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Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Juwan Johnson vs Puka Nacua

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Puka Nacua is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Puka Nacua (19.4 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Juwan Johnson (8.3 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TENew Orleans Saints#17
Juwan Johnson
PPG
8.3
Games
17
Rec
77
Rec Yds
889
Rec TDs
3
Targets
102
Bye
Week 11
WRLos Angeles Rams#1PPG LEADER
Puka Nacua
PPG
19.4
Games
16
Rec
129
Rec Yds
1,715
Rec TDs
10
Targets
166
Bye
Week 8

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Juwan Johnson
Puka Nacua

Head to Head

8.3 PPG19.4 PPG
17 GP16 GP
Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Juwan Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #17 at the position). Puka Nacua: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #1 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 1 (Elite) WR in most league formats.

Juwan Johnson vs Puka Nacua: Who Should You Start?

Comparing Juwan Johnson (TE, New Orleans Saints) against Puka Nacua (WR, Los Angeles Rams) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Juwan Johnson averaged 8.3 PPG in 2025 over 17 games, while Puka Nacua posted 19.4 PPG across 16 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Juwan Johnson has his bye in Week 11, Puka Nacua in Week 8. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Puka Nacua is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Juwan Johnson is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Juwan Johnson (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Puka Nacua (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

  • Puka Nacua outscored Juwan Johnson by a projected 189 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Juwan Johnson played 17 games in 2025 compared to Puka Nacua's 16. That durability gap means Juwan Johnson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Puka Nacua scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
  • Puka Nacua saw 166 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
  • Puka Nacua is 5 years younger than Juwan Johnson (24 vs 29), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.
Detailed Stat Breakdown
StatJohnsonNacua
PPG (Half-PPR)8.319.4
Games Played1716
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)141310
Receptions77129
Rec/Game4.58.1
Receiving Yards8891,715
Rec Yds/Game52.3107.2
Receiving TDs310
Targets102166
Target Share/Game6.010.4
Age2924
Experience5 yrs2 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 11Week 8

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Puka Nacua at 19.4 PPG, 11.1 points per game above Juwan Johnson's 8.3. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Juwan Johnson or Puka Nacua in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Puka Nacua has the edge at 19.4 PPG compared to Juwan Johnson's 8.3 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Juwan Johnson and Puka Nacua average in 2025?

Juwan Johnson averaged 8.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Puka Nacua averaged 19.4 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 11.1 points per game.

When are Juwan Johnson and Puka Nacua's bye weeks in 2026?

Juwan Johnson (NO) has a bye in Week 11, and Puka Nacua (LAR) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

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