Rams desperately need Puka Nacua to reinsert himself into the OPOY conversation

At one point in the season, ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes declared Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua as the best offensive player in football. Now, he is simply viewed as a very good receiver.. At the season's mid-point, Nacua is on track to put up over 1500 yards and six touchdowns.

But in terms of a candidacy for NFL Offensive Player of the Year? That's just not going to cut it.

Nacua has had his BYE in Week 8. He has been injured as well, missing one game completely and leaving two other games early, while other leading NFL receivers have dodged injury. Still, he is the third most productive wide receiver in the NFL right now with 775 yards in eight games.

The problem is, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has 1,041 yards in nine games, and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has 831 receiving yards in nine games. Having started in one fewer game and played the equivalent of two fewer games, the former Brigham Young University standout is playing catch-up but running out of time.

Rams Puka Nacua is built for big games like Week 11

While the 4-5 Houston Texans may be struggling to find success, they have mastered defense. The Texans boast the stingiest defense in 2025. And yet, when Nacua played, he hauled in 10 of 11 passes for 130 yards.

The same effect occurred when Nacua hauled in six of seven passes for 95 yards against a stingy New Orleans Saints secondary. The stingier the defense, the more this star receiver excels. And the Seattle Seahawks are being touted as the NFL's top defense right now.

The stage is set.

Some of Nacua's best games have come at the expense of the Seahawks. He averaged eight of 11 catches for 95 yards over two games in his rookie season. But injuries limited him to one reception in four targets in 2024.

The former Brigham Young University receiver is playing at an entirely different level right now. Buoyed by the guidance of veteran Davante Adams, he has added creating separation at the onset to his arsenal, and it shows.

Despite playing fewer games, he is already at the cusp of besting his 2024 numbers. And if he can remain healthy, he is on track to put up a career-high season.

While big numbers are great, Nacua's knack for showing up in the biggest games under the brightest lights on the largest stages sets him apart from his peers. This is a young man who was overlooked in the 2023 NFL Draft, but has done nothing but play elite football since arriving in the NFL.

The game pits two strong defenses in a head-on collision. Those games are often decided by the best offense. For Los Angeles to claim a win, it must be prepared to score plenty of points. That can happen, as long as Puka Nacua brings his A-Game.

As always, thanks for reading.