X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Rams Clash - Puka Nacua vs. Cooper Kupp For 2024 Fantasy Football

Puka Nacua - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Who to draft? Andrew Ball takes a look at the Rams wide receivers, Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. Can both of them be reliable fantasy football assets in 2024?

Everyone loves an underdog story. Puka Nacua is following in Cooper Kupp's footsteps as the darling of the fantasy football world.

Kupp entered the league as a below-average athlete from a school, Eastern Washington, with four players on NFL rosters (Kendrick Bourne, Samson Ebukam, & Nsimba Webster). His draft capital, 69th overall, reflected his backstory. On his combine results page on the NFL's website, his ceiling was "eventually an average starter." While Nacua came from a more high-profile university (BYU), his athleticism score was worse than Kupp's. He was viewed as nothing more than a backup or special teams contributor in the NFL.

As we know, both have proved scouts wrong and emerged as first-class talents in the league. Looking ahead to 2024, which Rams' wide receiver will accumulate more stats than the other?

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

2023 Head-to-Head Statistics

From Calvin Johnson to Cooper Kupp to Puka Nacua, Matthew Stafford will provide his wide receivers with record-breaking opportunities. In 2012, Johnson broke the single-season receiving yards record (1,964 yards). Kupp holds the NFL record for most receiving yards in a combined season and postseason (2,425 yards in 2021). Nacua set the rookie records for most receptions (105) and yards (1,486).

Not every season can be record-breaking. Kupp's receiving totals from the last two seasons have failed to match the 1,947 yards he posted in 2021. Injuries played the most important role in Kupp's diminished production. He was the WR1 in fantasy points per game in 2022 until an ankle ailment sidelined him for the season's final eight games.

The arrival of Nacua allowed Stafford to spread the wealth, which resulted in a hit to Kupp's otherworldly numbers from previous seasons. The Super Bowl LVI MVP made the cut as a WR2 in fantasy points per game (13.7). Removing the game Stafford missed (Week 9) and the contest against Seattle that Kupp left early (Week 11), that number inflates to 15.5.

Player Games Target Share Target Rate Receptions Per Game Receiving Yards Per Game Touchdown Rate Yards Per Route Run Yards Per Target Fantasy Points Per Game
P. Nacua 17 28.7% 29.1% 6.2 87.4 5.1% 2.72 9.3 17.6
C. Kupp 12 25.6% 25.6% 4.9 61.4 8.3% 1.99 7.8 13.7

Kupp missed the first four games of the season with a hamstring injury, but that was already baked into his cost for some August drafts. The injury caused him to slip into the fourth round, and he lived up to the WR2 price.

Kupp was essentially the only show in town before Nacua arrived. Stafford doesn't need to look toward number 10 on nearly every passing play to move the chains now. It couldn't have come at a better time, given that Kupp's age (he'll be 31 when the season begins) is catching up to him.

 

Where Are Nacua and Kupp Being Drafted?

Let's talk about cost because one of these players is not cheap.

The fantasy football community is still infatuated with the unheralded fifth-round pick from a year ago. So much so that Nacua's ADP places him at the end of the first round (10th overall, ADP of 11). Nacua finished sixth in fantasy points per game last season, and four of the five receivers who finished ahead of him (CeeDee Lamb, Tyreek Hill, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Justin Jefferson) are pricier for fantasy drafts in 2024. Ja'Marr Chase is the only other wide receiver being drafted ahead of Nacua.

Kupp is far cheaper. His ADP of 33 slots him just inside of the third round. It's a reasonable gap between the two. Nacua enters his second year, and he'll presumably improve from his rookie to sophomore campaigns. Kupp just recorded the second-fewest receptions and yards of his career. But Kupp's career is far from over, and he could deliver a strong return on investment at his price.

Fantasy managers were faced with a similar dilemma in 2021. Then-Rams receiver Robert Woods entered the year with three straight seasons of at least 86 receptions. Kupp narrowly edged out his partner in receptions and yards the year prior, but Woods nearly tripled his total touchdown output. The ADPs were much closer than Kupp and Nacua in 2024, but managers that selected Woods suffered through watching Kupp break records, while Woods' season (and tenure in Los Angeles) ended after nine games.

 

2024 Outlook

Barring a seismic surprise during the NFL Draft or the rest of the offseason, nothing has changed for the Rams' offense in 2024. Stafford will be slinging. Kyren Williams will be running. Kupp, Nacua, and veteran Demarcus Robinson, who played over 90 percent of the snaps by the end of the season, will be the primary receivers. The sole difference could be tight end Tyler Higbee, who remains on the roster but tore his ACL and MCL during the team's Wild Card loss to the Detroit Lions. He may not be healthy to kick off the new campaign.

Nacua is one of the safest wide receiver options. Managers would like to see his touchdown total (6) pick up. He tied with a handful of tight ends (Mark Andrews, Cole Kmet, David Njoku, Hunter Henry, and George Kittle) and logged one fewer than "disappointing" wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Gabe Davis. Nacua plays the same role in this Rams' offense as the aforementioned Robert Woods. Woods' best mark for receiving touchdowns during his stint in Los Angeles was also six.

