Matthew Stafford is entering his third season with the Los Angeles Rams and there aren’t lofty expectations for the veteran quarterback in fantasy football. With fantasy football being a year-round hobby, it’s worth taking a look at Stafford’s outlook for the 2023 campaign.
Currently, Stafford is the 21st quarterback taken in most drafts, according to FantasyPros. The franchise quarterback for the Rams is typically selected after guys like Russell Wilson, Derek Carr, and Jordan Love.
In a forgettable season for the Rams in 2022, Stafford finished as QB32 in fantasy points and was tied for QB34 in points per game (12.9) with Mac Jones. Injuries limited Stafford to nine games last season and many are skeptical that he’ll turn things around in 2023 upon turning 35 years old.
Aside from the 2019 season where he missed 8 games with the Detroit Lions, Stafford never finished worse than QB20 from 2011 to 2020. And in his first year with the Rams in 2021, he concluded the season as QB5 in fantasy football.
After trading Allen Robinson earlier this offseason, Stafford will enter the upcoming season with Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, and Tyler Higbee as his top three weapons. Kupp is coming off a season-ending ankle ailment, while Jefferson and Higbee are entering contract years with the Rams in 2023.
Besides that trio, Tutu Atwell, Ben Skowronek, and rookie Puka Nacua will all compete for playing time. Meanwhile, the offensive line is going to look different with rookie Steve Avila entering the fray, and Logan Bruss will be available after missing his rookie season in 2022 due to a knee injury.
One positive for Stafford is that he’s been able to throw during OTAs and mandatory minicamp. Due to an ailing elbow injury from the 2021 season, Stafford was unable to throw much last offseason, which negatively affected his rapport with the pass catchers on the Rams.
When taking part in fantasy football drafts, it would be unwise to trust Stafford as your QB1 due to the uncertainties surrounding his health and his supporting cast. That being said, he’s fine as a second or third quarterback on your roster, depending on the format.
With Stafford still playing in a Sean McVay offense, it’s tough to believe he’ll perform as badly as he did in 2022 again if he’s healthy. On the other hand, the days of Stafford being a legitimate QB1 in fantasy football are likely behind us.
