Puka Nacua stat projections: Where Rams WR's 2025 pace would rank on NFL all-time list

Vinnie Iyer

Puka Nacua stat projections: Where Rams WR's 2025 pace would rank on NFL all-time list image

The Los Angeles Rams just had Cooper Kupp win the NFL's wide receiver Triple Crown four seasons ago, leading the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

In 2025, Puka Nacua is working on an all-time elite season of his own.

Nacua leads the league in both receptions (42) and receiving yards (503) after four games. He has only one TD, but there's no doubt his "double crown" numbers are off the charts.

Here's looking at just how great his current pace is. 

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Puka Nacua stat projections

Stats heading into Week 5 of 2025 NFL season

Nacua had only nine receiving TDs in 28 games played before the season, so the fact that he's scored only once while newcomer Davante Adams has three TDs in four games isn't a surprise. Let's then explore the two categories in which Nacua is leading the league

Puka Nacua receptions pace for 2025

Nacua has done his damage on 50 targets, bringing in 42 of those so far in 2025. He's trending to 213 targets, or 12.5 per game so far, an astronomical number of looks from quarterback Matthew Stafford. With that, he's tracking to 178 receptions, which would shatter the mark of former Saints receiver Michael Thomas, who had 149 in 2019.

Puka Nacua receiving yards pace for 2025

As for his yardage total it might be even more impressive. He's at a modest 12 yards per catch but he's averaging 126 receiving yards per game. With 503 yards through four weeks, that has him tracking to 2,138 receiving yards.

That would make Nacua the first 2,000-yard receiver in NFL history, blowing past Calvin Johnson's record of 1,964 set in 2012. Kupp set the team records with 1,947 yards and 148 receptions in 2021.

MORE: What is Puka Nacua's real name?

Where Puka Nacua stands vs. other star young WRs

Through his first 32 games over two-plus seasons, Nacua went into Week 5 of 2025 with 226 receptions for 2,979 yards. Although the Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase and the Vikings' Justin Jefferson are often referred to as the best two young wide receivers in the game — now making the two highest average annual salaries at the position — Nacua has started his career hotter than both.

Through his first 32 games, the Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase had 188 catches for 2,712 yards. Through his first 32 games, the Vikings' Justin Jefferson had 191 catches for 1,909 yards. Although Chase and Jefferson have been better at scoring TDs, Nacua beats them easily in the other two categories.

As great as Kupp was for the Rams, the Rams somehow have found a more dominant receiver to replace him as their No. 1. Adams being the new No. 2 only has made Nacua more dangerous downfield.

MORE: How Matthew Stafford's age compares to rest of NFL

Most receptions in a season 

The record for most receptions in a season belongs to Michael Thomas, who put up 146 during a standout 2019 campaign for the Saints. 

Nacua is well on his way to threatening that record through the first month of the 2025 season. 

RankPlayerTeamYearReceptions
No. 1Michael ThomasSaints2019149
No. 2Cooper KuppRams2021145
No. 3Marvin HarrisonColts2002143
T-No. 4Antonio BrownSteelers2015136
T-No. 4Julio JonesFalcons2015136

Most receiving yards in a season 

Megaron is the career leader in receiving yards in a season. Johnson finished his stellar 2012 season with 1,964, just 36 yards away from becoming the first player in NFL history to reach the 2,00-yard threshold in a year. 

Nacua is also on pace to break the record through the first month of the 2025 season. 

RankPlayerTeamYearReceiving Yards
No. 1Calvin JohnsonSaints20121,964
No. 2Cooper KuppRams20211,947
No. 3Julio JonesFalcons20151,871
No. 4Jerry Rice49ers19951,848
No. 5Antonio BrownSteelers20151,834

Vinnie Iyer

Vinnie Iyer has been with The Sporting News since 1999, not long after graduating from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He has produced NFL content for more than 20 years, turning his attention to full-time writing in 2007. Vinnie covers every aspect of the NFL for TSN including draft prospects analysis, gambling and fantasy football. He also represents TSN as host of the “Locked On Fantasy Football” podcast on the Locked On network.