Puka Nacua has been the NFL’s most explosive wide receiver in 2025.He has racked up an incredible 503 yards through four weeks, which is 100 more than his closest rival, Jaxon Smith-Njigba.Nacua is the most electric receiver in the NFL through four weeks of the seasonGettyNacua has helped lead the Los Angeles Rams to a 3-1 start, and next up is a tough game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night.Another big performance would see the third-year star establish himself alongside the likes of Ja’Marr Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Justin Jefferson as one of the NFL’s best wideouts.His impressive numbers through four weeks are perhaps not too surprising, given Nacua set the league’s rookie record for receiving yards in 2023, with 1,486.The talent was clearly there from Day 1, even if he slipped all the way to the fifth round of the NFL Draft, and plans to retire at 30. Nacua was eventually selected by the Rams with the 177th overall pick in 2023, which seems like a steal now.He fell so far amid concerns about his athletic ability, less-than-dominant college production, and perceived lack of speed and acceleration — which saw him clock a 4.57s 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.That was slower than the likes of Zay Flowers, Jordan Addison and Smith-Njigba, who were all first-round selections two years ago.But according to ESPN’s NFL insider Dan Graziano, Nacua’s pre-draft measurables were never going to be an issue for the Rams, who had their own way of grading draft prospects.Secret metrics allowed Rams to spot Nacua’s NFL potential“So, he didn’t run fast in the pre-draft process,” Graziano began, speaking exclusively to talkSPORT about why the rookie fell so far.“His 40-yard dash time wasn’t any good, so that obviously knocks down receivers.Nacua fell to the fifth round of the 2023 draft amid fears over his measurablesGettyHe has gone on to establish himself as a top wideout in the NFLGetty“But the Rams would tell you that they have their own sort of proprietary metric whereby they measure speed — a lot of teams do.“It’s game film, as opposed to 40 time in Indianapolis, that kind of thing.“So they thought this was a guy that people are going to overlook because he doesn’t have the measurables.“But the way we measure and evaluate him, we think he can be special for us in our system.”“So he hits right away as a rookie, obviously.”In his first season, Nacua caught six touchdowns en-route to setting the rookie record for receiving yards.At current pace, Nacua is on course to break the NFL’s single-season receiving recordGettyBut injuries limited him to just 11 games in 2024, and he finished with 990 yards and three TDs.Now in Year 3, Nacua certainly looks healthy again, and Graziano believes his explosive start to the season is partly down to the arrival of a six-time Pro Bowler.If he continues this form, he could soon be in line for a big payday, too.How are the Rams getting the best out of Nacua?“This offseason, they got rid of Cooper Kupp and they bring in Davante Adams, who at this time in history is a better player than Kupp,” Graziano explained.NFL insider Graziano believes Nacua’s game compliments AdamsGettyNacua has 100 more yards than any other WR through four weeks of 2025Getty“And you see it when they’re playing. You know, against the (Philadelphia) Eagles — Quinyon Mitchell goes with Adams the whole game.“That tells you how other teams are looking at Nacua, relative to Adams.“He’s not a guy that’s going to be a great separator downfield and get open like crazy, but he’ll win contested catches. He plays physically, he’s hard to tackle.“He’ll block in the run game, which the Rams want their receivers to do.Nacua could be in line for a big payday if he continues to perform in 2025Getty“So yeah, he’s been an exceptional player for them, and we’re coming up on the end of Year 3, which is time to pay a guy.“The start he’s had, he could have a historic season and be in the conversation with the highest-paid receivers pretty soon.”What NFL record is Nacua on course to break this season?With 503 receiving yards through four weeks, Nacua is actually on course to smash through the 2,000 yard milestone, something no wideout has ever done before.Calvin Johnson came closest in 2012 and holds the current single season record with 1,964 yards. NFL all-time receiving leadersNo player has ever reached 2,000 receiving yards in a single season. Nacua is on course to pass that number in Week 16. Calvin Johnson – 2012 – 1,964 yardsCooper Kupp – 2021 – 1947 yardsJulio Jones – 2015 – 1,871 yardsJerry Rice – 1995 – 1,848 yardsAntonio Brown – 2015 – 1,834 yardsIf Nacua keeps this pace, he will eclipse Johnson in Week 16. That truly would be a historic effort, and his hunt for yards continues when the Rams host the Niners in Thursday Night Primetime.Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our dedicated talkSPORT USA Facebook page and subscribe to our talkSPORT USA YouTube channel for all the news, exclusives, interviews and more.