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QB Matt Stafford, LAR (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Dr. Awesome
- Start date
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
They just want to rest him for the regular season is my guess but something you need to keep an eye on. Doesn't sound like a major injury and is a little vague
ericttspikes
Footballguy
The biggest ADP mystery to me this year is Puka top 5 WR, Adams top 15 WR and Stafford at QB 20+...and he's old and hurt. I'm not sure a healthy Stafford supports those ADPs, let alone some Jimmy G sprinkled in there.
Harjiran
Footballguy
You're not wrong but the Rams seem like a team on the rise and the rankings are probably taking that into account - the D is much improved and they were the only team to hang with Philly in the playoff if I recall correctly. Those ADPs might be a little high, but not ridiculously so. While there is room to quibble, Puka is still a solid WR1, Adams a WR2, etc. I wouldn't underestimate Stafford either - with the exception of his first 2 seasons, he's been durable over the course of his career and has played at a high level fairly consistently. He definitely passes the eye test when he's on the field. Assuming he's healthy, I'll happily take him as my QB2.
Tau837
Footballguy
Over the past 3 seasons, Stafford has:
- 60 passing TDs in 43 games, which projects to 23.7 passing TDs over 17 games.
- 10,714 passing yards in 43 games, which projects to 4,236 passing yards over 17 games.
Matthew Stafford ruled out for Rams’ joint practice with Cowboys due to back injury
Sean McVay provided another update on Matthew Stafford after Saturday’s practice, but it’s not one that will make Rams fans feel any better.
theramswire.usatoday.com
Alex P Keaton
Footballguy
That certainly doesn’t seem positive
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
As much as McVay is considered a whiz with the passing offense, he prefers to run around the goal line. And Stafford ain’t getting those runs.
dipandglide
Footballguy
We probably shouldn't get too worried since he's a vet. I'll start panicking if there's talk of missing W1. The offseason & training camp are a bunch of smoke & mirrors.
What Rams beat writers do Rams locals love?
Anything remarkable from them on Stafford?
Anything remarkable from them on Stafford?
I think everyone is overestimating the importance of this. First his back has been an issue for at least 6 years. This doesn't sound out of the scope of his normal. Second, he isn't very good. The drop to Jimmy G isn't a big one.
I'm not a Rams local or fan but Jourdana Rodrigue might be the best beat writer* in the whole business.
*Technically she just got promoted to national writer but she still covers Rams in depth.
Terpman22
Footballguy
This is a sizzling hot take haha
Stafford's "Down year" last year is = to Jimmy G's 2nd best TD total of his career
It's a huge deal and should be discussed more but the fact he's had the issue for 6 years is actually a little comforting, would be worse to me if it was new.
For fantasy yes, he's not very good in part because they run so frequently in the red zone.
If you mean this in real life I'm thinking you got tossed off a horse recently and landed on your head. j/k
If Stafford had left them they would have signed Rodgers to be their starter(I wonder if part of him wishes he'd have waited this out?). Jimmy G is option 3 and in Mcvay I trust. He's a good backup but let's not get carried away.
Plus, and this is very significant to me for fantasy value of Rams, if a situation occurred where Jimmy G had to take the reigns for awhile I'd still be nervous as heck for Rams skill position players because I'd be constantly fretting Jimmy G going down. He has seemed awfully brittle lately.
The system is a huge factor. Stafford is at this point probably around QB 25 in the NFL. Jimmy G is probably QB 40, but the fall off is pretty flat in that space.This is a sizzling hot take haha
Stafford's "Down year" last year is = to Jimmy G's 2nd best TD total of his career
Stafford was never an elite QB. He was at best a slightly above average NFL QB. He is now an old guy who used to be a slightly above average NFL QB
He was recently listed as the 6th best QB in that ESPN poll of scouts/execs. At 37 years old.
I'm going to defer to them, McVay and my eyes on this one.
Reputation matters in NFL circles. He has been around forever, but has never been the 6th best QB in the league. He offers very little with his feet and is turnover prone.
Terpman22
Footballguy
I think there are less than 10 QBs that have had 2 separate 40+ Touchdown Seasons.
Appreciate your opinion, and while he isn't as good as he was maybe in his prime, he is still VERY good.
Will be in Canton one day.
Probably. He has had a long career and amassed some big stats. He has been a Pro Bowl selections twice. Matt Ryan and Phillip Rivers were way better QB's.
SeniorVBDStudent
Footballguy
Stafford is a lot like Eli Manning. The numbers don't look great, but if you're in a back alley monkey knife fight and the game is on the line, you want him on that wall. JimmyG? the exact opposite.
Drop off between a healthy Stafford and Garoppolo at this point in his career is pretty massive. Rams were set up for success this year and have to be wondering if their season may be slipping away before it starts. Stafford's pretty tough so maybe he can play through it.
dkp993
Footballguy
Name checks out. Definitely a drunk take.
Not great.
