Puka Nacua of the Rams is getting closer to shattering the rookie receiving record.
In his rookie season, Puka Nacua, a wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams, has stormed the NFL. Nacua, who was chosen in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, broke the rookie receiving record for the Rams against the Cleveland Browns last week and surpassed 1,000 yards.
Seeing as how the Rams did not have a wide receiver with 1,000 yards after Torry Holt left in 2007–2016, reaching the 1,000 yard mark is no easy task, even in a passing league. The Rams organization has produced some talented wide receivers in the past. Specifically, Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, and Henry Ellard were all selected higher in the draft. As rookies, Ellard had 268 receiving yards, Bruce had 272 yards, and Holt had 788 yards. Nacua may have more rookie yards than the combined total of those three players.
The NFL’s all-time rookie receiving record, which was set by Bill Groman in 1960, will be Nacua’s next major accomplishment. Groman had 1,473 yards in that season, but he only played in 14 games. Nacua would still be making history if he were to break that record, though.
After the Rams bye week, there were some doubts about Nacua’s ability to surpass the record. Nacua had to average 77 yards per game heading into the bye week in order to qualify for the postseason. Up until then, the rookie quarterback for the Rams was averaging 82 yards per game, but he appeared to be struggling to maintain that pace with games against the Browns and Baltimore Ravens coming up.
Nacua had 105 yards against the formidable Browns defense as of right now. Nacua can break the record with just 445 receiving yards in the remaining five weeks. He would have to maintain an 89-yard per game pace. He is currently averaging 85. Once more, that pace appears challenging, but it is not impossible.
The Ravens, who rank first in pass defense DVOA and second in pass defense EPA, will take on the Rams on Sunday. But after the Ravens game, things do become simpler. The New Orleans Saints are marginally better than league average, and the Washington Commanders have the worst pass defense in the NFL. Additionally, the New York Giants are performing about league average.
It seems likely that the Week 18 game against the San Francisco 49ers will determine the record. Nacua scored 147 yards earlier in the season against the Rams’ division rival.
Nacua will also have an opportunity to surpass Jaylen Waddle’s record for rookie receptions. In 2021, Waddle received 104 receptions. The Rams rookie is currently on pace to catch 109 passes.
As Week 18 approaches, supporters and the media will undoubtedly be watching this. It goes without saying that the receptions record would be amazing, but it would be a significant accomplishment if Nacua broke the rookie receiving yards record, which has stood for more than 60 years. It’s designed to break records. See if Nacua can surpass Groman’s record.