Rams' Matthew Stafford: Sore back after Week 5 action
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Coach Sean McVay noted Monday that Stafford is dealing with some back soreness following Sunday's 24-19 loss to the Packers, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register and Greg Beacham of the Associated Press report.
That said, McVay indicated that Stafford's back issue shouldn't impact the QB's availability for the Rams' Oct. 20 game against the Raiders. In any case, added context regarding Stafford's status should surface once the team resumes practice following a Week 6 bye.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Pads stats late
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Stafford completed 29 of 45 passes for 260 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 24-19 loss to the Packers.
The contest got off to a strange start for Stafford, as the Rams' offense struggled to get going through the air. That was clear during the team's lone touchdown drive in the first two quarters, as he attempted only three passes that went for just 12 yards. However, things opened up in the second half with the Packers jumping out to a multi-score lead, and Stafford responded with five completions for double-digit gains. While he's making the most of his situation as the team plays without several offensive linemen as well as Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle), Stafford has yet to throw for multiple touchdowns in a game this season.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: So-so numbers in Week 4 defeat
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Stafford completed 20 of 29 passes for 224 yards with no touchdowns and one interception while netting minus-1 yard on his only rush attempt. He also lost a fumble.
Stafford once again was playing with a makeshift receiving corps in the absence of Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (IR, knee), which makes his final numbers more than serviceable. However, the veteran signal-caller simply couldn't generate enough scoring drives, and he also fumbled at his own 13-yard line midway through the second quarter to set up a short Bears touchdown drive. Stafford showed plenty of chemistry with Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington in particular (a combined 10-144-0 line on 14 targets).
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: QBs to Sit
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Stafford pulled off a great comeback win in Week 3 against the 49ers, but he only scored 14.8 Fantasy points in the 27-24 victory. He's now scored 16.7 Fantasy points or less in three games this season, and it's tough to trust him in this matchup with the Bears when he's without Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle). Chicago has yet to allow multiple touchdowns to any quarterback this year, including matchups with C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson over the past two games.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Spurs compact victory
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Stafford completed 16 of 25 pass attempts for 221 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Rams.
Stafford struggled at times against the 49ers' loaded defense, but the veteran persevered to lead his offense into field-goal range in the closing moments of Sunday's victory. The 36-year-old has provided mixed results from the pocket after losing his top two receiving options in consecutive weeks to begin the season. Stafford's lack of production as a rusher (zero attempts through three weeks) makes him a middling fantasy option heading into a matchup against Chicago on Sunday.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: QBs to Sit
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You're sitting Stafford in one-quarterback leagues, but you might have to bench him in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues as well. Without Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) behind a banged-up offensive line, it could be ugly for Stafford against San Francisco. Through two games, Stafford is averaging just 11.7 Fantasy points, and he has six touchdowns and seven interceptions in his past five meetings with the 49ers, while averaging 245.8 passing yards per game over that span.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Sleeper QBs
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Stafford only scored 16.7 Fantasy points in Week 1 at Detroit, but he passed for 317 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He did that with his offensive line falling apart, and Puka Nacua (knee) left the game as well. Nacua is out for Week 2, and the offensive line is still an issue, but Stafford is still worth using as a low-end No. 1 quarterback in all leagues. This is a great matchup against the Cardinals, who allowed Josh Allen to pass for 232 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 (he also added 39 rushing yards and two touchdowns). And last year at Arizona in Week 12, Stafford passed for 229 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception for 31.4 Fantasy points.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Returns to team drills
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Stafford (hamstring) is participating in team drills at the start of Tuesday's practice, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
Stafford was limited to individual work in his return to practice Monday, but he's now resumed handling normal reps. That's enough to alleviate any concerns about the 36-year-old signal-caller's health, though the plan for Los Angeles all along has been for Stetson Bennett to start Saturday's preseason finale against the Texans. The Rams also expect second-year wideout Puka Nacua (hamstring) to be available Week 1 versus the Lions, so with Cooper Kupp also entering the 2024 season healthy, Stafford will have both his top wideouts available to kick off the season.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Limited to individual work
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Stafford (hamstring) participated in stretching and individual work at Monday's practice but was held out of team drills, Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site reports.
Stafford returned to practice on an individual basis Monday, a positive step in the right direction after he departed the field last Wednesday as a result of hamstring tightness. Coach Sean McVay said Stafford's limitations are precautionary, and he simply "wanted to be smart with him," noting that "he was obviously very upset at me that he wasn't practicing today." Even if he was fully healthy, Stafford wouldn't be in contention to start Los Angeles' preseason finale against the Texans on Saturday, but it sounds like the veteran signal-caller is on track to play Week 1 against the Lions on Sunday, Sept. 8.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: May not practice Monday
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Rams coach Sean McVay said Sunday that he's unsure if Stafford (hamstring) will practice Monday, Stu Jackson of the team's official site reports.
