Following Week 1’s 27-7 loss vs. the 49ers in a primetime spotlight, the Rams host the Giants on Monday Night Football in Week 2. Ahead of this week’s primetime battle, WR Puka Nacua was added to the injury report on Friday.
Before Monday night’s game, Los Angeles’ last practice is on Saturday, putting Nacua’s status in serious doubt. Will the Rams be without their top target following a 0-1 start?
Below, we’ll go over the latest Puka Nacua injury update, including if he will play this week vs. the Giants. If Nacua is out, who could step up for Giants vs. Rams picks for PrizePicks?
Make Giants vs. Rams picks on PrizePicks!
{{nfl_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Puka Nacua Injury Update: Will Nacua Play vs. Giants?
Entering the 2026 season, rumors swirled of Puka Nacua receiving a suspension for allegedly biting a woman on New Year’s Eve last year. Before Week 1, Adam Schefter of ESPN said there was a “real possibility” Nacua doesn’t face discipline this season.
With the Rams likely dodging a suspension, Nacua was fully available with 23 pass snaps and a 91.3% route rate in Week 1, per Pro Football Focus. Puka turned a team-high 9 targets into 5 catches for 74 receiving yards vs. the 49ers.
L.A. is now likely preparing for Nacua’s potential absence once again, but this time due to injury. Nate Atkins of The Athletic mentioned an injury Puka battled during training camp, but it’s still unclear if Friday’s absence was related.
Saturday should bring key injury news around Nacua, providing another opportunity to practice, while head coach Sean McVay will likely provide some answers around the hip injury.
For now, it looks like the Rams could be without their top target vs. the Giants on Monday Night Football. If Nacua is out, how will Los Angeles’ offense adjust for picks on PrizePicks?
Rams Fantasy Football Outlook If Nacua Is Out in Week 2
Nacua’s backup, WR Jordan Whittington (quad), was also absent from Friday’s practice. If Whittington is also out alongside Puka, WR Konata Mumpfield would likely be next up.
According to PFF, Nacua had a 39.1% slot snap rate in Week 1. For context, Whittington (42.9%) and Mumpfield (63.6%) each featured healthy snap rates in the slot, proving their potential to fill Puka’s role.
However, Whittington had only 171 receiving yards last season, reaching 30 yards in only two of 17 appearances. Meanwhile, Mumpfield logged only 92 receiving yards in the 2025 season, and he posted 1 target with 0 catches on a 26.2% snap rate last week.
If Nacua can’t go, Rams WR Davante Adams and TEs Colby Parkinson and Terrance Ferguson would be the most reliable targets by a landslide.
Adams was second behind Puka with 23 pass snaps in Week 1, tallying 6 targets for 3 catches and 26 receiving yards. Parkinson (78.3%) and Ferguson (86.7%) each had healthy route rates a week ago, but the two combined for only 3 total targets.
In Week 1, the Giants held the Cowboys to only 244 yards in a 28-20 win. However, New York still gave up 0.425 EPA per dropback (28th) and a 51.2% dropback success rate (22nd), per RBSDM.
Following his 2025 MVP season, Rams QB Matthew Stafford stumbled with -0.271 adjusted EPA per play (30th) to open the 2026 season. MNF is a good opportunity for Stafford to tap back into his 0.252 adjusted EPA per play (fourth) from a season ago.
With that said, L.A. may have a favorable matchup through the air on Monday Night Football. Nacua is currently projected 7 receptions and 84.5 receiving yards vs. the Giants, per PrizePicks.
If Puka is out, that could mean an increased workload for Adams, who is currently projected for 3.5 receptions and 45.5 receiving yards for Monday Night Football, per PrizePicks.
Lock in Giants vs. Rams picks on PrizePicks!
{{nfl_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Make Giants vs. Rams Picks on PrizePicks
The Rams’ WR1 Puka Nacua was absent from Friday’s practice due to a hip injury, putting his status in doubt for Monday Night Football vs. the Giants. If Nacua is out, Davante Adams could be the clear target to replace production in a favorable matchup.
Don’t wait until kickoff — make your Giants vs. Rams picks on PrizePIcks now! You can make picks on the winner, spread, and over/under on PrizePicks Team Picks, now available in 36 states. With PrizePicks, just pick players and predict More or Less on their stats!
Keep it locked in here with the Playbook for continued NFL picks, predictions, and news all season long.
Team Picks and Culture Picks are event contracts offered by Performance Predictions II, LLC d/b/a PrizePicks Predict, a CFTC-registered FCM and NFA Member. All event contract customers must be U.S. residents and 18+. Some event contracts may not be available in every state.Event contract trading carries significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. No guarantee against loss is offered. Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results.Void where prohibited by law. Restrictions apply. For full terms of service see prizepicks.com/predict-regulatory. Team and Culture Pick Early Payouts subject to market liquidity. The content provided is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, or a recommendation to trade any commodity interest.
