View Stafford as a backup starting quarterback in a one-QB league, worthy of a pick in the double-digit rounds. That viewpoint takes into account the possibility of him bouncing back to his 2021 form, which saw him finish as QB5, while also factoring in the risk that the 35-year-old has suffered one too many injuries to be a reliable starter any longer. Stafford was completing 70% of his passes and on pace for 4,475 yards passing in his first six games, but even in that hot start he threw more interceptions than touchdowns. The Rams are trying to rebuild without completely tanking, so the weapons around him are questionable outside of Cooper Kupp. They also drafted Stetson Bennett, though it's unlikely they view Bennett as the long-term answer.
Stafford is coming off his best game of the season in Week 12 at Arizona with 31.4 Fantasy points, and he did that with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua having subpar performances. He might get a break this week if Cleveland star pass rusher Myles Garrett (shoulder) is out, but this is still a tough matchup against the Browns. Cleveland is No. 2 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, and only Lamar Jackson in Week 4 and Gardner Minshew in Week 7 have scored more than 18.8 Fantasy points. Joe Burrow (3.1 Fantasy points in Week 1), Brock Purdy (9.7 Fantasy points in Week 6) and Jackson (15 Fantasy points in the rematch in Week 10) all struggled against the Browns, and Stafford will follow suit in Week 13.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Four-touchdown breakout in win
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Stafford completed 25 of 33 passes for 229 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in the Rams' 37-14 win over the Cardinals on Sunday. He also rushed once for two yards.
Stafford's yardage total wasn't particularly remarkable, but his four-touchdown afternoon made the veteran quarterback an unlikely fantasy star in Week 12. Stafford's multi-touchdown tally was only his second of the season and consisted of scoring tosses to Tyler Higbee (seven, five yards) and Kyren Williams (15, three yards) while pushing his season-long total to 13 in 10 games. Making Stafford's prolific scoring day all the more remarkable was the fact it didn't come with the aid of noteworthy performances from either Cooper Kupp or Puka Nacua, and he'll now look to put together a successful encore in a Week 13 home matchup against a Browns defense that's been much more generous against the pass on the road.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: QBs to Sit
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The matchup against the Cardinals this week is actually great for Stafford, but he's still only worth starting in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues. He might not have Cooper Kupp (ankle), and Stafford only has one game this season with more than 20 Fantasy points, which was in Week 5 against Philadelphia. While Arizona does allow an average of 20.9 Fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, the Cardinals had three interceptions against C.J. Stroud in Week 11. And the Rams might lean on Kyren Williams in Week 12 since he's coming back from his ankle injury, which could further limit Stafford's already limited upside.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Earns win despite mediocre stats
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Stafford (thumb) completed 17 of 31 pass attempts for 190 yards, a touchdown and an interception in Sunday's 17-16 win over the Seahawks.
Stafford returned from a one-game absence after using the Rams' recent bye week to recover from a thumb strain on his throwing hand. The veteran signal-caller was slow to get up after taking a hit in the third quarter, but he did not miss any time and was able to finish out the narrow victory. Stafford's top target, Cooper Kupp, wasn't as fortunate when he left Sunday's win in the first half without returning. Kupp's status is currently unknown for next Sunday's tilt against Arizona, but it sounds like Stafford should be a go despite paying a physical price to beat Seattle on Sunday.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Full practice Wednesday
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Stafford (thumb) practiced in full Wednesday.
