Stafford goes off even without Puka in MNF blowout

The Cardinals’ pass rush was disruptive, hitting Stafford seven times and sacking him twice. Stafford lost a fumble on a two-point conversion, but the box score only shows a failed two-point try, evidently saving fantasy managers two fantasy points. Stafford later fumbled after getting spooked by a pass-rushing ghost. A Rams lineman recovered it, but it derailed an otherwise effective, tempo-based drive. Stafford engineered a touchdown drive at the tail end of the game, connecting with Puka Nacua on a 42-yarder and a 16-yarder, before Colby Parkinson barreled into the end zone for the score. Stafford should return to the QB1 tier against the Raiders in Week 7.

It was the third consecutive game in which Stafford attempted 51 passes or more in what has become the most voluminous passing offense in the league. The two powerhouses felt each other out throughout the first half as only 20 combined points per scored before the break. Things would get aggressive for the final 30 minutes as seven combined touchdowns were scored on nine second half possessions, four of which were accounted for by the Rams. Stafford directed a whopping 24 targets toward alpha wide receiver Puka Nacua, who set a career high with 17 receptions in a short-area role. The reigning MVP returned an instant classic performance against the 2024 MVP, ultimately coming up short in overtime following a blocked field goal attempt from Harrison Mevis. The Rams fall to 2-3 ahead of a home matchup against the more forgiving Cardinals in Week 6. Stafford is once again a fantasy QB1 in that matchup.

Stafford put the Rams behind the eight ball with a pair of first half interceptions but was better after the break as the Rams slowly erased a 20-10 deficit. Not that he was amazing, but with the Eagles finishing an inconceivable 0-12 on third down, Stafford needed to make just enough plays, and that’s what he did despite leaving some meat on the bone. It was forgivable on a rainy day in Philly, though Stafford now has at least one interception in all four of his starts. In fact, he has as many scores (six) as picks. Hopefully that trend reverses with Puka Nacua back in the lineup, though the schedule is not lightening up with the Rams hosting the Bills for Monday Night Football in Week 5. That should nevertheless be a fantasy football bonanza.

The Rams stormed out to a 16-0 lead they would take into the break but two unanswered scores and two-point conversions from the Broncos saw the game knotted at 16 heading into the fourth quarter, which is where the scoring really took off. Stafford and the Rams appeared to be in control of the game until a Talanoa Hufanga pick-six off Stafford, making 33 career pick-sixes thrown to give him a record he would otherwise not like to have on his ledger. Stafford answered on the following possession on a 48-yard strike to Konata Mumpfield, only for the Broncos to answer back with a Bo Nix rushing score with 47 seconds left to play. Stafford worked more magic to get the team into the red zone, marching the field with only one timeout with a chance to win on the final play of the game. Hufanga ultimately won the play with his second interception off Stafford, sending the Rams to a 1-2 record. Stafford also became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 20,000 yards for two different franchises in the loss. Stafford remains a locked-in QB1 in fantasy circles ahead of a Week 4 showdown with the Eagles on the road.

McVay said he’s “hopeful” Nacua, who missed Monday night’s game against the Giants, will be able to suit up against Denver next week. The Rams offense was fine without Nacua on Monday against an injury-ravaged Giants team. LA had the week’s fourth highest EPA per play on the way to a 28-6 win. Another game with Nacua sidelined will mean more target domination for Davante Adams and more involvement for Terrance Ferguson, who caught 6-of-9 targets for 54 yards and a touchdown against New York.

Stafford didn’t get much time to enjoy Australia, and likely won’t leave this contest with fond memories. He completed just 4-of-11 passes in the first half and didn’t do much better in the final 30 minutes, and outside of a 41-yard connection with Puka Nacua, he just couldn’t get the ball downfield. He was also stuffed on a fourth-and-goal run at the goal line to cement the poor day. Credit the 49ers’ defense, but it’s fair to call this a disappointing season debut for the reigning MVP. Expect a rebound in Week 2 against the Giants in a Monday Night Football contest.

Stafford discussed retirement rumors on Chris Long’s podcast, Green Light. He said a retirement decision would be “year-to-year...committing to more than that feels a little bit daunting and I think a little bit unfair to the team and myself.” The 38-year-old is looking only to the short-term, knowing he is “ready to play this year.” Stafford is not looking to make long-term decisions at this stage of his career without knowing how his body will feel after a season of play. The veteran also mentioned he has talked to Tom Brady and Drew Brees about playing into his 40s and is open to the prospect of doing so. However, Stafford is only focusing on the upcoming season for now; the Rams will be in Super Bowl contention between his return and the addition of Myles Garrett on defense.

Stafford’s degenerative back issue cost him almost all of training camp last year, yet he “returned and cast those fears aside with the best season of his life.” The Rams have reportedly realized how well the time off served Stafford, as a “critical form of load management,” and plan to do some of that again this year. Per Atkins, this has been the plan for some time, and it explains why the Rams tried to sign veteran QBs like Jimmy Garoppolo and Kirk Cousins, “and why they valued the backup role enough to help justify spending the No. 13 pick on QB Ty Simpson.” In other words, don’t be alarmed if we see Simpson taking a few first-team reps this summer. Stafford remains a locked-in QB1. However, we will, of course, track all of his notable offseason developments here at Rotoworld.

Stafford aggravated a disc injury between the offseason workout program and training camp last year. He did not practice until August 18th. Reports on the injury ran the gamut. At one point, The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue reported that the Rams “aren’t worried” about the injury, before later reporting that the back injury “is going to be a thing” all year. Ultimately, time spent in an Ammortal chamber outside the Rams’ facility helped Stafford get ready for an NFL MVP season. Injury risk is, of course, present. But Stafford remains one of the rare pocket passers capable of producing an elite QB1 season. Draft him accordingly.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the deal is worth up to $60 million with incentives. He can make up to $105 million over the next two seasons. Stafford, 38, is now the 11th quarterback currently averaging more than $50 million per year. Rams rookie QB Ty Simpson ostensibly now gets two seasons to learn from one of the game’s best pocket passers, while serving as Stafford’s primary backup. Stafford can once again be treated as a locked-in QB1 for fantasy.