Puka Nacua vs Jonathan Taylor
2026 draft comparison · half-PPR
Updated Aug 19, 2026
All time: Nacua 78.3%Taylor 21.7%
Should you draft Puka Nacua or Jonathan Taylor?
Last season — 2025, per game
Full game log & past seasons
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | TGT | REC | YD | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | HOU | 18.1 | WR7 | 11 | 10 | 130 | 0 |
2 | TEN | 23.6 | WR6 | 9 | 8 | 91 | 0 |
3 | PHI | 17.3 | WR8 | 15 | 11 | 112 | 0 |
4 | IND | 29.5 | WR1 | 15 | 13 | 170 | 1 |
5 | SF | 19.5 | WR7 | 12 | 10 | 85 | 1 |
6 | BAL | 3.8 | WR64 | 3 | 2 | 28 | 0 |
7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
9 | NO | 19.3 | WR5 | 8 | 7 | 95 | 1 |
10 | SF | 14.9 | WR16 | 6 | 5 | 64 | 1 |
11 | SEA | 10.8 | WR18 | 8 | 7 | 75 | 0 |
12 | TB | 13.2 | WR16 | 11 | 7 | 97 | 0 |
13 | CAR | 10.2 | WR25 | 9 | 6 | 72 | 0 |
14 | ARI | 32.2 | WR1 | 11 | 7 | 167 | 2 |
15 | DET | 23.4 | WR2 | 11 | 9 | 181 | 0 |
16 | SEA | 40.5 | WR1 | 16 | 12 | 225 | 2 |
17 | ATL | 13.2 | WR14 | 10 | 5 | 47 | 1 |
18 | ARI | 21.0 | WR3 | 11 | 10 | 76 | 1 |
Earlier seasons (2024)
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | TGT | REC | YD | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | DET | 6.2 | WR55 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 0 |
2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
8 | MIN | 14.6 | WR20 | 9 | 7 | 106 | 0 |
9 | SEA | 1.6 | WR89 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 0 |
10 | MIA | 14.3 | WR12 | 14 | 9 | 98 | 0 |
11 | NE | 21.8 | WR6 | 9 | 7 | 123 | 1 |
12 | PHI | 16.2 | WR12 | 13 | 9 | 117 | 0 |
13 | NO | 14.8 | WR20 | 8 | 5 | 56 | 1 |
14 | BUF | 35.8 | WR2 | 14 | 12 | 162 | 1 |
15 | SF | 14.3 | WR20 | 8 | 7 | 97 | 0 |
16 | NYJ | 9.6 | WR35 | 9 | 8 | 56 | 0 |
17 | ARI | 17.9 | WR16 | 14 | 10 | 129 | 0 |
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | ATT | YD | TD | TGT | REC | RYD | RTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | MIA | 11.3 | RB22 | 18 | 71 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 0 |
2 | DEN | 28.5 | RB1 | 25 | 165 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 50 | 1 |
3 | TEN | 31.3 | RB1 | 17 | 102 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 0 |
4 | LAR | 12.1 | RB22 | 17 | 76 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 0 |
5 | LV | 30.1 | RB2 | 17 | 66 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 0 |
6 | ARI | 21.7 | RB7 | 21 | 123 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 0 |
7 | LAC | 32.7 | RB3 | 16 | 94 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 38 | 0 |
8 | TEN | 36.4 | RB1 | 12 | 153 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 1 |
9 | PIT | 6.7 | RB30 | 14 | 45 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 0 |
10 | ATL | 48.1 | RB1 | 32 | 244 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 42 | 0 |
11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
12 | KC | 7.6 | RB26 | 16 | 58 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
13 | HOU | 13.6 | RB19 | 21 | 85 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 36 | 0 |
14 | JAX | 11.4 | RB20 | 21 | 74 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
15 | SEA | 11.6 | RB21 | 25 | 87 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 0 |
16 | SF | 15.4 | RB18 | 16 | 46 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 33 | 0 |
17 | JAX | 15.9 | RB13 | 21 | 70 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 0 |
18 | HOU | 4.9 | RB48 | 14 | 26 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 0 |
Earlier seasons (2024)
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | ATT | YD | TD | TGT | REC | RYD | RTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | HOU | 10.8 | RB29 | 16 | 48 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2 | GB | 14.5 | RB14 | 12 | 103 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 32 | 0 |
3 | CHI | 26.0 | RB4 | 23 | 110 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 0 |
4 | PIT | 18.3 | RB13 | 21 | 88 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 0 |
5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
8 | HOU | 18.2 | RB11 | 20 | 105 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 |
9 | MIN | 7.4 | RB35 | 13 | 48 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 0 |
10 | BUF | 13.2 | RB15 | 21 | 114 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
11 | NYJ | 6.5 | RB28 | 24 | 57 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
12 | DET | 3.5 | RB35 | 11 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
13 | NE | 16.8 | RB13 | 25 | 96 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
15 | DEN | 9.6 | RB25 | 22 | 107 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
16 | TEN | 39.8 | RB1 | 29 | 218 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
17 | NYG | 26.6 | RB1 | 32 | 125 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 0 |
18 | JAX | 24.5 | RB5 | 34 | 177 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Latest takes
“Nacua is coming off a career-high 10 receiving touchdowns, which, until 2025, had been the only area of his game that lacked, having scored nine in the previous two seasons combined. Perhaps with an improved defense, the Rams won’t be quite as pass-heavy this year, but Sean McVay has nearly always been aggressive.”