That's part of what makes Nacua such a safe bet. He managed to be the WR4 in 2023 without the inflated touchdown total. 150+ targets and 100+ receptions are near-guarantees in a healthy season. Finding the endzone more often would push him into the elite tier with Chase, Lamb, and others. Competition for targets with Kupp, coupled with a lack of year-over-year gaudy numbers, prevents him from climbing any higher on the ADP ladder.

The positives for both Rams' receivers outweigh the negatives. For Nacua, the only potential downside is that Kupp reinserts himself as the alpha in Los Angeles. Kupp has injury and age concerns, but Stafford has always produced fantasy points for his wideouts as a healthy quarterback. He comes with his own set of injury concerns. Should both play at or near a full schedule, Kupp will outperform his ADP.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Shemar Stewart

Not Practicing With College Team
Uchenna Nwosu

Seahawks Place Uchenna Nwosu on PUP List
Taylor Decker

Alim McNeill, Taylor Decker Placed on PUP List
Tyrion Davis-Price

Titans Waive Tyrion Davis-Price
Tre Harris

Chargers Relying on Tre Harris to Be Starting X Receiver
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Expected Back Friday
Micah Parsons

Will Become Highest-Paid Non-QB
MarShawn Lloyd

Vying for RB2 Role
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith Finds End Zone in First Training Camp Practice
Tyler Shough

Pushing for Fully Guaranteed Rookie Deal
Ar'Darius Washington

Goes on PUP List
Lamar Jackson

to be Even Better in 2025?
Tre Harris

Agrees to Terms on Rookie Deal
Justin Herbert

Off to Good Start at Training Camp
Jameson Williams

Earning Rave Reviews from Lions Coaches
Christian Mahogany

Expected to Start for Lions
Zach Allen

an Extension Candidate in Denver?
Zaire Franklin

May Miss Start of Training Camp
Portland Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard Returning to Portland
Mason Taylor

to Play "Crucial" Role in Jets' Offense
Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
T.J. Watt

Once Again Becomes Highest-Paid Non-QB
RJ Harvey

Reaches Agreement on Four-Year Rookie Contract
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Believe Rashee Rice Will Receive Two- to Four-Game Suspension
Brooks Barnhizer

Grabs 19 Points, Nine Boards in Summer League Win
Jeremiah Fears

Scores 22 Points in Summer League Loss to Thunder
Isaiah Collier

Collects 17 Points In Summer League Win
Caleb Houstan

Joins Hawks
AJ Johnson

Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
Washington Wizards

Leaky Black Logs Double-Double in Loss to Jazz
Connor Norby

Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Trey Alexander

Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
Johni Broome

Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
Jahmir Young

Has Historic Summer League Outing
Rob Dillingham

Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
Tyrese Proctor

Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
Cody Williams

Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
LeBron James

Mavs Not Interested in "Gutting its Roster" For LeBron James
Josh Hart

Undergoes a Procedure on Right Finger
Jake Burger

Goes on 10-Day Injured List With Quad Strain
Sal Frelick

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain, TBD for Start of Second Half
Chris Sale

Plays Catch
Los Angeles Clippers

Bradley Beal Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
Rayan Rupert

Scores 24 Points in Summer League Win
Derik Queen

Collects Third Consecutive Double-Double in Summer League Loss
GG Jackson II

Records 13 Points in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Johni Broome

Logs Double-Double Against Wizards
DaRon Holmes II

Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
Kyle Schwarber

Named All-Star Game MVP
Harris English

Takes Stellar 2025 Performance to The Open Championship
Aldrich Potgieter

Seeks Better Result in Northern Ireland
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
Tony Finau

Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
Daniel Berger

Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Clayton Kershaw

Retires Both Batters In ASG Appearance
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Hit In Pinky In All-Star Game, X-Rays Negative
MLB

NL All-Stars Win On Tie-Breaker Home Run Swing-Off
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
Shane Lowry

Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
Brian Harman

Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
UTA

Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
Bowen Byram

Signs Two-Year Deal with Sabres
Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
Keegan Bradley

Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
Oneil Cruz

Ties Home Run Derby Distance Record
Cal Raleigh

Wins 2025 Home Run Derby
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Michael Lorenzen

Royals Put Michael Lorenzen on Injured List With Oblique Strain
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Junior Tafa

Unsuccessful in his Light-Heavyweight Debut
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Tosses Gem Against Giants
Shota Imanaga

Shuts Down Yankees on Sunday
Nathan Eovaldi

Dominant Again in Seventh Win
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Chicago White Sox

Billy Carlson Goes 10th Overall to White Sox
Cincinnati Reds

Steele Hall Selected Ninth by Cincinnati
Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays Select JoJo Parker with Eighth Overall Pick
Miami Marlins

Marlins Select Aiva Arquette With Seventh Overall Pick
Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates Select Seth Hernandez with Sixth Overall Pick
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
Erik Karlsson

Open to Move Away From Pittsburgh
Zach Hyman

Hopes to be Ready for Start of Next Season
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF