Kevin Szafraniec lays out the changes the Rams have made to their roster this offseason and why Puka Nacua could be primed to become fantasy’s second overall WR1 to come out of Sean McVay’s offense in the past five years.
Puka Nacua’s early-career trajectory has him on pace to become one of the greatest receivers of all time. As a fifth-round selection in the 2023 draft, Nacua came out of nowhere to set the NFL on fire when he broke the NFL record for both receptions and receiving yards by a rookie. The fact that he was able to accomplish this while lining up across from superstar wide receiver Cooper Kupp makes the feat even more impressive. Following his finish as fantasy’s PPR WR4 in his rookie year, Nacua finished as the WR3 in PPR points per game in 2024. Unfortunately, a lingering knee injury forced him to miss six games last season, leading to a WR25 finish overall.
Nacua is not the first underestimated player Rams’ head coach Sean McVay has been able to cultivate greatness out of. We saw almost an equally mind-blowing breakout in 2023 by the undersized and unathletic Kyren Williams. McVay was also the man who unearthed Kupp at Eastern Washington and turned him into one of the best WRs of the past decade. Before that, McVay turned Robert Woods from an afterthought on Buffalo’s roster into a borderline WR1 for five years in Los Angeles.
While all the players listed above had talent to begin with, it is fair to question how many NFL coaches would have been able to coax the same level of production out of them. Of all McVay’s hits, there is a strong chance that we will look back on Nacua as the best of the bunch when things are said and done. At this point, it feels like Nacua is destined for at least one overall WR1 season, with 2025 representing his best opportunity yet to deliver. With Nacua now the clear focal point of the offense, it is not a question of if he will succeed, but more so, how high his ceiling alongside McVay truly goes.
AFC North
- Baltimore Ravens: There Is No End in Sight for Lamar Jackson’s Fantasy Domination
- Cleveland Browns: There Are Gems to be Found on Kevin Stefanski’s Offense If You Know Where to Look
AFC South
- Houston Texans: Why New Weapons and a New Scheme Will Lead to a C.J. Stroud Bounceback
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 2025 Represents Trevor Lawrence’s Best Chance Yet to Reach His Ceiling
- Tennessee Titans: Will an Abundance of Garbage Time Result in Tennessee’s Late-Round Skill-Position Players Returning Big-Time Fantasy Value?
AFC East
- Miami Dolphins: Whose Fantasy Arrows Are Pointing Up on a Miami Offense Heading in the Opposite Direction?
- New York Jets: A Shift in Offensive Philosophy Could Result in Breece Hall and Isaiah Davis Forming the Best Backfield in the AFC
AFC West
- Denver Broncos: Bo Nix Is About to Join the Ranks of the NFL’s Elite QBs
- Los Angeles Chargers: Has Justin Herbert Forced Greg Roman to Rethink His Offensive Approach?
NFC North
- Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy Finds Himself in the Middle of the Perfect Storm for Fantasy Production
- Green Bay Packers: Why the NFL’s Most Complete Roster is Finally About to Get the Attention It Deserves
NFC South
- Atlanta Falcons: Which Players Are Primed to Help Take the Atlanta Offense to the Next Level?
- Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young Is Finally Ready to Deliver on His College Potential
NFC East
- Philadelphia Eagles: Why Small Changes Could Lead to Even Bigger Fantasy Scoring in 2025
- Dallas Cowboys: A New Offensive Direction Is Exactly What Dak Prescott Needs to Get Back on Track
NFC West
- San Francisco 49ers: Make Sure You Are Rostering the Next Wave of Stars in Kyle Shanahan’s Offense
- Arizona Cardinals: Why Kyler Murray Will Overcome His Doubters and Return to His Elite Ways
Business As Usual
McVay has constructed a well-oiled machine in Los Angeles, with 2024 resulting in his fourth NFC West crown in eight seasons. During his time leading the Rams, McVay has more Super Bowl appearances (two) than losing seasons (one) and has only missed the playoffs twice. Last season, the Rams continued to hum along, posting another 10-win season and making it to the Divisional Round of the playoffs before being eliminated in Philadelphia by the eventual Super Bowl champions.
