ScoutIndex

IND IND

J.J. Nelson

WR

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 deep threat, which grades in the 100th 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

2015 ScoutIndex Rating · WR

Methodology
53.5

69th percentile among WRs

10 games · 27 targets

Role×0.14-0.65
Hands×0.1+0.56
Volume×0.12-0.48
Total EPA×0.22-0.13
EPA/target×0.3+0.37
Yards/target×0.12+1.66

2015 attribute card

click a row to see the formula
AthleticismReceivingRoleImpact

group averages

Athleticism

Speed99▶

Percentile of 40-yard dash time among WRs at the NFL Combine (faster = higher), 2000–present.

Burst78▶

Percentile of vertical jump + broad jump among combine WRs.

Agility39▶

Percentile of 3-cone + short shuttle among combine WRs (faster = higher).

Size1▶

Height/weight z-score vs. the WR cohort (from official bio, not combine-dependent).

Receiving

Hands8▶

Catch rate — receptions ÷ targets.

Deep Threat100▶

Average depth of target — receiving air yards ÷ targets.

YAC Ability71▶

Yards after catch ÷ reception.

Role

Target Share27▶

Share of the team's targets while on the field, target-weighted across the season.

Air-Yards Share66▶

Share of the team's total air yards, target-weighted across the season.

Impact

Efficiency71▶

Receiving EPA ÷ target — the Rating's largest component.

Volume42▶

Total targets this season.

Career (regular season)

SeasonTmSIGPass ydsPass TDRush ydsRush TDRecRec ydsRec TD
2019LV44.414361
2018ARI24.49764
2017ARI36.91637295082
2016ARI56.814831345686
2015ARI53.510112992

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)

2015 splits

regular season
SplitGRecRec ydsRec TD
Home5
4
0.8/g
142
28/g
1
Away5
7
1.4/g
157
31/g
1
In division3
4
1.3/g
87
29/g
1
Out of division7
7
1.0/g
212
30/g
1
In wins9
11
1.2/g
299
33/g
2
In losses1
0
0.0/g
0
0/g
0
On grass9
9
1.0/g
265
29/g
1
On turf1
2
2.0/g
34
34/g
1
Indoors5
6
1.2/g
176
35/g
2
Outdoors5
5
1.0/g
123
25/g
0

2015 game log

WkOppLineScore
PostseasonGB1 rec, 8 yds, 0 TD—
PostseasonCAR2 rec, 25 yds, 0 TD—
Week 1NO—36.8
Week 2CHI—27.8
Week 8CLE3 rec, 70 yds, 0 TD71.1
Week 11CIN4 rec, 142 yds, 1 TD90.1
Week 12SF2 rec, 53 yds, 0 TD53
Week 13LAR2 rec, 34 yds, 1 TD62.5
Week 14MIN—39.7
Week 15PHI—40
Week 16GB—42.4
Week 17SEA—26.1

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

Drafted in round 5, 2015

Also from UAB