Week 7 was a massive outing for Davante Adams. With Puka Nacua sidelined, the former Pro Bowler put up an outstanding game, catching three total touchdowns from Matthew Stafford. It’s a real luxury to go from one top receiver to another. But after getting some rest, Nacua is expected to return to the lineup against the Saints. Can Adams put up another WR1 week, or will the return of Nacua damper his value?
Analysis
To break this down, we need to go back to their first five games together before Puka’s injuries cropped up. In those five games, Nacua pulled in 52 catches for 588 yards and two scores. It was the absurd volume and efficiency that were putting Nacua in overall WR1 talks. But Adams managed to hold his own through the first five, pulling in 22 catches for 357 yards and three scores. It was strong production all around.
Of course, Adams scoring several touchdowns wasn’t going to be the norm with Nacua out. Yet he did put up a monster game which makes us wonder if Adams has more WR1 performances in the tank.
There is one important factor to consider. Nacua saw an incredible 62 targets in the first five weeks, but Adams wasn’t that far behind with 46 targets. Getting nine targets per game is conducive to producing WR1 weeks. The efficiency wasn’t there, though, as Adams caught fewer than half of those looks. With his own level of talent combined with Stafford’s level of play, those catch numbers are going to perk up.
The verdict
It’s hard to see Adams being WR1 worthy on a week-to-week basis. But there’s reason to believe he could be one against the Saints. New Orleans has allowed 14 passing touchdowns through eight weeks. The volume may not be there in a positive game script, but he could get a lot of red-zone looks against a bad defense.
Nacua’s eventual return to the top spot on the WR totem pole will push Adams to WR2 territory. But there will be some smash weeks with his red-zone usage. Keep the faith with Davante.
