Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jonathan Taylor vs Puka NacuaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jonathan Taylor is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.0 PPG to Puka Nacua's 19.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jonathan Taylor is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Jonathan Taylor (20.0 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Puka Nacua (19.4 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.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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RBIndianapolis Colts#2PPG LEADER

Jonathan Taylor

PPG

20.0

Games

Rush Yds

1,585

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

378

Bye

Week 13

WRLos Angeles Rams#1

Puka Nacua

PPG

19.4

Games

Rec

129

Rec Yds

1,715

Rec TDs

Targets

166

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Jonathan Taylor

Puka Nacua

Head to Head

20.0 PPG19.4 PPG

17 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Jonathan Taylor: Tier 1 (Elite) RB (ranked #2 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 1 (Elite) RB is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 1 (Elite) WR in most league formats.

Jonathan Taylor vs Puka Nacua: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Jonathan Taylor (RB, Indianapolis Colts) against Puka Nacua (WR, Los Angeles Rams) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Jonathan Taylor averaged 20.0 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.

Jonathan Taylor has his bye in Week 13, Puka Nacua in Week 11. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Jonathan Taylor (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Puka Nacua (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Jonathan Taylor outscored Puka Nacua by a projected 10 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jonathan Taylor played 17 games in 2025 compared to Puka Nacua's 16. That durability gap means Jonathan Taylor contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jonathan Taylor scored 20 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Puka Nacua caught 129 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jonathan Taylor vs Puka Nacua: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jonathan Taylor	Puka Nacua
PPG (Half-PPR)	20.0	19.4
Games Played	17	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	340	310
Rushing Yards	1,585	105
Rush Yds/Game	93.2	6.6
Rushing TDs	18	1
Receptions	46	129
Receiving Yards	378	1,715
Targets	55	166
Total TDs	20	11
Age	27	25
Experience	5 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 11

Summary

20.0 PPG for Jonathan Taylor versus 19.4 for Puka Nacua in 2025. The baseline favors Jonathan Taylor, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jonathan Taylor or Puka Nacua in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jonathan Taylor has the edge at 20.0 PPG compared to Puka Nacua's 19.4 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 Jonathan Taylor and Puka Nacua average in 2025?▾

Jonathan Taylor averaged 20.0 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 0.6 points per game.

When are Jonathan Taylor and Puka Nacua's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jonathan Taylor (IND) has a bye in Week 13, and Puka Nacua (LAR) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.