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

2016 ScoutIndex Rating · WR

Methodology
56.8

72th percentile among WRs

14 games · 74 targets

Role×0.14+0.58
Hands×0.1+0.02
Volume×0.12+0.49
Total EPA×0.22+0.45
EPA/target×0.3+0.35
Yards/target×0.12+0.08

2016 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.

Burst74▶

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

Hands5▶

Catch rate — receptions ÷ targets.

Deep Threat100▶

Average depth of target — receiving air yards ÷ targets.

YAC Ability81▶

Yards after catch ÷ reception.

Role

Target Share74▶

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

Air-Yards Share87▶

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

Impact

Efficiency68▶

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

Volume68▶

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)

2016 splits

regular season
SplitGRush ydsRush TDRecRec ydsRec TD
Home7
27
4/g
0
15
2.1/g
244
35/g
2
Away7
56
8/g
1
19
2.7/g
324
46/g
4
In division6
4
1/g
0
13
2.2/g
344
57/g
1
Out of division8
79
10/g
1
21
2.6/g
224
28/g
5
In wins6
23
4/g
0
12
2.0/g
294
49/g
2
In losses7
56
8/g
1
19
2.7/g
190
27/g
4
On grass11
83
8/g
1
28
2.5/g
406
37/g
5
On turf3
0
0/g
0
6
2.0/g
162
54/g
1
Indoors9
27
3/g
0
18
2.0/g
274
30/g
2
Outdoors5
56
11/g
1
16
3.2/g
294
59/g
4

2016 game log

WkOppLineScore
Week 1NE1 rec, 11 yds, 0 TD43.2
Week 4LAR1 rec, 24 yds, 0 TD53.5
Week 5SF—40.9
Week 6NYJ23 rush yds, 0 TD · 2 rec, 16 yds, 0 TD49.9
Week 7SEA4 rush yds, 0 TD · 3 rec, 84 yds, 0 TD66.7
Week 8CAR8 rec, 79 yds, 2 TD70.4
Week 10SF2 rec, 29 yds, 0 TD18.8
Week 11MIN1 rec, 0 yds, 0 TD31.2
Week 12ATL2 rec, 30 yds, 0 TD47.3
Week 13WAS1 rec, 42 yds, 1 TD62.8
Week 14MIA56 rush yds, 1 TD · 1 rec, 8 yds, 1 TD54
Week 15NO5 rec, 38 yds, 1 TD53.1
Week 16SEA3 rec, 132 yds, 1 TD80.1
Week 17LAR4 rec, 75 yds, 0 TD45

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