MatthewStafford

News: 1 day agoStafford and Davante Adams have been building a stronger rapport during training camp, Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site reports.

Spin: After Stafford missed all of training camp last summer due to a lingering back injury, the two rarely practiced together before the start of the regular season. While Adams led the league with 14 receiving touchdowns, he managed just one 100-yard receiving game in 14 regular-season appearances. Some of that had to do with Puka Nacua dominating targets, but it could also be chalked up to he and Stafford not totally being comfortable with each other. That hasn't been the case this summer, as Adams has been a standout at Rams camp. "When you're as intentional as they are, repetition ends up being the mother of learning," coach Sean McVay said. "It's also the best way to be able to develop rapport with each other and that's so important whether you're a center playing with a guard, a guard playing with a tackle, or quarterbacks (with) receivers." Adams has massive touchdown upside, but it also wouldn't be a shock to see him flirt with 1,000 yards again after he posted just 60 catches for 789 yards during the 2025 regular season as a touchdown-or-bust type of fantasy player.

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.