Thursday Night Football in Week 5 features an NFC West showdown between the 49ers vs. Rams, as WR Puka Nacua will lead the Rams offense into SoFi Stadium on Thursday, October 2, at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
Nacua has been a star playmaker this NFL season, piling up 42 receptions for 503 yards through four games — dominating the league in both categories. His record pace has been compared to the likes of Michael Thomas, Cooper Kupp, Randy Moss and Justin Jefferson.
Fresh off a career-best 170-yard performance against the Colts in Week 4, we'll break down the top Puka Nacua projections and PrizePicks picks for Thursday Night Football vs. the Rams tonight.
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Puka Nacua Projections vs. 49ers on Thursday Night Football Rams
The Rams already funneled their passing game through Nacua in his first two seasons, but this year, he’s elevated into the NFL’s most productive wide receiver.
He’s averaging 4.19 yards per route run, per PFF, leading the league over Seattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (4.10). No receiver in the last decade has finished a season above 4.0 YPRR.
Matthew Stafford has complete trust in Nacua, targeting him 15 times last week and 50 times total through four games. Despite a thumb scare in Week 4, Nacua returned to the field and capped the comeback with a game-tying TD.
The 49ers’ defense is beat up and vulnerable through the air without Nick Bosa and with multiple DBs banged up. The 49ers are middle of the road in dropback success rate allowed at 17th (46.5%) and dropback EPA (16th, 0.048), per rbsdm.
On paper, it's an easier matchup than the Eagles, Colts, and Texans, who he has already faced and put up 100 yards on in each game.
Puka Nacua Projections vs. Rams Tonight
Projections are via the PrizePicks NFL board – pick players, predict More or Less on stats like the ones below, and win money when you're right.
- 8 Receptions
- 95.5 Receiving Yards
- 0.5 Rush+Rec TDs
- 11 Targets
- 2.5 Rush Yards
- More projections, picks available here
Find more 49ers vs. Rams Predictions and Picks for Thursday Night Football HERE
Puka Nacua Picks vs. 49ers for Thursday Night Football
Here are the top Puka Nacua projections for Thursday Night Football to target for NFL DFS. Find the top Thursday Night Football picks for Nacua below.
Puka Nacua Projection: 95.5 Receiving Yards
- Nacua has topped 100 yards in three of his four games this season, including last week’s 13-170-1 eruption against the Colts.
- Nacua is on pace for 2,137.5 receiving yards this season through 4 games. The NFL record in a single season is 1,964, set by Calvin Johnson.
- He leads the NFL in both receptions (42) and yards (503), averaging 125.8 yards per game.
- San Francisco has allowed 165.0 passing yards per game (6th-lowest in the NFL), but that number could potentially rise, given the injuries to DE Nick Bosa and FS Malik Mustapha, who both remain out.
- Stafford has targeted Nacua 15+ times in two consecutive games.
- Nacua owns a 36% target share in the Los Angeles offense, far ahead of Davante Adams (25%).
Puka Nacua Projection: 8.0 Receptions
- Through four weeks, Nacua has double-digit receptions in three games, tying the NFL record for most catches through the first four games of the season (42).
- Nacua has at least 8 receptions in every game this year.
- The Rams’ WR corps behind Nacua consists of WR Tutu Atwell, who has two catches, and Davante Adams making most of his impact in red-zone situations (10 targets), there’s little reason to suggest that Stafford will change anything up.
- In last week’s win, Nacua’s 15 targets turned into 13 catches, proving efficiency even under heavy coverage.
- Against a depleted 49ers defense, Stafford should keep peppering him with quick throws and short-to-intermediate routes.
Make Thursday Night Football Picks on PrizePicks
If Puka Nacua continues his record-breaking pace, the Rams’ offense could ride him to another NFC West win on Thursday Night Football. The 49ers’ banged-up defense faces the impossible task of slowing down a receiver who has become Stafford’s most reliable weapon.
No matter how you see this 49ers vs. Rams matchup on Thursday Night Football unfolding, PrizePicks lets you cash in on your predictions. Predict More or Less on Nacua’s stat lines — or stack him with projections on Nacua, Stafford, or Christian McCaffrey.
Just pick More or Less on player stats and cash in if your picks are right. And lock in on Playbook for more NFL picks and predictions all season long.
