Puka Nacua — Week 8: 11 Catches, 65 Yards After Them
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Monday, Nov 2
Nacua caught 11 of 12 targets for 80 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers, 65 of the yards after the catch, and set up the touchdown before halftime, in the Rams' 24-9 win at home.
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The full read
Puka Nacua was most of the Rams' passing game against the Chargers: 12 targets, 11 catches, 80 yards, a touchdown and +2.7 expected points added (EPA), in a 24-9 win at home. EPA is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position. He drew 12 of Matthew Stafford's 25 throws, and 65 of his 80 yards came after the catch.
The catch that turned the game came down 9-3 with 44 seconds left in the half: second and 7 at the Chargers 14, Stafford threw short over the middle and Nacua got to the 1, +2.2 EPA and 6.1 points of win probability, the estimate of each side's chance to win. Kyren Williams scored on the next snap for 10-9. The touchdown came up 17-9 with 3:48 left in the third, two plays after Trent McDuffie's interception: second and 6 at the 18, a short pass to the left that he took 18 yards into the end zone, +2.2 EPA, for 24-9. On the opening drive of the third he caught 12-yarders on back-to-back snaps, worth +2.0 EPA together, before Blake Corum's touchdown run.
Two catches went the wrong way. On third and 4 at the Rams 17 in the first quarter, Isas Waxter stopped him for a 4-yard loss, -2.0 EPA, and on third and 5 at the Rams 39 in the fourth he lost 2 more, -1.6.
It was his most catches since 17 in Week 5, and the rate matched his season. Through Week 7, in five games, he had 62 targets, 45 catches, 485 yards, 2 receiving touchdowns and +11.7 EPA, +0.19 a target; here it was +0.22.
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_Data via nflverse._
When Puka Nacua's week moves the numbers, you'll know — every episode, in one weekly email.
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