Stafford, 37, is only a sure-fire starter in Superflex/two-QB leagues, but do not be surprised if you find yourself turning to him at some point in one-QB leagues. He has the benefit of throwing to not only Puka Nacua but also Davante Adams and a bevy of interesting tight ends in the Rams' well-schemed passing offense. And while he averaged a meandering 19.1 Fantasy points in 11 games with Nacua and Cooper Kupp last season, there was a seven-week span where he went crazy and averaged 24 Fantasy points. Heck, even in his very last game, in the snow at Philadelphia in the playoffs, Stafford threw for 324 yards and two touchdowns, the equivalent of 23.5 Fantasy points. That's what shrewd Fantasy managers are hoping to see in 2025: a healthier version of the Rams' passing offense for Stafford to reap big numbers with. He'd be a Week 1 streamer if he weren't playing Houston, but Week 2 at Tennessee could be an easy game for him.
Rams' Matthew Stafford: Completes full week of practice
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Rams coach Sean McVay said Thursday that Stafford (back) has been a full participant at practice this week and has "looked like the stud we know," Stu Jackson of the team's official site reports.
McVay said Stafford has had "no restrictions" at practice this week, per Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com, completing a fourth consecutive on-field session Thursday. Of course, Stafford being a full participant in practice doesn't necessarily indicate that Los Angeles has held full-contact sessions or that he has been completely cleared to participate in such activities, but Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports that stacking days is exactly what the Rams hoped the veteran signal-caller would accomplish this week, and that he appears on track to play Week 1 barring any setbacks. As expected though, McVay confirmed that Stafford won't travel with the team to Saturday's preseason finale against the Browns, per Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Practicing again Tuesday
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Stafford (back) is dressed for practice Tuesday, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.
Stafford is ready to log back-to-back practices after having retaken the field Monday. Head coach Sean McVay said Monday that the veteran quarterback's practice workload will be flexible, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Stafford mix in rest days as the regular season approaches. It's still encouraging to see him continue ramping up without any pauses thus far, while getting reps with Puka Nacua and new starting wideout Davante Adams. An aggravated disc in his back had forced Stafford to sit out practice since June minicamp.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Rams taking things slowly
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Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay said Monday, after Stafford (back) returned to practice and took part in 11-on-11 drills, that the team has "no updates" on the veteran quarterback's health and are "going to keep it a day, and really a week at a time," Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.
While it's certainly encouraging to see Stafford back on the practice field for the first time since June minicamp, and taking part in team drills at that, McVay cautioned that the 37-year-old is still doing "everything in his power" to get back and called it a "very fluid situation that demands flexibility." The Rams will take a cautious approach to ramping up Stafford's activity level as he works his way back from a lingering disc injury in his back, so after he was at least a limited participant Monday it wouldn't be surprising to see him get rest as the week continues. "It was great to be able to see [Stafford] out there today," McVay said, "and we'll see how this afternoon goes, and tomorrow." Stafford still has nearly three weeks to get healthy in time for Week 1 against the Texans on Sunday, Sept. 7, but per Brock Vierra of SI.com, McVay declined to comment Monday on whether he still expects the veteran quarterback to be ready for the regular-season opener. DaSilva confirms that Stafford won't be in consideration for Saturday's preseason finale against the Browns, which is no surprise.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Taking part in team drills
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Stafford (back) is participating in 11-on-11 drills at Monday's practice, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
Stafford not only is participating in individual drills in his first practice session since June minicamp, but the veteran signal-caller already is taking part in team drills, a notable development with Jimmy Garoppolo having dominated first-team reps throughout training camp. Rams coach Sean McVay will provide an update on Stafford after Monday's practice, per Cameron DaSilva of USA Today, but this is the most encouraging development thus far that the 37-year-old's disc injury in his back won't prevent him from being available Week 1. Nonetheless, Stafford likely will be held out of Saturday's preseason finale against the Browns.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Dressed for practice Monday
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Stafford (back) is participating in Monday's practice.
