Can playmaking WR Puka Nacua keep the Rams in the playoff race?

Rams coach Sean McVay was fortunate to find uniquely talented receiver Puka Nacua in the fifth round of the 2023 draft. Nacua took the league by storm, setting a rookie record for receptions and receiving yards in his first NFL season. 

And now, in Nacua's second season, the 7-6 Rams are leaning heavily on him to help them stay in the playoff race. They have a 34% chance right now, but would climb to 50% with a win over the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night.

Now that he's been with the Rams for two years, McVay has had more time to design creative ways to get Nacua the ball in space. According to Next Gen Stats, the Rams are No. 9 in wide receiver screens since the start of 2023 and No. 4 in receiver runs. 

With Nacua being one of the best runners in the league, McVay is looking to get his dynamic playmaker out on the open field with a head of steam, ready to do damage at the second level of the defense.

Since returning from a knee injury in Week 8, Nacua has 50 receptions for 673 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Only Ja'Marr Chase (699) and Jerry Jeudy (678) have more receiving yards over that same period. 

"There's a lot of good receivers — and I've played with some good receivers — but some of the catches he makes are just insane," offensive lineman Steve Avila said of Nacua, shaking his head.

One of those catches was Nacua's toe-tapping grab along the sideline against the Bills.

Here's how Nacua described his route-running on that play.

"I told Cooper [Kupp] I was a little horny on my route," Nacua said, laughing. "I cut a little bit early. I felt the timing and I was ready to break open." 

Later in the interview, Nacua acknowledged he could have explained things differently.

"I was just ready to get the