Fantasy Football Week 5 Target Trends: Puka Nacua Continues Record-Breaking Record

Puka Nacua, WR, Rams

The incredible NACUA is currently on pace for 210 targets, 176 catches, 1,999 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns (he also had another score on the ground). The true measure of offensive greatness is being able to dominate even when the opponent knows what is coming. Sure, we’d like more touchdowns, but if Nacua hits the other statistical strides we listed, they would all be new NFL records.

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This is basically a reboot of the Monster Season that Cooper Kupp published in 2021, another Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay production. The narrow-use tree is alive and well in Los Angeles. If we drafted today, Nacua would be a Top 3 pick and could realistically go first overall.

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Amon-ra St. Brown, WR, Lions

All those worries about Ben Johnson leaving were ultimately unnecessary. The sun god leads NFL receivers in success rate (75.6%) for the second straight season, and has racked up 18 touchdowns in his last 20 games. Jared Goff didn’t forget the successful plays of the last two seasons; A starting QB should always be considered a partial coordinator for his offense. In a year where so many early fantasy picks have disappointed for different reasons, St. Brown was one of the safest first-round picks you could make.

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Chris Olave, WR, Saints

Given all the concussion issues Olave has had in recent years, it’s good to see him healthy and productive. But the shape of New Orleans’ offense is much different this year. Although Olave is second in the league with 54 targets, he only has one touchdown and is averaging just 7.4 yards per catch. He doesn’t even have a 17-yard grab on the season.

It’s not for lack of trying: Olave’s ADOT 8.1 is low, but a handful of receivers are even lower than that. And Olave has five end zone targets, ranking fourth in the league in that opportunity statistic. But Spencer Rattler is obviously a cap on Olave’s upside, and it’s not like Tyler Shough better improves at all, if he gets a chance to play. Olave’s ceiling was most exciting when he was drafted in 2022; These days, he’s clinging on as a limited PPR scam, a WR3 at best.

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Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Panthers

He’s still tracking for the Diontae Johnson Award, up to 43 targets now without a touchdown (going back to Johnson’s frustrating 2022 season: 147 targets, zero spikes). At least opportunity has been stable under McMillan: He’s drawn at least eight targets in every game, and he’s on pace for 82 catches and 1,193 yards, validating his high April draft stock. Better work from Bryce Young would certainly help: Young’s passing rate is 72.4%, which is 31st among quarterbacks with at least 25 attempts. There’s enough sign here to keep McMillan on the retention file for now.

Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles

He’s been one of the struggling first-round picks, chugging along at just 3.2 ypc and without a 90-yard effort all season. But a modest increase in receiving work has helped cushion the blow. Barkley’s 89.5% catch rate is easily the highest of his career, and he’s on pace for 435 receiving yards, which would be his best haul since 2019. Obviously, Barkley’s 47-yard touchdown catch last week saved his fantasy day. Philadelphia’s receivers aren’t happy with their target opportunity all year, but in Barkley’s case, it could be a lifetime servant.

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Tyquan Thornton, WR, Chiefs

Normally, Andy Reid needs zero help identifying his best playmakers, but I wonder if he’s leaving something on the table with Thornton. Although Thornton had touchdowns in Weeks 2, 3 and 4 and then dropped a useful 3-90-0 line in Monday’s loss at Jacksonville, Thornton’s snap percentage has dropped to 45% and 34% over the past two weeks.

Obviously, part of that decline is others getting healthy in Kansas City, and deep threats like Thornton are never expected to play every snap; After some of those cardio routes, you need a second to catch your breath. And despite the modest snap counts, Thornton has 14 deep targets on the year, first in the league (Emeka Egbuka and George Pickens are next with 11). There are enough positive signs from Thornton to keep him fantasy useful during the bye week season, even as the receiver room here becomes more crowded and confusing.

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Data from Trumedia, pro-football benchmark, and fantasy points were used in the research for this article.

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