Matthew Stafford finds himself at a crossroads heading into the 2025 season. He’s battling a nagging back injury, which has fantasy managers questioning his reliability. While an aggravated disc sidelined him from preseason action, the Los Angeles Rams’ veteran signal-caller’s ability to practice in full suggests he’s on track for Week 1 availability.
What Is Matthew Stafford’s Injury?
Stafford is recovering from an aggravated disc in his back. While the Rams held him out of preseason action as a precaution, the expectation is that he will be ready for Week 1. He returned to practice last week, which is a very encouraging sign. If Stafford’s back flares up or he misses time, veteran Jimmy Garoppolo is set to fill in.
The Rams are being cautious with their franchise quarterback, understanding that back injuries can be unpredictable and potentially linger throughout a long NFL season. With veteran backup Garoppolo waiting in the wings, Los Angeles has the depth to manage Stafford’s workload carefully.
From a fantasy perspective, Stafford’s recent struggles and current injury concerns have created an intriguing market inefficiency that savvy managers might exploit. His fantasy production has declined over the past two seasons, and the uncertainty surrounding his health has driven his draft price to basement levels across most formats.
However, the addition of elite receiver Davante Adams to complement the explosive Puka Nacua creates a compelling upside scenario for those willing to take the risk. While Stafford may not be a reliable weekly starter in standard leagues, his potential for spike performances and discounted price point make him an attractive option in 2QB leagues or as a third quarterback in deeper formats or Best Ball leagues.
Stafford’s Fantasy Football Outlook
Stafford was the QB19 overall in 2024. If that stat surprises you, it’s because he was the QB27 in fantasy points per game (minimum eight games). The Rams quarterback finished inside the top 10 just four times last year, but outside the top 20 on nine occasions.
One of Stafford’s biggest strengths, though, is his availability. The quarterback has missed more than two games just twice in the last 14 years. In single-quarterback leagues, Stafford is a reliable backup for those with an untouchable starter at the position (Lamar Jackson) or those who took a risky swing on upside (Justin Fields).
In Superflex, Stafford will likely be a rotational QB2, but could put up huge numbers if the Rams lean more on their passing game. The Rams were in the middle of the pack for passing attempts in 2024, but that stat fluctuated significantly year on year.
Adams’ arrival means the quarterback should always have an elite option to pass to, even if Nacua misses time. That should help add consistency to Stafford’s weekly fantasy numbers, something he lacked in 2024.
