Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Juwan Johnson vs Puka NacuaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Puka Nacua is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 19.4 PPG to Juwan Johnson's 8.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

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

Rec

Rec Yds

889

Rec TDs

Targets

102

Bye

Week 8

WRLos Angeles Rams#1PPG LEADER

Puka Nacua

PPG

19.4

Games

Rec

129

Rec Yds

1,715

Rec TDs

Targets

166

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Juwan Johnson

Puka Nacua

Head to Head

8.3 PPG19.4 PPG

17 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 11

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: The Full Breakdown

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 8, Puka Nacua in Week 11. 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 25) 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 4 years younger than Juwan Johnson (25 vs 29), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Juwan Johnson vs Puka Nacua: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Juwan Johnson	Puka Nacua
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.3	19.4
Games Played	17	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	141	310
Receptions	77	129
Rec/Game	4.5	8.1
Receiving Yards	889	1,715
Rec Yds/Game	52.3	107.2
Receiving TDs	3	10
Targets	102	166
Target Share/Game	6.0	10.4
Age	29	25
Experience	5 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 11

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