Puka Nacua a Game-Time Call vs. Giants After Two Missed Practices
The WR1 sat out Friday and Saturday with a groin issue and is questionable for MNF. Inactives drop at 6:45 p.m. ET — here's your fantasy plan.
Groin soreness, game-time decision — don't lock him in until inactives hit.
- Nacua missed Friday and Saturday practice with a groin
- Officially questionable for Week 2 vs. Giants
- Inactives drop ~6:45 p.m. ET before 8:15 kickoff
- Our WR1 overall (#2 player) — 375 PPR pts in 2025
- Whittington doubtful with a quad injury
The Rams open Monday night at 0-1 and possibly without the best receiver in football. Puka Nacua — our No. 2 overall player and WR1 heading into 2026 — sat out both Friday and Saturday practices with a groin issue and is officially questionable for the Week 2 matchup against the 1-0 Giants. This is a game-time call, and right now it's leaning the wrong way.
Ian Rapoport reported Monday that Nacua's status is very much up in the air, adding that skipping the last two practices of the week doesn't exactly scream availability. Sean McVay clarified it's not the psoas problem that cost Nacua multiple weeks in the preseason — he described it Saturday as a little soreness in the groin. Cold comfort for anyone who spent an early-round pick on him.
The one thing every manager needs to circle: inactives come out 90 minutes before kickoff, so roughly 6:45 p.m. ET for the 8:15 p.m. ET start. That's your deadline. If you have a bench WR who plays a later or earlier slate, this is why you don't panic-drop anyone before that report lands.
What Nacua's Absence Means
If he's out, the volume gets fascinating. Davante Adams becomes the clear alpha and is already worth every start — our No. 44 overall (WR9), coming off a 60-789-14 line for 223 PPR points in 2025. The touchdown ceiling with Adams as the unquestioned top target is very real. Behind him it's thin: Jordan Whittington is doubtful with a quad (WR121, just 36 PPR points last year), leaving names like Konata Mumpfield (WR141, 25 PPR points in 2025), Xavier Smith, CJ Daniels and Tutu Atwell to soak up spare targets.
For context on what Los Angeles loses: Nacua led the NFL in receptions (129) in 2025, finished second in receiving yards (1,715) and tied for third in receiving scores (10). He posted 375 PPR points across 16 games and his form was trending up — the last five games of that stretch ran +6.9 fantasy points above his season average. That's not a plug-and-play replacement situation.
The move: WATCH and wait. Don't slot Nacua into your lineup as a lock — have a pivot ready and check the 6:45 p.m. report before you commit. If you roster Adams, fire him up regardless; his ceiling only climbs if Puka sits. The deep Rams pass-catchers are dart throws for desperate flex plays only, and even then, only after the inactives confirm Nacua's down.
