solo, 8.0 sacks, four pass breakups, and one forced fumble. Turner has looked impressive in his first two seasons with the Rams. Surrounded by other promising young talents like Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, and Byron Young, Turner will be part of a formidable defensive front for years to come. No. 43: Puka Nacua Puka Nacua turned heads with a record-setting rookie season, and the expectations were high heading into Year 2. The former fifth-round pick missed time early in the season due to injury but still managed to catch 79 passes for 990 yards and three touchdowns. Nacua grabbed the top spot in our WR+ rankings last year, thanks to some strong efficiency numbers, including 3.57 yards per route run (first among WRs) and 6.6 yards after catch per reception (15th). Cooper Kupp is gone, and Davante Adams is in, which should take some pressure off Nacua. It should improve his efficiency, as Adams' presence should open up the field. Nacua's connection with Matthew Stafford is clear, and the stage is set for another big year. No. 9: Jared Verse As Verse heads into his sophomore campaign, expectations are understandably sky-high. He is poised to make an even greater impact after a full offseason to work on his technique. With Verse's rare speed, power, and instincts, his sack total could climb in a significant way. The absence of Adams, Stafford, and running back Kyren Williams is somewhat surprising, as these rankings seemed to favor younger players over established starters in some areas. For the Rams as a team, Stafford, Adams and Williams might be just as important as the names listed above. Where they sit among the rest of the league matters less than how they affect the team itself.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Puka Nacua cracks PFF's top 50 players list: How high did the Rams WR rank?
Puka Nacua's production speaks for itself: 184 catches, 2,476 yards and nine touchdowns in his first 28 games as a pro. That's an average of 6.6 receptions and 88.4 yards per game, which both rank among the best in the NFL in the last two years. Not only is he one of the top receivers in football – despite what NFL coaches and executives think – but he's one of the best overall players in the league. Pro Football Focus ranked the top 50 players for 2025 and like Jared Verse, Nacua made the cut. Nacua came in at No. 32, ahead of fellow receivers such as CeeDee Lamb (36), Nico Collins (37), Tyreek Hill (39) and Mike Evans (48). All of those players were ranked higher in ESPN's poll of coaches and executives, where Nacua was 12th as an 'honorable mention.' Nacua played only 11 games in 2024 due to injury but still finished with the NFL's highest receiving grade at 93.0. He's also coming off a 1,486-yard rookie season in 2022. Over the past two years, he ranks seventh among receivers in PFF WAR (1.01). The scary part? Nacua is still getting better, building on an already elite level of production and efficiency. It's hard to know exactly how Davante Adams' arrival will impact Nacua, but it's not as if Puka hasn't played alongside an elite receiver before; he was Cooper Kupp's teammate for the last two seasons. He should still see a healthy number of targets and typically when the ball is thrown his way, he's producing a ton of yards. Only entering his third year as a pro, Nacua should continue to get better. He may have had more receptions and yards as a rookie but in fewer games last season, he was even more efficient and reliable. That's the exciting part.
