Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford enters his age-35 season looking to rebound from a bad season that ended in November due to an elbow injury. He is only one year removed from elite fantasy football production — production that was made possible courtesy of a receiver in Cooper Kupp, who is back to full health. Is there sleeper appeal to chase?
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Matthew Stafford’s Fantasy Outlook for the 2023 NFL Season
The Rams lack depth on their roster as a whole and that extends to the receiver room. Yes, Kupp is in the conversation for the best in the game, but behind him is a handful of question marks.
Now fully healthy, can Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford bounce back to fantasy relevance after a career-worst season? What is his fantasy outlook? https://t.co/P6W22TPK3J
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Van Jefferson is likely to fill the WR2 role in Los Angeles, and there is upside there, but he’s yet to earn NFL targets at a consistent rate. Tutu Atwell (165 pounds) is undersized, rookie Puka Nacua has an NFL-ready body but carries just a fifth-round investment for a reason, and Ben Skowronek is a receiver with more career rushing scores (one) than receiving TDs.
Cam Akers and Kyren Williams give this team some hope in the backfield, but their pass-catching prowess is iffy at best. If Stafford is going to return to his 2021 form, he needs Kupp to be unguardable (very possible) and one of those receivers to skip some developmental steps.
Is Stafford a Good Fantasy Pick?
No.
His avenue to success is thin at best, and it comes with far more risk than is worth it. Why would I hope for a veteran coming off an injury instead of Kenny Pickett (leader of an upward-trending offense) or Jordan Love (playing for the most stable franchise in terms of QB play over the past 30 years)?
MORE: Fantasy Football Preseason Takeaways
Brock Purdy is a younger Stafford with more offensive support around him. Even in a two-quarterback format, I’m letting my competition roll the dice on Stafford and instead taking QBs with an easier path to overachieving in 2023.
- PFN Consensus Rankings: 162nd overall
- Current ADP: 162nd overall