As head coach Sean McVay told Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic earlier Wednesday, Stafford didn't have any limitations on the practice field to kick off Week 11 prep. With the benefit of the Rams' Week 10 bye, Stafford thus will miss just one game due to the UCL sprain in his right thumb that he suffered Week 8 in Dallas. The quarterback situation behind Stafford has experienced change following the Rams' signing of Carson Wentz last Wednesday, with Wentz the only other signal-caller on the active roster or practice squad at the moment.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: QBs to Sit
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It's great to have Stafford back after he missed Week 9 with a thumb injury, and hopefully he continues to connect with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. But despite two standout receivers, Stafford only has one game this season with more than 20 Fantasy points. We'll need to see him perform at a high level on a consistent basis before trusting him in one-quarterback leagues, and the Seahawks held him to 14.5 Fantasy points in Week 1. In three career games against Seattle as a member of the Rams, Stafford has yet to score 20 Fantasy points, and I expect him to be under that total again in Week 11.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Shouldn't be limited in practice
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Stafford (thumb) will take part in practice Wednesday, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
Head coach Sean McVay said he doesn't expect Stafford to have any limitations in terms of taking snaps from under center versus the shotgun. Whether the Rams list Stafford as a full or limited participant in practice Wednesday won't be known until the team releases its first Week 11 injury report later in the day, but either way, he's on the right track to return after a bye week to face the Seahawks this Sunday.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: One To Stash (QB Preview)
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I don't know exactly what to expect from Stafford coming out of the bye. But he has Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, so I would at least like to have him on my bench in case this pass game takes off. The Rams have the Cardinals in Week 12, so Stafford could be very interesting if he's healthy.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Week 11 Waiver Priority List
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Stafford is expected to play through his thumb injury in Week 11 against Seattle, and hopefully he can finish the season strong. He's worth a speculative add in deeper, one-quarterback leagues, and we'll see if his Fantasy production can improve down the stretch. Remember, he only has one game this season with more than 20 Fantasy points, but he also played just three healthy games with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. Stafford's next two matchups are favorable against Seattle in Week 11 and Arizona in Week 12, and he's worth adding for 1 percent of your FAB.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Expected to start in Week 11
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Coach Sean McVay said Monday that the Rams expect Stafford (thumb) to start Sunday's Week 11 game against the Seahawks, Stu Jackson of the team's official site reports.
The Week 10 bye came at a good time for Stafford after he was forced to miss Week 9 versus Green Bay. The offense got nothing going with Brett Rypien under center, and Rypien was eventually waived a couple days later. Los Angeles has since signed Carson Wentz to be Stafford's backup going forward. Stafford's return to the lineup will be a boost to Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and the entire offense.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Optimism for Week 11
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Coach Sean McVay sounded optimistic Monday that Stafford (thumb) will be back after the Rams' bye week, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com.
With Stafford inactive for Sunday's game against the Packers, Brett Rypien drew the start at QB in his place, but with the benefit of a Week 10 bye, it appears as though the Rams are hopeful Stafford will miss only one game due to an ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his right thumb, per ESPN.com. The team hosts Seattle on Sunday, Nov. 19, and more context regarding Stafford's Week 11 status will arrive once the the Rams resume practicing ahead of that contest.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Progressing through thumb sprain
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Coach Sean McVay said after Sunday's loss at Green Bay that Stafford (thumb) is "making good progress" as it pertains to gripping a football, "but it wasn't anywhere to where we thought he would be able to go for us" Week 9, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
Stafford hasn't logged any on-field work since suffering a sprained UCL in his right thumb last Sunday in Dallas. He ended up being listed as questionable for Week 9 action, but as McVay indicated, Stafford was a long shot to be available in the end. The Rams have a Week 10 bye, so Stafford will have two more weeks to rest up before the team's next game Nov. 19 against the Seahawks. Brett Rypien stepped in for Stafford this Sunday, completing 13 of 28 passes for 130 yards, no touchdowns and one interception, tallying three carries for 19 yards and fumbling twice (one lost).