Tom Strachan· Aug 15“There hasn’t been a more impressive wide receiver over the past three years than Nacua. He has had at least 160 targets over a 17-game pace every season of his career.”
Mike Fanelli· Aug 14“For example, let’s take a player like Puka Nacua, the filet mignon of dinner. When you walk into a steakhouse, your first choice is usually the massive porterhouse or the ribeye.”
Brooke Morgan· Aug 12
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“Left practice on Tuesday with groin soreness Rams WR Puka Nacua , who left practice while walking with a trainer, is dealing with minor soreness in his groin, I'm told.”
FFToday· Aug 12“He was also 5th in target share (28%), 11th in air yards share (35%), and 4th in yards per route run behind Puka Nacua , Jaxon Smith-Njigba , and Luther Burden III .”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 11“Fantasy Football Research & Advice Fantasy Football Expert Rankings 2026 Fantasy Football Draft Kit Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Pick 1.04 Players to Consider at 1.04 Fantasy Football Draft Pick These players will likely be available when you make your selection: Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN) Puka Nacua (WR – LAR) Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – SEA) Christian McCaffrey (RB – SF) It’s fair to assume at least one of Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs will be gone, if not both, as they’re the consensus top two picks.”
Tom Strachan· Aug 11“Puka Nacua (WR – LAR) could be a season-defining player if he hits his ceiling. In his healthy games last year he averaged 24.7 PPR points per game, and simply flipping the receiving touchdown gap with a teammate would have pushed that number past 26 points per game, a mark no receiver has hit in a full season dating back to 2013.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 10“Perhaps with an improving defense the Rams don’t go quite as pass-heavy this year, but Sean McVay has nearly always been aggressive and while Matthew Stafford is healthy, Nacua deserves to be a top pick.”
Tom Strachan· Aug 9“Nacua’s 33% TPRR, 3.71 YPRR, and 0.179 1D/RR all led the NFL and Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the only receiver in the same universe. The fact that Nacua finished as the overall WR1 while running fewer routes than Troy Franklin, Andrei Iosivas , and Elic Ayomanor is astounding, and makes you wonder what he could do if the stars aligned for him to run 550-600 routes in 2026.”
Jakob Sanderson· Aug 8“Having Davante Adams and Puka Nacua has elevated his fantasy value, and the Rams are built to make one more run with Stafford under center.”
Lawrence Iacona· Aug 5“Among all pass catchers, McBride trailed only Puka Nacua in receptions.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 5“Not in the chart but still very relevant is that in the 27 instances of guys finishing top 24 yet running under 80% of their team’s routes, we have 4 seasons of Mike McDaniel WRs, and two seasons of Puka Nacua’s insane efficiency to take into consideration.”
Tony Martin· Jul 30“Round 1: Puka Nacua (WR – LAR) The counter-pick was Puka Nacua , ranked as the top overall wide receiver ahead of the field’s other top options. Only two players outscored him in fantasy points per game last year, and neither was one of the running backs typically drafted with the first or second overall pick.”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 20“Rams WR Puka Nacua came in as the fourth-best receiver in the same poll: “Strong hands, contact balance, ability to block in the run game, run after the catch, run through the catch, can go get it, can play any spot,” an NFL coordinator said.”
