Hunter Henry or Puka Nacua: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Start Puka for his WR1 ceiling, but make sure he’s active
Puka’s WR1 role and offensive-engine usage give you a much stronger receiving ceiling than Henry’s useful but less prominent TE1 workload. Henry’s edge is real: he has no injury designation and has been on the field more, while Puka’s availability is the call’s clear risk—he was inactive Monday and did not practice Saturday (ESPN 2026-09-22). If Puka plays, his target-hog role and stronger team scoring outlook outweigh Henry’s steadier availability; Denver’s difficult matchup is a lesser concern than the hip and groin issues.
What flips it: Puka is ruled out or his practice status worsens before kickoff.
Sources: ESPN · Sep 22, 2026
AI editor
Hunter Henry
6.18.110.1 Projected Points
Puka Nacua
12.716.319.9 Projected Points
Hunter Henry’s market
Puka Nacua’s market
Why Hunter Henry
Toss-Up· mediumTE1 and volume pass-catcher. Dependable seam and red-zone target with in-line blocking chops.
84% snaps and a 15% target share keep Henry usable, but TE18 with a top-10 toughest DvP draw and a 22.0 implied total is a coin flip.
- Henry’s in-line blocking and red-zone role give him ways to help even if his receiving volume stays modest.
- No injury designation makes him the safer bet to suit up.
The call
- Role is locked: 84% snap share and a 15% target share over two games make him New England's clear primary tight end, and there's no injury designation.
- The matchup works against him — Jacksonville grades 10 of 32 in DvP versus tight ends (32 = softest), though the 2-game sample carries 0.00 confidence, so don't over-weight it.
- A 22.0 implied team total in a 1.5-point game caps the ceiling; 10.6 projected points and a TE18 consensus rank sit just outside the every-week 12-team starter tier.
- Tipping point: if your alternative is a sub-9-point streamer, play Henry for the target floor; if you have a top-12 TE or a matchup-proof option, sit him.
Why Puka Nacua
StartWR1 and offensive engine. Physical route technician with elite yards-after-catch and massive target share.
Start — every-week WR start at consensus WR2: DEN is the 5th-toughest matchup vs WRs, 24.3 implied team total.
- As the Rams’ offensive engine, Puka can turn heavy target involvement into a difference-making PPR day.
- His downside is availability, not a lack of opportunity if active.
Latest on Nacua
Puka Nacua was inactive for the Rams' Monday night game despite participating in a pregame warmup.
Rams' McVay unsure about Nacua's status for Week 3 vs. BroncosESPN · Sep 22, 2026Puka Nacua's status for Week 3 against the Denver Broncos is uncertain because of a hip injury and groin soreness, and he did not practice Saturday.
Rams' McVay unsure about Nacua's status for Week 3 vs. BroncosESPN · Sep 22, 2026Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua was inactive for Monday night's game against the New York Giants.
Inactives for Monday Night Football between the Rams and the Giants in Week 2 at SoFi Stadium.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Hunter Henry | Puka Nacua |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 6.18.110.1 | 12.716.319.9 |
| Consensus rank | TE18 | WR2 |
| Opponent vs position | JAX · 10 of 322-game sample | DEN · 5 of 322-game sample |
| Receptions | 4 of 32 | 3 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 14 of 32 | 3 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | 15 of 32 | 7 of 32 |
| Targets | 2 of 32 | 7 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | 13 of 32 | 7 of 32 |
| Target share | 15% | 32% |
| Reception share | 16% | 26% |
| Implied total · spread | 22.0+1.5 | 24.3-3.0 |
| Depth chart | TE1 | WR1 |
| Snap share | 84% | 70% |
| Injury designation | — | Questionable |
| Start/Sit record | 0–0+2 toss-ups | — |
Recent form
Hunter Henry — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs PIT | 4.05.57.0 |
| Week 1 | vs SEA | 2.64.15.6 |
Puka Nacua — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs NYG | 0.00.00.0 |
| Week 1 | vs SF | 7.49.912.4 |
Signal breakdown
- 10.1 vs 19.9 projected PPR pointsPuka Nacua +
- Rank 18 vs 2Puka Nacua +
- Opponent DvP rank 10 vs 5 (32 = softest)even
- Implied 22.0 vs 24.3 team pointsPuka Nacua +
- no designation vs QuestionableHunter Henry +
- 84% vs 70% snap shareHunter Henry +
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