Rams head coach Sean McVay didn't provide an update on Stafford's scheduled workout on Saturday, but it appears the veteran quarterback is feeling better after this weekend's reps than last weekend's, as he's now ready to take part in practice for the first time since the offseason program. Even a heavily limited practice Monday would represent a tangible step in the right direction for Stafford, but it remains to be seen whether he'll be given the green light to participate in any team drills this early in his return to the field from a lingering disc issue in his back. Jimmy Garoppolo will continue to handle first-team reps if Stafford is limited to individual drills, but this development lends welcome credence to McVay's stated optimism that Stafford is expected to be ready for Week 1.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: No update yet on Saturday's workout
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The Rams didn't provide an update regarding Stafford's (back) scheduled workout Saturday, with assistant head coach Aubrey Pleasant deferring to coach Sean McVay's upcoming media session Monday to discuss the matter, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.
Stafford has yet to practice during training camp due to what initially was termed back soreness and more recently a disc issue in his back. After Stafford completed a workout without limitations last Saturday, McVay spoke in optimistic terms about the quarterback and an expectation that he'd get back on the field Monday, but that didn't come to pass. Stafford was scheduled for a similar workout this Saturday, but neither Pleasant nor a team spokesperson provided any insight into the situation, including whether it took place at all or if he was in attendance at SoFi Stadium for Saturday's preseason game against the Chargers. With three weeks to go until the Rams' season opener against the Texans on Sunday, Sept. 7, it remains unclear if Stafford will be available to direct the offense Week 1. In such a scenario, Jimmy Garoppolo would earn starts under center for as long as Stafford isn't available.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Another Saturday workout scheduled
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Rams coach Sean McVay said Thursday that Stafford (back) will work out on Saturday, similarly to what he did before sitting out Los Angeles' preseason opener last weekend, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
Stafford hasn't yet practiced this week, despite McVay having indicated after a positive workout last Saturday, Aug. 9, that the veteran quarterback was on track to handle individual drills. "Hopefully [Stafford's back] responds a little bit better" after this coming workout, McVay said. That Stafford is set to reprise a similar workout plan confirms expectations that he'll sit out Saturday's preseason matchup against the Chargers, with the Rams likely hoping he returns to the field in at least a limited fashion next week to begin ramping up for Week 1 against the Texans on Sunday, Sept. 7. Regardless of McVay's apparent confidence that Stafford will be ready for the regular season, however, the early-round ADPs of wideouts Puka Nacua and Davante Adams could continue to slide until fantasy managers are able to see Stafford retake the practice field without setbacks.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Opts out of practice
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Rams head coach Sean McVay said Monday that Stafford (back) did not participate in practice because he didn't feel well enough coming off a workout Saturday, Stu Jackson of the team's official site reports.
McVay had said Saturday that Stafford had no limitations in his workout and was expected to handle individual activity Monday, per Jackson, but he now mentioned a desire "to be flexible and fluid" while opting for caution and holding the veteran QB out of practice. Additionally, according to Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register, McVay said it's unclear whether Stafford will practice Tuesday and that the possibility of surgery as a potential treatment for his aggravated disc "hasn't been a conversation that we've had." The red-light therapy chamber Stafford was spotted entering at team facilities Monday also is available to the entire roster, per Jackson, rather than having been brought in specifically for the veteran signal-caller's treatment. Jimmy Garoppolo will continue handling first-team reps until such time as Stafford retakes the field.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Not dressed for practice Monday
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Stafford (back) is present at team facilities Monday but will not participate in practice, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
Rams head coach Sean McVay said the plan was for Stafford to take part in at least individual drills Monday if his workout on Saturday went well, which by all accounts it did, so it's something of a surprise to see the veteran quarterback now in street clothes. That said, throughout training camp, McVay consistently has demonstrated not only a tendency to approach Stafford's recovery with caution, but also to deviate from public commitments made about the team's approach to his rehab. There's no reason yet to believe that Stafford's lack of participation Monday represents a setback in his recovery from the aggravated disc in his back, in other words. As has been the case since early training camp, Jimmy Garoppolo will continue handling first-team reps at practice.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Optimism after workout Saturday
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Rams head coach Sean McVay said Saturday that Stafford (back) had no limitations in his workout earlier in the day and that the veteran QB looked great, Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site reports. "Looking forward to progressing him back into practice on Monday," McVay stated.
