The 2024 NFL season is upon us and is set to be another highly anticipated season. Many players will look for either a bounce-back type of season or continue to show and prove they are the elite player they proved to be last year.
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One player who is set to prove that last year was no fluke is Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua. Nacua is heading into his second NFL season after one of the more historic rookie seasons in the league.
Nacua was last season’s football and fantasy football darling. While he surprised many last season, that will be the total opposite in 2024. Many know his name now, and many defensive coordinators will figure out how to stop the 23-year-old.
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images
Nacua’s rookie season was one for the book; however, he could be on pace to make even more history in his sophomore season. If Nacua can collect 92 receptions this season, he will pass Pro Bowl wide receiver Michael Thomas and All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson for the most receptions by a player in NFL history through their first two seasons.
🚨GREATNESS: #Rams WR Puka Nacua needs 92 receptions this season to pass Michael Thomas & Justin Jefferson for the most by a player in #NFL HISTORY through their first two seasons.
👀👀👀
Legendary. pic.twitter.com/u0HKhsU4zQ
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) August 20, 2024
Things don’t seem to be out of the realm of possibility for Nacua.
The Rams selected Nacua in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft with the 177th overall pick, and he wasn’t even their first pick in that round. He came into the NFL as a player who could have easily been cut due to his spot in the draft, and instead, he fleshed out arguably the best rookie wide receiver season of all time.
The 2023 season was one for the ages as Nacua set a rookie record for receiving yards and receptions. He recorded 105 receptions and 1,486 receiving yards, six touchdowns, and 14.2 yards per reception.
The script has flipped for Nacua, who’s become a household name in the NFL. He is recognized everywhere he goes, which will be the case when he straps up his cleats for the upcoming season.
If Nacua wants to shatter that record, he will need to average 5.4 catches per game if he plays in all 17 games. On the surface, that number is possible; however, with a healthy Cooper Kupp on their side, some of the love from quarterback Matthew Stafford may shift Kupp’s way.
Regardless, that is the last thing Nacua is worried about. He is only worried about stacking up wins and hopefully reaching the highest pinnacle in all of the sport. It will be a fun season to witness from the Rams and Nacua.
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