Mr.Blonde
Footballguy
Matthew Stafford walked into this Ammortal chamber. Ammortal advertises itself as a "wellness device that aims to optimize human performance and promote holistic health through a combination of non-invasive technologies."
In my next life I want to have a job where I talk like this all day. Either that or being the one who comes up with the names for models of cars or the names for all these Big Pharma drugs.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
Guy needs the sarcophagus from Stargate to heal between games, but I think he will do everything he can to play. One of the tougher QBs around.
They got the old guy an Airstream. It might be over...
Not really. But he's currently in the QB20+ range. Which could be a nice value if he's available.
Not really. But he's currently in the QB20+ range. Which could be a nice value if he's available.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Neither ever sealed the deal and won a SB. That is Stafford's big win. Ryan has the MVP. Rivers has the most Pro Bowls but like Stafford, no All Pros either. It was tough competing in the same conference as Brady, Manning and BIg Ben. I think Rivers was the best of the 3 but also seemed to be the least clutch. Ryan and Stafford are pretty close. I would say all 3 are very very good franchise QBs but not great.
fatness
Footballguy
I had never heard of her before and then got to see her twice in the last week on either ESPN or NFLN. She's a very good reporter.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Of course there is a point where eventually the toll all adds up and he can't go but I think he's done something similar the last few offseasons.I get the feeling he's done. Back problems are no joke. And depending on the severity, require surgery or pain meds. He's gonna get rocked by a D-lineman or just seize up tying his laces and he's gonna miss games. In my SF leagues, I've been trying to scoop Jimmy G.
pinkstapler
Footballguy
Until he's missing time, or announced by the team to be in danger of missing time at least, I'm not worried. Stafford is about as tough as they come. Missed 15 games in 14 seasons.Of course there is a point where eventually the toll all adds up and he can't go but I think he's done something similar the last few offseasons.I get the feeling he's done. Back problems are no joke. And depending on the severity, require surgery or pain meds. He's gonna get rocked by a D-lineman or just seize up tying his laces and he's gonna miss games. In my SF leagues, I've been trying to scoop Jimmy G.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
And most of those were in his first two years when he broke his collarbone twice and the talk was that he was too fragile to survive the NFLUntil he's missing time, or announced by the team to be in danger of missing time at least, I'm not worried. Stafford is about as tough as they come. Missed 15 games in 14 seasons.Of course there is a point where eventually the toll all adds up and he can't go but I think he's done something similar the last few offseasons.I get the feeling he's done. Back problems are no joke. And depending on the severity, require surgery or pain meds. He's gonna get rocked by a D-lineman or just seize up tying his laces and he's gonna miss games. In my SF leagues, I've been trying to scoop Jimmy G.
warpig33
Footballguy
What concerns me is he recently had surgery. Back surgery is hit or miss. Even with technological advancements, it's not a cure all for back issues. And usually requires several throughout your life. The epidural is the same efficacy. It can make you feel great for a few days, a couple weeks, sometimes longer...but there is a reason why they'll give you up to about 3 shots before suggesting surgery. I'm on my 3rd shot and while I feel a lot better than before, my back still locks up and I still get the occasional dead/wet leg sensation. I don't have to worry about 300+ lb lineman unloading on me...just walking and doing yard work tightens up my back. I also do not have access to the top notch medical staff or machinery that Stafford has. I'm just saying, I got a bad feeling for him. I've put off surgery because I don't want hardware in my back...I can deal with the discomfort most of the time (thank goodness for edibles and alcohol). Stafford is still having issues even after recently getting surgery AND an epidural. From my experience, I just feel like he's gonna miss time due to his back. Maybe I'm wrong. Trying to be cautiously optimistic.
To add to this he was listed as the 5th overall and last tier one QB in Sando's annual QB tier article.
Article is here, behind a paywall(a super easily multi accessible one fwiw): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6514160/2025/08/11/nfl-qb-rankings-tiers-2025-jackson-daniels/
As far as I know he's only had epidural shots.
warpig33
Footballguy
Ah. I misread an article. I thought it said he recently had surgery, but it is just an option they may have to discuss. You are correct...he's not had back surgery to this point.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
I remember a few years back where he won a game for Detroit by scrambling into the end zone, but got crunched in the lower back as he crossed the goalline. Before that I don't remember him having any back problems.
All good and fwiw I did agree with everything you said in your post about pitfalls of back surgery and deal with a lot of similar sounding back issues as you do.
I've always avoided back surgery because a friend of mine, who coincidentally played in the NFL, seemed like a shell of himself after his back surgery and he had the same surgeon who did Troy Aikman's back. Just a super risky thing and hope it does not lead to that for Stafford.
Snotbubbles
Footballguy
For fantasy purpose, a guy that doesn't run, needs to have way more pass TDs than 20. I'd much rather take a shot at a guy with some upside, this guy only had downside. Pass.
Other then SF leagues I'd imagine most people are far more concerned for his impact on Puka and Davante then worrying about Stafford, who is not very good for fantasy.
