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

2017 ScoutIndex Rating · WR

Methodology
36.9

14th percentile among WRs

16 games · 61 targets

Role×0.14-0.40
Hands×0.1-0.32
Volume×0.12+0.35
Total EPA×0.22-1.15
EPA/target×0.3-1.60
Yards/target×0.12+0.64

2017 attribute card

click a row to see the formula
AthleticismReceivingRoleImpact

group averages

Athleticism

Speed98▶

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

Burst77▶

Percentile of vertical jump + broad jump among combine WRs.

Agility39▶

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

Hands7▶

Catch rate — receptions ÷ targets.

Deep Threat100▶

Average depth of target — receiving air yards ÷ targets.

YAC Ability3▶

Yards after catch ÷ reception.

Role

Target Share39▶

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

Air-Yards Share62▶

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

Impact

Efficiency7▶

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

Volume67▶

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)

2017 splits

regular season
SplitGRecRec ydsRec TD
Home8
9
1.1/g
133
17/g
0
Away8
20
2.5/g
375
47/g
2
In division6
10
1.7/g
165
28/g
0
Out of division10
19
1.9/g
343
34/g
2
In wins8
13
1.6/g
227
28/g
1
In losses8
16
2.0/g
281
35/g
1
On grass12
17
1.4/g
313
26/g
0
On turf4
12
3.0/g
195
49/g
2
Indoors10
19
1.9/g
293
29/g
2
Outdoors6
10
1.7/g
215
36/g
0

2017 game log

WkOppLineScore
Week 1DET5 rec, 43 yds, 1 TD59
Week 2IND5 rec, 120 yds, 1 TD79.7
Week 3DAL—35
Week 4SF3 rec, 34 yds, 0 TD50.7
Week 5PHI14 rush yds, 0 TD · 4 rec, 80 yds, 0 TD41.7
Week 6TB16 rush yds, 0 TD25
Week 7LAR2 rec, 39 yds, 0 TD32.1
Week 9SF1 rec, 15 yds, 0 TD49.3
Week 10SEA1 rec, 17 yds, 0 TD32.5
Week 11HOU1 rec, 14 yds, 0 TD43.8
Week 12JAX1 rec, 14 yds, 0 TD40.5
Week 13LAR2 rec, 42 yds, 0 TD32.8
Week 14TEN2 rec, 26 yds, 0 TD57.2
Week 15WAS7 rush yds, 0 TD · 1 rec, 46 yds, 0 TD54.6
Week 16NYG—27.5
Week 17SEA1 rec, 18 yds, 0 TD54.1

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