An aggravated disc in his back has kept Stafford out of practice throughout the preseason, but it appears he is just about past the issue. McVay conveyed Thursday that Stafford would resume practicing Monday if his workout Saturday went well, and given the head coach's comments after the team's preseason win over Dallas, it seems likely that the star QB will indeed be able to get back on the field for Los Angeles' first practice of the week, though he will participate only in individual drills, per Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register. Jimmy Garoppolo has been handling first-team reps, but the expectation has always been that Stafford would be ready for Week 1 of the regular season.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Plan in place to practice Monday
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Rams coach Sean McVay said Thursday that Stafford (back) will resume practicing Monday if his preliminary workout before Saturday's preseason opener against the Cowboys goes well, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.
McVay emphasized that if Saturday's matchup against Dallas were a regular-season contest, Stafford would be able to take the field. The veteran quarterback has received an epidural to help manage an aggravated disc in his back, but Los Angeles' communications have consistently expressed that the expectation is for him to be available Week 1. Jimmy Garoppolo has handled first-team quarterback reps for roughly the last two weeks with Stafford sidelined, but barring any setbacks the Rams' starting QB will be back in the lineup to begin next week's practices. Having said that, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports that he won't participate in a joint practice with the Chargers.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Set to work off to side
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Stafford (back) won't participate in the Rams' jog-through Monday, but will do a workout of his own off to the side, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Stafford has been working his way through a sore back during training camp, and he's unlikely to be active for Tuesday's joint practice with the Cowboys. As for Stafford's planned workout Monday, "It's static throwing. It's some of the unloaded running on the treadmill. Sometimes it might even be walking. Cardio and core," said head coach Sean McVay. The Rams have said all along that the plan is for the quarterback to be ready for the team's regular season opener against the Texans on Sunday, Sept. 7.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Confidence for Week 1
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The Rams remain confident that Stafford (back) will be available Week 1, though he remains absent from practice Wednesday and the team has not provided an expected timetable for his return to the field, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.
Head coach Sean McVay has referred to Stafford only as "week-to-week" while acknowledging that internally Los Angeles has "a plan in place," but he at least said Tuesday he feels "very confident" that the veteran quarterback will take the field Sept. 7 versus the Texans for the Rams' regular-season opener. "What I don't want to do is set a timetable with you guys and then for whatever reason as we're continuing to gain information, that changes," McVay said. In the meantime, Jimmy Garoppolo will continue to handle first-team quarterback reps. It remains to be seen whether Stafford will be back on the field in time to participate in joint practices ahead of Los Angeles' first two preseason games, which will be against the Cowboys on Aug. 8 and the Chargers on Aug. 16.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Tending to sore back
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Stafford is dealing with back soreness and will begin training camp working with Rams trainers on the side, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
Per Greg Beacham of the Associated Press, coach Sean McVay indicated that Stafford's sore back "kind of crept up" on the quarterback this summer, but he's expected to miss only a handful of practices. Once he's back to full health, Stafford will be operating with a revamped receiving corps featuring newcomer Davante Adams in place of the departed Cooper Kupp, working opposite standout Puka Nacua.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Meeting with team Friday
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Stafford is meeting with the Rams in Los Angeles on Friday to discuss his future with the team, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
According to Russini, both the Giants and Raiders have already met with Stafford and discussed two-year deals that include $90-to-$100 million guaranteed, and a decision is expected soon. The new league year kicks off in two weeks, and it would be safe to assume everyone involved here would like to have a resolution by that time. The Rams allowed Stafford to talk to teams and dictate his market and worth. Stafford is likely looking for a substantial raise on the $40 million per year he's currently making. It's difficult to see him not getting that.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Extension or trade both possible
