Fantasy football: Analyzing Puka Nacua’s outlook in 2023
The Los Angeles Rams will look a bit different at the wide receiver position entering the 2023 season. Outside of Cooper Kupp and Van Jefferson, Tutu Atwell, Puka Nacua, Ben Skowronek, and Demarcus Robinson are all competing for roles in the offense.
By looking at the ADP (average draft position) of the Rams’ wide receivers, it’s clearly uncertain who will emerge in the passing game behind Kupp and Jefferson. Nacua is currently the third Rams wideout taken in drafts, with an ADP of 271 and he’s the 101st wide receiver selected (on average), according to FantasyPros.
During the 2023 NFL draft, the Rams used the 177th overall pick in the fifth round on Nacua. The BYU product was a versatile wideout in college, evidenced by his 39 rushing attempts, 357 rushing yards, and five touchdowns in his final two seasons.
Nacua isn’t going to beat defenders with blazing speed, but he’s at his best with the ball in his hands. The first-year wideout is physical before and after the catch, and the coaching staff has raved about his feel for the game throughout the offseason.
Rookie wide receivers — or any position, for that matter — can be hit or miss in the NFL. Sometimes, it takes longer for other first-year players to get acclimated to the speed of the game or the offensive scheme they’ve been placed in than others.
The good news for Nacua is that he has Kupp and Jefferson to learn from in his debut season with the Rams. And Matthew Stafford has been able to throw this offseason, which has allowed Nacua to build chemistry with the veteran signal-caller.
Many have compared Nacua to Robert Woods in the role that the rookie wideout could carve in Sean McVay’s offense. Nacua could wind up seeing usage with jet sweeps, and if he can contribute as a run blocker, he could see the field early and often.
In season-long redraft leagues, Nacua isn’t being taken in the majority of drafts. While it isn’t worth taking Nacua in 10 or 12-team redraft leagues just yet, he’s worth taking a flier on at the end of best-ball league drafts in hopes he can earn the No. 3 spot on the depth chart at some point.
