Puka Nacua Set to Return Sunday as Rams Get WR1 Back on Track
Nacua returned to limited practice this week and is expected to suit up Sunday, giving fantasy managers back a top-two WR who posted 375 PPR points in 2025.
WR1 upside returns Sunday; lock him in the moment he's active.
- Nacua on track to play Sunday for 1-2 Rams
- Ran an on-field workout last Sunday in Denver
- Slated as limited practice participant Wednesday
- Posted 375 PPR pts in 2025 (16 games)
- Aaron Donald questionable with a back issue
The Rams are about to get their offensive engine back. Puka Nacua is expected to play Sunday after returning to a limited role in Wednesday's practice, head coach Sean McVay confirmed. Nacua also handled an on-field workout last Sunday in Denver before Los Angeles dropped to 1-2 with a loss to the Broncos.
That's a massive deal for a Rams team that leans on Nacua as the centerpiece of its passing game. McVay didn't downplay it, calling Nacua a huge part of the offense and a genuinely big deal to have back. For fantasy managers who've been sweating this one, the message is simple: your WR1 is almost certainly suiting up.
Donald's Status Is the Real Question Mark
The other injury worth tracking is Aaron Donald, who wasn't scheduled to practice Wednesday because of a back issue. McVay stayed vague here, saying the team is taking it a day at a time and declining to commit to anything. Donald isn't a fantasy factor in standard leagues, but if you're in an IDP format, treat him as questionable and have a contingency ready.
Context on the week: the Rams reached out to the NFL about a pass interference call on Josh Wallace that wiped out a would-be clinching interception against Denver. McVay said the point wasn't to relitigate whether the flag was right or wrong, but to get feedback coaches can use to teach their players going forward. His bigger concern, he made clear, is moving on — the game's over, they're 1-2, and the focus is forward.
The Fantasy Angle
Nacua is our #2 overall player and the #1 wide receiver heading into 2026. The résumé speaks for itself: in 2025 he racked up 129 catches for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns, plus 105 rushing yards and a score, good for 375 PPR points across 16 games. Over his final five outings of that season, he averaged 6.9 fantasy points above his own season mark — he was trending up, not down.
The verdict: start Puka Nacua with total confidence the second he's confirmed active, which looks highly likely for Sunday. There's no reason to bench a top-two overall asset coming off a workout and a limited practice. If you drafted insurance at the position, you can flip them to your bench or shop them while Nacua's health news is still fresh — a healthy WR1 doesn't leave much room for a hedge.
