Wide receiver Puka Nacua is planned to return to the lineup for the Los Angeles Rams following their week eight bye.
Puka Nacua missed week seven with an ankle injury but is expected to be back on the field for the Los Angeles Rams as they come out of their bye. Nacua has fifty-four receptions for 616 yards and two touchdowns on the year.
When Nacua was out in week seven Davante Adams paced the Rams passing attack with five catches for thirty-five yards and three touchdowns. Nacua’s return is significant on its own but the Rams also placed wide receiver Tutu Atwell on injured reserve as well.
As long as there are no lingering effects from the ankle injury Nacua will return to his status as an elite wide receiver. Matthew Stafford remains one of the best quarterbacks in the league and should continue to keep Nacua and Adams as focal points in a potent passing attack.
Author: David Leonard Jr. (@RealDelcoDave)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 24 ...
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 29 ...
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 23 ...
The Rams are losing speedster Tutu Atwell as is heading to the IR.
The Rams are losing some speed with Tutu Atwell heading to the IR due to a hamstring injury. While the focus of the Rams offense runs through Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and Kyren Williams, it will be a blow from the fact that Atwell is able to stretch defenses.
Atwell’s best game came in Week 4 where he had 15.8 fantasy points and was the WR19 on the week. While this isn’t a huge hit for fantasy purposes, it will affect elements of real football in which Sean McVay and the Rams are trying to break away at the top of the NFC West. The Rams are currently tied with the Seahawks with a 5-2 record.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
37 year old Matthew Stafford is entering his 17th NFL season and is already dealing with a sore back before the season starts.
Matthew Stafford is no stranger to injuries, as he labeled injury prone at the beginning of his career. It was less Stafford’s fault for the injuries as it was playing for the moribund Lions back then. Stafford’s talent was always apparent he just never had help outside of having hall of fame wideout Calvin Johnson. Now entering his 17th NFL at the age of 37, Stafford is already dealing with a sore back that will cause him to miss some practice time. Luckily for the Rams its Stafford’s 5th season with the same coach and offense, so they will be fine. Letting Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett have some reps will be beneficial should Stafford miss any real games.
Stafford has been a tough SOB throughout his career and his arm talent has not wavered yet, so he will still be a serviceable option at quarterback for any fantasy player. Stafford finished 2024 as QB19 with 20 passing TDs on a team that lost a lot of production due to injuries to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. Barring injuries the Rams offense should rebound with Stafford finishing as a potential top ten QB for the 2025 season.
Author: Jesse Baldwin @J_Baldwin51
Sean McVay says star quarterback Matthew Stafford is “feeling good” ahead of training camp, although the team will take a modified approach to his preparation as he enters his 17th year.
Matthew Stafford has been dealing with soreness in his back but has been throwing ahead of training camp. The team will allow their star quarterback to ease his way into offseason drills. There should be no concern regarding his Week 1 availability at this point.
Fantasy managers should expect more of the same from the Rams offense this year. Puka Nacua is being drafted as a first-round wide receiver and should be a dynamo catching passes from Stafford. I currently have him as my WR4 in redraft. I also like Davante Adams’ value going in the 3rd and 4th rounds. The 32-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down. I believe he’ll be a strong WR2 in 2025.
–Blake Stachel (@bllakkay)
37-year-old Matthew Stafford is still playing strong as he enters his 16th season in the NFL. He will be entering his fifth season with the Los Angeles Rams; they both struck lightning in their first season together that ended with a Super Bowl victory. Now, he’s signed a new contract with the team.
The team has had varying success since the Super Bowl, although Stafford’s play has remained strong even when the team’s injury luck has severely held the team back. The quarterback was set to make $58 million over two years and now this new deal will pay him $84 million dollars over two years, noting that he’s already collected $4 million. Both years are fully guaranteed.
Stafford is still a strong play at quarterback especially in Superflex fantasy formats. He finished as QB19 with most of his top weapons missing time last season. With a healthy Puka Nacua and newly added Davante Adams to replace the departed Cooper Kupp, the team returns running back Kyren Williams and tight end Tyler Higbee. Rookie running back Jarquez Hunter and tight end Terrance Ferguson add to the offensive arsenal. If the team stays healthy, Stafford could have a top 10 season, making him a player to have in all formats.
Author: Jesse Baldwin (@J_Baldwin51)
In a conversation after the NFL Draft, the ever-optimistic Sean McVay shared how he hopes that Stafford is in the Rams organization for a few more years.
LA Rams HC Sean McVay spoke about QB Matthew Stafford in a Sirius Radio interview, stating:
“We have a chance with him every time he’s at the switch, and love working with him. And I think he can play as long as he wants, but fortunately, I’m hoping it’s a couple more years.”
After winning the Super Bowl in February of 2023, the Rams have fallen short of their ultimate goal, missing the 2023 playoffs due to Stafford’s injury, and nearly knocking off the eventual 2024 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Before restructuring his 2025 contract with the LA Rams, Stafford was the center of trade rumors to the Giants, among other teams. There was also talk of Stafford retiring prior to the 2025 NFL season. However, both of those options were put to rest once the Rams stepped in and restructured his contract. Stafford’s future is murky, and it may depend on how the Rams perform this year, and what the management strategy is toward quarterback. The Rams did acquire a second first round pick in the 2025 NFL rookie draft, as a possible piece to acquire a replacement for Stafford in the 2026 NFL draft.
Author: Bradley Stalder @FFStalder
