Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua is off to a historic start through the first four games of his NFL career, but questions remain about his involvement in the passing game once Cooper Kupp returns to the lineup.
Should you take this opportunity to sell high and trade Nacua off your team in fantasy football? Let’s take a closer look.
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Should You Trade Puka Nacua in Fantasy Football?
To say Nacua has gotten off to a great start to his NFL career feels like a massive understatement.
MORE: 2023 Dynasty WR Rankings
When you look at where he ranks in most of the major receiving categories through the first month of the season, it becomes very difficult to wrap your mind around trading him off of your roster.
Targets: 52 (first)
Receptions: 39 (first)
Receiving Yards: 501 (second)
For all analytical purposes, he has been what you hoped Kupp would be in your fantasy lineup through the first four games of the season.
PUKA’S FIRST CAREER TD COULDN’T HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME. pic.twitter.com/4uHlHhY3pI
— NFL (@NFL) October 1, 2023
The problem is that Kupp is eligible to return to game action in Week 5, which means a player who averaged 10 targets per game in 2022 could potentially return to the fold and significantly limit Nacua’s ceiling in the very immediate future.
It is reasonable to worry that Kupp’s return could cut Nacua’s involvement in the passing game for the rest of the season. So, selling high right now certainly makes sense.
However, have we considered that Kupp’s return could actually make this offense a borderline elite passing group for the rest of the season? Could Kupp’s return create more scoring opportunities for Nacua, Tutu Atwell, Tyler Higbee, and Kyren Williams? Could Kupp’s return make this offense a unit that can make multiple WRs reliable fantasy starters?
The answer to those questions is possibly yes.
Once upon a time, back in 2018, this Rams offense was able to make three WRs viable fantasy starters.
Kupp, Robert Woods, and Brandin Cooks all averaged five receptions and 70+ yards per game back in 2018 with Jared Goff under center.
For more context, all three were top-24 options at the WR position on a per-game basis.
Fast forward back to 2023, and this passing attack currently has two WRs inside the top 20 at the WR position in PPR formats, and Matthew Stafford is now the quarterback.
So, while the targets for Nacua will surely take a dip once Kupp returns to the fold, it feels a bit ignorant to suggest that Nacua will completely vanish from the passing game scene after his historic production to start his career.
I feel like his role will be that of what we saw from Woods during his most productive days in this Rams offense. He feels like a rock-solid and reliable WR2 with some big weeks when he manages to find the end zone.
I would certainly entertain trading him at his current value, but only if I am getting a concrete top-10 option back at the WR or RB positions.