Shark Bites are the latest fantasy football news & NFL updates. Draft Sharks has been in business since 1999. And when we started, redraft was the dominant form of fantasy football. Check out what we've learned about this most basic form of fantasy football along the way.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford completed 18 of 33 passes for 269 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs in Week’s loss vs. the Bengals. He also added a light 7 rushing yards in the contest. Credit where it’s due: Bengals LB Logan Wilson’s 2 picks off Stafford were very impressive. On top of forcing turnovers, the Cincinnati defense sacked Stafford 6 different times throughout primetime action. Some blame here goes to the QB, but the showing from the Bengals’ defenders deserves a shoutout here as well. Hopefully, Stafford can turn things around in Week 4 vs. the Colts.
The Rams will place WR Cooper Kupp (hamstring) on IR, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. That knocks Kupp out for at least the first four games of the season. Hopefully he's ready to go come Week 5 and the hamstring trouble doesn't resurface. Kupp is certainly worth stashing in all fantasy leagues. Van Jefferson figures to operate as Los Angeles' No. 1 WR with Kupp out. We'll see how the WR corps shakes out behind him. TE Tyler Higbee should also see a bunch of targets sans Kupp.
Rams QB Matt Stafford appears to be throwing a full workload in training camp, according to The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue. That wasn't the case the past two summers, as Stafford dealt with injuries. “I feel a lot better physically,” Stafford said. “I feel really healthy compared to where I was at this point last year, so that’s fun for me.” There's bounce-back potential here given better health for Stafford, WR Cooper Kupp, and the Rams' offensive line.
Rams QB Matt Stafford's 2022 season ended in Week 11 with a spinal cord contusion. He was disappointing even before that, ranking 22nd among QBs in fantasy points per game. Stafford's 6.9 yards per pass attempt was his worst mark since 2018 and the fifth-worst mark among his 14 NFL seasons. A leaky offensive line was part of the problem. But Stafford registered his lowest Pro Football Focus passing grade since 2015, ranking 22nd among 31 qualifying QBs. Now 35, Stafford's best days are certainly behind him. But there's some bounce-back potential here with better health for Stafford, WR Cooper Kupp, and the offensive line. Remember that Stafford finished fifth among QBs in fantasy points in his Rams debut in 2021. We're not expecting him to return to that level of production -- but he doesn't need to at his current QB19 ADP. See where Stafford sits in our 2023 QB Rankings.
Cam DaSilva of USA Today writes that QB Matthew Stafford is “fully healthy and taking part in everything” this offseason. That wasn’t the case last year, as the veteran needed an injection in his right elbow after the ’21 season. “Oh, it’s night and day. And he’ll be the first to tell you,” HC Sean McVay said on Stafford’s improved health. At QB20, he's going in a reasonable range in drafts. It’s just hard to see Stafford crushing that spot given the Rams’ lack of weapons behind Cooper Kupp.
The Rams are finalizing a trade to send WR Allen Robinson to the Steelers, pending Robinson passing a physical. No word yet on the compensation, but the Rams probably aren't getting much. Robinson is set to count $18 million against the 2023 salary cap and has been one of the least efficient WRs in the NFL over the past two seasons. He ranked 86th out of 101 qualifying WRs in yards per route run in 2021 and 90th out of 96 last year. Robinson figures to slide in as Pittsburgh's #3 WR behind Diontae Johnson and George Pickens. He's not an exciting fantasy pick. The Rams, meanwhile, are left with Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Tutu Atwell, and Ben Skowronek atop the WR depth chart. We'll see if they add to the position.
Update: Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Steelers are getting Robinson and the 251st overall pick of this year's draft in exchange for the 234th overall pick. The Rams are also paying $10.25 million of Robinson’s salary. The Steelers will pay the remaining $5 million. If you needed confirmation that Robinson's tank is empty, there you go.
