The 2023 NFL Draft class was hyped up for its class of wide receivers. Though it lacked the top-end receiving talent of past drafts, it was loaded with depth, with quality receivers available past the first several rounds.
No one is emphasizing the depth of that class more than Puka Nacua. The former BYU wide receiver was largely unheralded coming out of college, never having once racked up 1,000 yards in a single season over his two full seasons as a starter.
Then he had his explosive NFL debut against the Seahawks, where he became Matthew Stafford's favorite target in the absence of Cooper Kupp. He built on that even further with another big game against the 49ers in Week 2.
Though the Rams could not better their in-state NFC West rivals, Nacua had another day in which he put himself in the record books, once again finishing as Stafford's No. 1 target.
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How did Nacua do, and how unprecedented is his start to the season? Here's what you need to know.
Puka Nacua stats today
Nacua was by far the most-targeted receiver for Stafford and the Rams passing offense, finishing the 30-23 loss with 15 receptions on 20 targets with 147 receiving yards.
Nacua's 15 catches were the most by a rookie in a single game, surpassing the record of 14, which was shared by running backs Saquon Barkley, Najee Harris and Roy Helu.
In Week 1, Nacua finished with 10 receptions on 15 targets for 119 yards. He became the third player with at least 10 catches and 100 receiving yards in his debut, following Anquan Boldin in 2003 (10 catches for 217 yards) and Keke Coutee in 2018 (11 catches for 109 yards), according to Stathead. That performance also was the most by a Rams rookie receiver in his debut and the 12th most among all rookie debuts in NFL history.
With Nacua's sensational second game, he continued to put himself in historic territory. Nacua became the only rookie in NFL history to have back-to-back games with at least 10 catches and 100 receiving yards across his first two games, according to Stathead.
Perhaps most impressively, however, is the overall tallies for the rookie receiver. Nacua is now second only to Boldin in total receiving yards for a rookie through their first two games, per Stathead, with 268. Boldin had 279, bolstered largely by his 217 in the first game.
His 25 receptions are the record for a rookie through their first two games, surpassing Earl Cooper's 19. His 35 total targets are also the most for a rookie through the first two games, though targets have not always been tracked.
Nacua is off to a massive start to the season, though he is still seeking his first career touchdown. He'll get his next opportunity to set rookie records and score for the first time when the Rams face the Bengals on "Monday Night Football" in Week 3.