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The Rams hope to reach a contract agreement with Stafford (ribs) but may try to trade him if the two sides can't agree on numbers, Cameron DaSilva of Rams Wire reports.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Friday that the Rams recently gave Stafford's agent permission to talk with other teams to help assess the QB's value. The idea, it would seem, is for the Rams to figure out if they're willing to pay Stafford as much as another team would, which can move negotiations forward (or not). His contract was also an issue last offseason, when Stafford had three years remaining without any guaranteed money. The Rams adjusted his contract in July, but now they have a similar situation at hand, with Stafford scheduled to make $27 million and $31 million for the final two years of his contract. Those figures are way below market value for a competent starting QB, but that's partially because Stafford received a huge signing bonus in 2022 and a restructure bonus in 2024, which is reflected in his cap hits for the next two seasons ($49.7 million and $53.7 million). An extension would allow the Rams to lower those cap hits while making Stafford happy, but it would also mean adding to the eventual dead-money cap charge when he's retired or released. Stafford turned 37 earlier in February, and right now it's not clear he'll be back in Los Angeles for 2025.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Had cracked ribs
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Stafford played through four cracked ribs from Week 15 onward, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.
Stafford sustained the injury in Week 15 against the 49ers but continued to play without missing a beat, though he was rested along with other key Rams starters in the Week 18 regular-season finale. He aggravated the injury early in the 28-22 NFC divisional-round loss to the Eagles but didn't miss a snap. Stafford said after the loss to Philadelphia that "it sure feels like" he has more football left in him, per Nick Shook of NFL.com. Retirement doesn't seem to be on the 36-year-old quarterback's mind, and assuming he plans to resume his NFL career, Stafford will have plenty of time for his ribs to heal in the offseason.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Season-high 324 yards not enough
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Stafford completed 26 of 44 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 28-22 NFC divisional-round loss to the Eagles. He added two rushing attempts for five yards and fumbled twice, losing one.
Stafford connected with Tyler Higbee for a four-yard touchdown on the Rams' first drive, then set up a field goal in the second quarter with a 48-yard deep ball to Demarcus Robinson. Both offenses slowed down for a while after that as the snow started coming down, and Stafford had the Rams' second lost fumble in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter as the Eagles built a 28-15 lead before Stafford responded with a four-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson with 2:48 left. Los Angeles got the ball back just 25 seconds later, and Stafford drove the team down to the 13-yard line before a sack and incomplete pass ensured the comeback bid came up short. Stafford exceeded his previous single-game season high in passing yards Sunday, but his campaign still came to an end after he posted 3,762 yards and a 20:8 TD:INT in the regular season and added 533 passing yards with a 4:0 TD:INT in the postseason. Barring the scenario of Stafford deciding to retire, he'll be back in Los Angeles for his age-37 season in 2025.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Won't play this week
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Rams head coach Sean McVay confirmed Wednesday that Stafford won't play in Sunday's game against Seattle, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
Jimmy Garoppolo will make the start, with Stafford and other key players resting in preparation for a wild-card-round matchup with the Packers, Buccaneers or Falcons. Stetson Bennett is set to dress as the backup to Garoppolo, leaving Stafford as the team's emergency No. 3 quarterback for Week 18.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Struggles persist in Week 16 win
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Stafford completed 14 of 19 passes for 110 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 19-9 win over the Jets. He also registered three rushing attempts for minus-4 yards.
Stafford threw for only nine yards in the first quarter and was picked off in the second, finishing the first half with a modest 46 passing yards. He was only moderately more effective in the second half, though Stafford's 11-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Higbee in the fourth quarter helped the Rams pull away and improve to 9-6. After struggling in the cold Sunday, Stafford will be glad to be back in Los Angeles for Week 17 against the Cardinals.
