Drafted 159th overall in the 5th round of the 2015 draft, J.J. Nelson arrived from UAB. He last played in 2021 with IND, a career spanning 7 NFL seasons. Last season's 36.9 ScoutIndex Rating landed in the 14th percentile among WRs, below average for the position. Few match his speed, which grades in the 98th percentile. Across 5 NFL seasons, he has totaled 85 catches for 1,475 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Size
5'10", 160#
College
UAB
Draft
Rd 5, 159th overall (2015)
Seasons
2015–2021
2019 ScoutIndex Rating · WR
Methodology41th percentile among WRs · limited sample
1 games · 5 targets
2019 attribute card
click a row to see the formulagroup averages
Athleticism
Speed98▶
Percentile of 40-yard dash time among WRs at the NFL Combine (faster = higher), 2000–present.
Burst75▶
Percentile of vertical jump + broad jump among combine WRs.
Agility42▶
Percentile of 3-cone + short shuttle among combine WRs (faster = higher).
Size3▶
Height/weight z-score vs. the WR cohort (from official bio, not combine-dependent).
Receiving
Hands72▶
Catch rate — receptions ÷ targets.
Deep Threat28▶
Average depth of target — receiving air yards ÷ targets.
YAC Ability52▶
Yards after catch ÷ reception.
Role
Target Share58▶
Share of the team's targets while on the field, target-weighted across the season.
Air-Yards Share52▶
Share of the team's total air yards, target-weighted across the season.
Impact
Efficiency40▶
Receiving EPA ÷ target — the Rating's largest component.
Volume22▶
Total targets this season.
Career (regular season)
Career profile
Across 5 NFL seasons on file, J.J. Nelson has played in 50 regular-season games, playing for 2 teams: ARI (2015–2018), LV (2019).
He has rushed for 120 yards and 1 touchdown. As a receiver he has caught 85 passes for 1,475 yards and 11 touchdowns. His most productive receiving season was 2016 with ARI: 568 yards and 6 touchdowns in 14 games.
By the ScoutIndex Rating, his best qualified season was 2016: a 56.8, in the 72nd percentile among WRs that year.
Career highs (regular season)
- Most rushing yards in a game56, 1 TD vs MIA, 2016 Week 14
- Most receiving yards in a game142 on 4 catches, 1 TD vs CIN, 2015 Week 11
2019 splits
regular season2019 game log
| Wk | Opp | Line | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 3 | MIN | 4 rec, 36 yds, 1 TD | 44.5 |
J.J. Nelson — common questions
- What position does J.J. Nelson play?
- J.J. Nelson is listed as a WR.
- Which teams has J.J. Nelson played for?
- In the seasons on file (1999 onward), J.J. Nelson has played for ARI (2015–2018), LV (2019).
- Where did J.J. Nelson go to college?
- J.J. Nelson played college football at UAB.
- When was J.J. Nelson drafted?
- J.J. Nelson was selected in round 5, 159th overall, of the 2015 NFL Draft.
- How many touchdowns has J.J. Nelson scored?
- J.J. Nelson has 12 touchdowns in the regular-season games on file (1 rushing, 11 receiving).
- What is J.J. Nelson's ScoutIndex Rating?
- J.J. Nelson rated 44.4 for 2019, the 41st percentile among WRs (provisional or limited sample). Ratings run 0–99; about 60 is a league-average qualified starter.
Related players
Top teammates, last season on file
- Derek CarrQB · 2019
- Josh JacobsRB · 2019
- Darren WallerTE · 2019
- DeAndre WashingtonRB · 2019
- Tyrell WilliamsWR · 2019
- Hunter RenfrowWR · 2019
- Jalen RichardRB · 2019
- Foster MoreauTE · 2019
Drafted in round 5, 2015
- Grady JarrettDT · pick 137
- David CobbRB · pick 138
- Rashad GreeneWR · pick 139
- Ben HeeneyLB · pick 140
- Martrell SpaightLB · pick 141
- Adrian AmosS · pick 142
- MyCole PruittTE · pick 143
- Mykkele ThompsonDB · pick 144
Also from UAB
- Alex WrightDE · 2022–2026
- Starling Thomas VCB · 2023–2026
- Tejhaun PalmerWR · 2024–2025
- Darious WilliamsCB · 2018–2025
- Chris HubbardOT · 2013–2025
- Kadeem TelfortOT · 2023–2025
- DeWayne McBrideRB · 2023–2023
- Spencer BrownRB · 2021–2023