The Rams are hiring Mike LaFleur as their new OC, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. LaFleur replaces Liam Coen, who left Los Angeles after just 1 season to return to his previous post as Kentucky's OC. LaFleur struggled as Jets OC the past 2 years, with both of those teams finishing bottom 8 in both total yards and points. Like Rams HC Sean McVay, LaFleur comes from the Shanahan coaching tree, so there should be plenty of synergy here. McVay will still be running the show, though, so don't expect a big change to the Rams' play calling.
The Rams are expected to pick up QB Matt Stafford's 2023 option bonus and 2024 salary, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. It'll pay Stafford a combined $62 million in guaranteed money. There had been questions about Stafford's football future after a spinal cord contusion ended his 2022 season. He's avoided surgery, though, and is expected to be ready for the offseason program. With HC Sean McVay also returning for 2023, the Rams offense has bounce-back potential with better health and improvements along the offensive line.
Rams HC Sean McVay said Friday that QB Matt Stafford is not expected to need surgery on his spinal cord contusion and should be healthy for the offseason program. There's been some speculation that Stafford's injury could force him to retire, but it at least sounds like McVay expects him to be back for 2023. We'll monitor Stafford's status throughout the offseason.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford has been diagnosed with a spinal cord contusion, HC Sean McVay said after Sunday's loss to the Seahawks. The "indication" is that it's a season-ending injury, McVay added. Stafford was placed on IR this week, knocking him out until at least Week 17. And we'd be surprised if he played in either of the final 2 games for the going-nowhere Rams. We'll see if the injury impacts Stafford's 2023 offseason.
Rams QB Matt Stafford (neck) has been placed on IR. He's out for at least the next 4 games, making Week 17 his earliest possible return. With the Rams sitting at 3-8 and likely to be eliminated from playoff contention by then, we doubt Stafford takes the field again this year. He can be dropped from redraft rosters.
Rams QB Matt Stafford (neck) is out for Sunday's game vs. the Seahawks. He's cleared the concussion protocol, HC Sean McVay said Friday, but is still dealing with the neck injury. McVay also announced Friday that QB John Wolford will get the start this weekend but that QB Bryce Perkins will also be available. The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue believes the Rams might use both QBs, which we saw back in Week 10. It's obviously a situation to avoid in fantasy lineups.
Rams HC Sean McVay confirmed that QB Matt Stafford (concussion, neck) is not expected to play vs. the Seahawks on Sunday. We'll see whether L.A. sticks with QB Bryce Perkins or goes back to QB John Wolford, but neither guy would be more than a low-end QB2 in fantasy football.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Rams are "uncertain when or if" QB Matthew Stafford will return this season. Stafford is out for today's game at Kansas City with a neck strain. He has also landed in the league concussion protocol twice, though HC Sean McVay says the 2nd concussion hasn't been confirmed. It's easy to forget that we were all concerned about an issue with Stafford's right elbow entering the season. Throw in his myriad physical issues and a 3-7 record -- which will almost certainly add a loss to the Chiefs -- and it would make sense to let Stafford take the rest of the year off.
Rams QB Matt Stafford is out for Sunday's game vs. the Chiefs, HC Sean McVay said. Stafford is in the concussion protocol and is being evaluated for a neck injury after experiencing numbness in his legs during last week's loss to the Saints. It certainly seems like Stafford could miss more time beyond Week 12. QB Bryce Perkins is in line to make his 1st career start on Sunday.
Pro Football Talk reports that Rams QB Matt Stafford has entered the concussion protocol. HC Sean McVay refused to say whether Stafford was in the protocol in his Monday press conference. But if this PFT report is correct, Stafford is a long shot to be cleared for Week 12 and might miss multiple games.
Rams HC Sean McVay said Monday that QB Matt Stafford is still being evaluated for a concussion and is uncertain for Sunday's game vs. the Chiefs. "I think you wanna be really careful with that," McVay said. "It's gonna be about the person first and foremost." Considering he just sustained a concussion back in Week 9, we'd be surprised if Stafford played this weekend. His absence would leave the starting job to either QB John Wolford, who missed Week 11 with a neck injury, or QB Bryce Perkins.
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