The Los Angeles Rams have explosive players on both sides of the ball, and the New England Patriots will have their work cut out trying to contain them in Sunday’s game.
However, one player in particular who would fit well with the Patriots is All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua. He is my pick for this week’s “Gimme Him.”
Nacua is the kind of playmaker that could help the Patriots’ receiving corps get to that next level. That’s obviously assuming he’s healthy. The numbers are a bit down this year for the 23-year-old wideout, but he missed five games with a knee injury.
He is starting to find his groove once again. He had one of his best games of the season on October 24 against the Minnesota Vikings by recording seven catches for 160 yards. In his last outing against the Miami Dolphins, he hauled in nine catches for 98 yards.
The 2023 campaign would be a better assessment of his body of work. He recorded 105 catches for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns on the year. Right out of the gates, he quickly established himself as one of the most dynamic receiving weapons in the NFL.
It wasn’t just the numbers that were impressive, either. It was his efficiency while doing it. He caught 65.6 percent of his passes last season and averaged 9.29 yards per target, per statistics from Pro Football Reference.
Putting him on the Patriots would give rookie quarterback Drake Maye another weapon to throw to on offense. The outlook of the Patriots’ receivers unit is much different than it was a month ago. There’s hope with players like Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte on offense.
Nacua could be an addition that helps ensure future success for the unit. Of course, this is very much a dream scenario. The Patriots are currently stuck building around what they already have.
Their focus now shifts towards slowing down Nacua, Cooper Kupp and every other weapon on the Rams’ offense on Sunday.
