Could Puka Nacua's hot start to 2025 lead to record-setting season?

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is off to a hot start to the season.

Through the first five games this season, Nacua leads the NFL in receptions (52) and receiving yards (588). The former puts Nacua on pace for 176 catches, and the latter puts Nacua on pace for 1,999 yards this year (both projected over 17 games), which would set new single-season records. Former Detroit Lions Hall of Fame wideout Calvin Johnson holds the current record of 1,964 receiving yards, which he set in 2012 in 16 games, while former New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas holds the receptions record with 149 in 2019. In Week 5, Nacua became the fastest player to reach 50-plus receptions to start a season.

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Nacua, in his third year out of BYU, is already a Pro Bowl selection after having been a fifth-round pick in 2023. In his rookie year alongside former Rams All-Pro wide receiver Cooper Kupp, Nacua burst onto the NFL scene to snag 105 catches for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns, and became a Pro Bowler. However, Nacua isn't the first Rams wideout to chase the single-season receiving yards record.

Past WRs who have chased NFL single-season receiving records

In 2021, Kupp led the league in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns to win the triple crown, becoming the fifth wide receiver in the Super Bowl era to accomplish the feat. One trend that Nacua, Kupp, and Johnson share is that Matthew Stafford is the quarterback who got them the ball.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is the most recent receiver to win the triple crown, doing so last season. Chase led the NFL with 127 receptions, 1,707 receiving yards, and 17 touchdowns. Justin Jefferson came up short of the receiving yardage record in 2022 with 128 catches for 1,809 yards, the latter of which currently has him sitting in sixth place on the single-season list.

Former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones led the league in receptions (136) and receiving yards (1,871) in 2015, and that season is third on the single-season receiving yards list. That same season, former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Antonio Brown went for 1,834 yards receiving, which places him fifth on the list.

Puka Nacua's biggest challenge in making run at record books

The biggest obstacle ahead for Nacua would be staying on the field at this point. Thus far, no defense has been able to stop him, so whether he can stay healthy might be the only thing to prevent Nacua from reaching this milestone and setting a new receiving record. There's also the chance for Nacua to become the first wide receiver in NFL history to record a 2,000-yard receiving campaign.

For Week 6, Nacua and the Rams visit the Baltimore Ravens and their struggling defense. The Ravens rank 32nd in points allowed per game (35.4) and 31st in passing yards allowed per game (262.6). The Rams and Ravens kick off on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX from M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.