Stafford has been sidelined since leaving Wednesday's practice early with what was described as hamstring tightness. McVay stated Thursday that he expected the starting quarterback to return to practice this week, but it appears the team may take a more cautious route and evaluate his status Monday morning. The Rams' coach downplayed the severity of the issue Sunday, stating that he's "not concerned" and that the 36-year-old will be ready for the season opener at Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 8, per Jackson. In the meantime, backup Stetson Bennett should continue to serve as the Rams' primary quarterback for the preseason finale versus Houston on Saturday.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: In line to practice next week
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Coach Sean McVay said Thursday that he expects Stafford (hamstring) to return to practice next week, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
Stafford left practice early Wednesday and isn't present for Thursday's walkthrough, but the Rams have described his absence due to hamstring tightness as precautionary. That the veteran signal-caller is expected to resume practicing next week confirms his injury isn't severe. In any case, neither of Stafford or backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo have been considered candidates to play during Saturday's preseason game against the Chargers, so Stetson Bennett and Dresser Winn will again lead Los Angeles' offense in the exhibition contest.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Absent from walkthrough
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Stafford (hamstring) is not present for Thursday's walkthrough practice, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
A Rams spokesperson reiterated that Stafford was removed from practice Wednesday at roughly the halfway point for 'precautionary' reasons due to hamstring tightness. Neither Stafford nor backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo are expected to play in any of Los Angeles' preseason games, so Stetson Bennett and Dresser Winn figure to dominate reps during Saturday's exhibition matchup against the Chargers. It seems the Rams are simply playing it safe with Stafford's health, but given his injury history, it will be a relief to fantasy managers if the 36-year-old signal-caller is able to retake the field without missing much more time.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Injures hamstring Wednesday
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Stafford exited early in Wednesday's joint practice with the Cowboys due to a tight hamstring, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
Stafford was active in the first half of Wednesday's session that included a handful of 11-on-11 series, but he then left the field as a precautionary measure due to the aforementioned injury. He isn't expected to play in any of the Rams' preseason games, and the same can be said for backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. With that in mind, second-year pro Stetson Bennett should continue to handle the bulk of the in-game reps under center prior to Week 1.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Not in line to play in preseason
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Stafford is not slated to see any preseason action, Cameron DaSilvaof USA Today and Gary Klein of the L.A. Times report.
Given Stafford's injury history, it's no surprise that the Rams plan to play it safe with their veteran starter. While it's unclear if fellow QB Jimmy Garoppolo will see exhibition snaps, look for Stetson Bennett and Dresser Winn to get their share of work during the the team's looming three-game preseason slate.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: At camp after contract adjustment
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Coach Sean McVay said Tuesday that Stafford is present at training camp and that the Rams have agreed to adjust his contract, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.
Stafford has two years remaining on his contract with Los Angeles and has expressed a desire for more guaranteed money. Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports that an adjustment to Stafford's deal is more likely than an extension, but whatever the case, both sides are now on the same page as the veteran quarterback enters his age-36 season. McVay confirmed that Stafford will be ready to practice Wednesday, per Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Seeking contract update
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Stafford has been in attendance for the Rams' voluntary workouts all offseason, but the quarterback remains hopeful to have more guaranteed money added to the final two years of his contract ahead of the 2024 season, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.
The 36-year-old has three years remaining on his contract but no guarantees beyond 2024. He's been involved with the Rams throughout the offseason, leading an offense that will return all but one starter (center Coleman Shelton) from 2023. Guard Jonah Jackson and tight end Colby Parkinson were the big offseason additions, with the former allowing Steve Avila to slide over to center and the latter likely replacing Tyler Higbee (knee) as a starter early in the season. Stafford apparently intends to play at least a few more years and will have wideouts Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp as his primary targets for the foreseeable future.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: On Week 18 inactive list
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Stafford (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the 49ers, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
Head coach Sean McVay had already revealed at the beginning of Week 18 prep that Stafford would be held out for rest purposes in the regular-season finale, but the Rams still opted to list the veteran signal-caller as doubtful on their final injury report. As anticipated, Stafford is inactive for the contest, allowing Carson Wentz to make his first start with the Rams while practice-squad call-up Dresser Winn serves as his backup. Stafford will return to action in the wild-card round, when the Rams play a road game against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: QBs to Sit
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There's several quarterbacks we expect to sit in Week 18 to rest for the playoffs, and Stafford is the placeholder for all of them in this column. That includes Lamar Jackson, Brock Purdy, Patrick Mahomes and Joe Flacco. All five of them have been No. 1 Fantasy quarterbacks, and none of them should play a full game in Week 18, if they play at all. Now, we could see someone like Stafford play for a quarter or even a half, and maybe he does enough in limited action to help your Fantasy roster. But plan ahead now to have an alternate starting option for Stafford, Jackson, Purdy, Mahomes and Flacco because they have bigger things to worry about than what happens in Week 18.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Tops 300 yards in Week 17 win
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Stafford completed 24 of 34 passes for 317 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Sunday's 26-25 win over the Giants. He also rushed once for minus-1 yard.
Stafford connected with Cooper Kupp for a five-yard touchdown late in the first half, atoning for an interception on the previous drive. He was picked off again in the third quarter, but the Rams did just enough to hang on for a win that could wind up clinching a playoff berth with some help over the rest of Week 17. Stafford posted his fifth 300-yard passing performance of the season and second in a row, but his streak of games with multiple touchdown passes was snapped at five, as Kyren Williams scored three times on the ground. The Rams travel to San Francisco in Week 18, but that matchup is less daunting than usual, as the 49ers have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: QBs to Start
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Stafford did well as the Start of the Week in Week 15 against Washington with 22.5 Fantasy points, and he's now hit that mark or better in four games in a row, with an average of 28.1 Fantasy points over that span. He has a tough matchup in Week 16 against the Saints, who are No. 6 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks for the season, but they've faced a lot of bad quarterbacks (Ryan Tannehill, Bryce Young twice, Mac Jones, Desmond Ridder and Tommy DeVito). Jordan Love, Baker Mayfield, Trevor Lawrence and Jared Goff all scored at least 20.1 Fantasy points against the Saints, and Stafford should be in that range as well. He remains a top-10 Fantasy quarterback in Week 16.