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Won't suit up Sunday
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Stafford (thumb) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Packers, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
Despite taking a questionable tag into the weekend and having a penchant for playing through injuries throughout his career, Stafford will sit out Sunday after spraining the UCL in the thumb on his throwing hand in the Rams' Week 8 loss to the Cowboys. With the Rams on bye Week 10, Stafford, who didn't practice in any capacity this week, will benefit from three full weeks to heal up from the injury before Los Angeles returns to action Nov. 19 versus the Seahawks. Brett Rypien will start against the Packers in Stafford's stead, with practice-squad call-up Dresser Winn serving as the team's backup quarterback.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Not in line to play Sunday
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Stafford (thumb) isn't expected to play in Sunday's game at Green Bay, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Stafford hasn't been able to log any on-field work since suffering a sprained UCL in his right thumb just before halftime of the Rams' Week 8 loss at Dallas. Coach Sean McVay called Stafford day-to-day all along, and the team will give the quarterback until Sunday morning before making a decision on his availability for Week 9. L.A. will post its list of inactives about 90 minutes before Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, and if Stafford's name is included, the Rams will turn to Brett Rypien under center.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Another DNP on Thursday
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Stafford (thumb) was a non-participant at Thursday's practice, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
After he wasn't spotted during the media-access portion of the session, Stafford logged a second DNP to begin Week 9 prep. Because coach Sean McVay considers Stafford day-to-day, the quarterback may not need to log any practice reps this week in order to suit up Sunday at Green Bay. In the end, Stafford's status could come down to reduction of the swelling in his right thumb caused by his sprained UCL. Look for Brett Rypien to get the start in place of Stafford if the latter is unable to gain clearance to play this weekend.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Not spotted Thursday
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Stafford (thumb) wasn't seen during the open portion of Thursday's practice, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.
If he indeed goes down as a non-participant for a second day in a row, Stafford will have just one more opportunity this week to potentially test out the UCL sprain that he suffered in his right thumb this past Sunday in Dallas. Per Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, coach Sean McVay does consider Stafford day-to-day, so the quarterback may not need to practice in order to be active for Sunday's game at Green Bay. If Stafford is unavailable, though, Brett Rypien is set the lead the Rams offense.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Not practicing Wednesday
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Rams head coach Sean McVay said Stafford (thumb) won't practice Wednesday, adding that the quarterback remains "day-to-day," Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
Stafford missed the entire second half of this past Sunday's loss at Dallas due to a right thumb injury that he suffered just before halftime. On Monday, McVay termed the issue a UCL sprain, and as of Wednesday, he noted he'll give Stafford "right up before the game" this Sunday at Green Bay to determine whether or not he'll be available. Such comments indicate Stafford doesn't necessarily need to practice Thursday or Friday to be able to suit up. Instead, his availability (or lack thereof) will come down to reduced swelling in his right hand and also grip strength. If Stafford ultimately is unable to go this weekend, Brett Rypien will direct the Rams offense.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Day-to-day with thumb injury
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Coach Sean McVay relayed Monday that Stafford is dealing with a UCL sprain in his right thumb, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
As a result, Stafford is considered day-to-day as Sunday's game against the Packers approaches. While it remains to be seen if the veteran quarterback is able to play this weekend, as Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register notes, Stafford has avoided a worst-case scenario with regard to his thumb issue. If Stafford is unable to gain clearance to face Green Bay, Brett Rypien would be in line to draw the start at QB for the Rams in Week 9.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: X-rays on thumb negative
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Stafford (thumb) still is being evaluated but has not sustained a fracture, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.
Stafford could miss time due to the right thumb injury he sustained during Sunday's loss to Dallas, but his X-rays at least have returned somewhat good news. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Stafford is still "up in the air," while Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports that the Rams remain in the process of evaluating the quarterback situation. With a road matchup in a potentially chilly Green Bay on deck for Week 9 and then a Week 10 bye, it's possible that Los Angeles could decide on rest as the best decision for Stafford's health. Brett Rypien would be in line to start versus the Packers if Stafford is unable to go.
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Rams' Matthew Stafford: Suffers right thumb injury Sunday
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Stafford injured his right thumb during Sunday's contest at Dallas, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
In the span of a few plays late in the second quarter, Stafford had his right wrist hit by Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons before his right thumb slammed into the helmet of defensive tackle Mazi Smith on a two-point conversion pass that fell incomplete. After halftime, backup quarterback Brett Rypien took over the Rams offense while Stafford himself was seen on the sideline wearing a helmet. Stafford was 13-for-22 passing for 162 yards, one touchdown and one interception and had a nine-yard carry before his departure.
