Puka Nacua

Puka Nacua enters the 2026 fantasy season as one of the safest high-end receivers to build around, and he remains the clear centerpiece of the Rams passing game. He was excellent last season by every fantasy-relevant measure, and the early 2026 buzz still points to a featured role with elite target volume and big-yardage upside.

The main thing fantasy managers need to monitor right now is his health. In mid-August, Nacua left practice with soreness in his psoas/groin area, and multiple reports have described the issue as minor and day-to-day rather than serious. Sean McVay has repeatedly framed the Rams’ approach as cautionary, with expectations that Nacua would be back at practice soon, which is reassuring for both his availability and his regular-season outlook.

From a fantasy perspective, this is still the kind of minor late-summer concern that usually does not move a player out of the WR1 tier unless it lingers into September. The bigger takeaway is that the Rams are unlikely to rush him, but they also have not indicated any long-term setback, and there has been no trade, release, or team change that would alter his role. That means his 2026 projection still centers on elite volume, strong catch totals, and one of the highest weekly floors at the position.

The best draft approach is to treat Nacua as a cornerstone first-round receiver with league-winning upside if he stays healthy. If your league rewards receptions heavily, his profile gets even better, because his route volume and target share make him a weekly difference-maker even in games where he does not find the end zone often. In short: keep him near the top of your board, watch the final preseason injury updates, and feel good about drafting him as a confident WR1 in 2026.