Wyatt Grindley· Jul 19“Off the field, Puka Nacua hasn’t had a great offseason, and the Rams seem to be slightly hesitant to extend him, with reports suggesting that’s not in their immediate plans despite Nacua being extension-eligible and watching Jaxon Smith-Njigba reset the market.”
Tom Strachan· Jul 18
“Meanwhile, Jonathan Taylor is the focal point of the offense, totaling 323 rushing attempts and 55 targets last season, setting a career high in targets.”
Mike Fanelli· Aug 12“Players to Avoid at 1.04 Fantasy Football Draft Pick Jonathan Taylor (RB – IND) Another tough fade for this selection is Jonathan Taylor , who, according to teams synced to our FantasyPros tools, led all players in playoff advance rate (66.8%).”
Tom Strachan· Aug 11“I’ve always been a big Jonathan Taylor truther.”
Wolf Trelles-Heard· Aug 7
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“$39M guaranteed The #Colts and star RB Jonathan Taylor have agreed to terms on a big-time 2-year, $44M extension, per me and @AdamSchefter”
FFToday· Aug 6“QB Health This season, the upside cases for Jonathan Taylor and Kenneth Walker III largely depend on the health and production of their QBs, who are coming off significant lower-body injuries.”
Jordan Pullett· Jul 29“Top-12 Drafted RBs in 2025 RB 2025 ADP 2024 Finish 2025 Games Played Bijan Robinson RB1 RB3 17 Saquon Barkley RB2 RB13 16 Jahmyr Gibbs RB3 RB4 17 Christian McCaffrey RB4 RB1 17 Derrick Henry RB5 RB7 17 Ashton Jeanty RB6 RB12 17 Josh Jacobs RB7 RB15 15 De’Von Achane RB8 RB6 16 Jonathan Taylor RB9 RB2 17 Bucky Irving RB10 RB33 10 Chase Brown RB11 RB8 17 Kyren Williams RB12 RB9 17 2025 RB Health Last season, nine out of 12 top RBs drafted finished as an RB1, resulting in a mostly chalky season at the top for RBs.”
Jordan Pullett· Jul 29“Taylor is heading into a contract year, likely his last massive one, after turning 27 this offseason. He’ll be motivated, have his quarterback returning, who might need to lean on the run game more, and once again has virtually no competition for touches. There’s a very real world where Taylor is a top-two back this season.”
Tom Strachan· Jul 27“Jonathan Taylor (RB – IND) Jonathan Taylor was absolutely dominant for the first half of last season. Had Daniel Jones not gotten injured, Taylor most likely could have stayed effective throughout the whole season.”
Tom Strachan· Jul 25“Yes, Jonathan Taylor is the bellcow for Indy, and I don’t see that changing, but the RB2 spot is up for grabs in Indy.”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 22“Taylor was the fantasy RB4 in points per game, but from Week 12 onwards, he was the RB21, with an explosive run rate of 0.7% (41st), and he ranked 36th in yards after contact, while scoring only three rushing touchdowns.”
Tom Strachan· Jul 12“Colts running back Jonathan Taylor ranks second in the NFL with 626 rushing attempts since 2024, as well as a snap share over 80%. He also led the league with 323 carries and took a whopping 46% of his team's offensive touches last year. Taylor's workload has led to elite production: 3,016 yards and 29 touchdowns in the last two seasons, both top-three numbers at his position.”
Nikhil Mehta· Jul 11“Jonathan Taylor was averaging 25.9 points per week, Alec Pierce was finally coming alive, ending his 1000-yard season with an average 21.3 yards per reception, and it looked like Tyler Warren was all he was cracked up to be.”
Maggie Thraen· Jul 9“Taylor was the catalyst for the Indianapolis offense last season, turning 369 touches into 1,963 yards from scrimmage and a league-high 20 touchdowns. Taylor led the NFL in rushing attempts (323), rushing scores (18), and first downs on the ground (84). He also handled a league-high 84.4% of Indy's backfield touches.”
Rich Hribar· Jul 7“Jonathan Taylor's current workload is completely unsustainable. Taylor recorded a massive 327-carry workload last season, and we already know what happens when he crosses that 300-touch threshold. The last time he did it, his body broke down for the next two seasons.”
Dennis Sosic· Jul 6“The entire Colts offense runs through Jonathan Taylor, with DJ Giddens and incoming seventh-round rookie Seth McGowan as his backups.”
Edward DeLauter· Jun 23