MatthewStafford

News: 3 days agoStafford completed 22 of 31 passes for 327 yards with four touchdowns and one interception and rushed four times for minus-1 yard in the Rams' 28-6 win over the Giants on Monday night.

Spin: Stafford shrugged off the absence of No. 1 receiver Puka Nacua (hip), delivering a stellar and nearly mistake-free performance while focusing heavily on Davante Adams, who was on the receiving end of half of the veteran signal-caller's touchdown passes. Stafford averaged 10.5 yards per attempt overall, and his scoring strikes came from 31 and 11 yards out to Adams, and from 10 and five yards on connections with Kyren Williams and Terrance Ferguson, respectively. Stafford has a thorny Week 3 assignment on tap irrespective of Nacua's availability, however, considering the Rams will pay a visit to the Broncos on Sunday night.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: The reigning NFL MVP, Stafford returns for his 18th NFL season and his fifth with the Rams. The 38-year-old is fresh off an elite season in which he led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns, which allowed him nine top-10 fantasy weeks (tied for third most at the position). Stafford's third-place finish in fantasy points per game was his first top-10 finish since 2019, and some regression is likely due to a complete lack of rushing (65 or fewer rushing yards in five straight seasons and one rushing touchdown since 2017). Stafford still has receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams and a strong offensive line at his disposal, so another big passing season is possible. That's just enough to keep him in the fringe QB1 mix.