Who Should I Start? Puka Nacua or Brian Thomas Jr.

Friday, January 23, 3:35 PM

By his own lofty standards, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua was held in check by the Chicago Bears in the NFC Divisional Round, hauling in just five catches for 56 yards on 10 targets. Things may not get any easier for Nacua in the NFC Championship Game, as he will face one of the best pass defenses in the NFL in the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle finished the regular season ranked first in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.0) and fifth in interceptions (18). Still, Nacua remains an elite wide receiver option for fantasy managers. Dating back to the regular season, the 24-year-old has earned double-digit targets in seven straight contests, recording seven touchdowns in that span. Nacua also had success in the regular season against Seattle, recording a combined 19 catches for 300 yards and two touchdowns on 24 targets across two matchups. Even against a tough opponent, Nacua carries high-end upside at the wide receiver position. heading into the NFC Championship Game.

Wednesday, January 14, 1:20 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was a big disappointment to his fantasy managers in his second season in the NFL after he came out guns blazing in his rookie campaign with 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns on 133 targets in 17 games. This year, Thomas took a step back with 48 catches on 91 targets for 707 yards and two touchdowns in 14 regular-season games. "When you are part of a team that wins, the wealth will be shared. It will never truly be about one player. I will continue to pour into these guys... BT will 100% be a part of that," head coach Liam Coen said when asked about Thomas' future. The 23-year-old is going to remain involved in the Jags' passing attack, but the addition of Jakobi Meyers in 2025 really hurt his upside. Although Travis Hunter could play more defense in 2026, his presence will also be an obstacle to Thomas trying to rediscover his rookie form.