MatthewStafford

News: 3 days agoThe 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.

Spin: 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.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Stafford returns for his fifth season in Los Angeles. The 37-year-old continues to play good football (11th in QBR last season), but that hasn't translated to much fantasy success (27th in fantasy PPG last season and his last top-10 season was with Detroit in 2019). Stafford has finished each of the last two seasons just outside the top 10 in attempts, completions, pass yards and pass TDs, while also continuing to offer almost zero with his legs (39.5 rushing yards per season and one total rush TD since joining the Rams). A solid line and elite Puka Nacua/Davante Adams WR duo could help boost Stafford's passing numbers in 2025, but the lack of rushing will limit him to nothing more than a bye-week streamer.