Who Should I Start? Aaron Rodgers or Matthew Stafford

Tuesday, August 19, 5:32 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver DK Metcalf will not suit up for the team's preseason finale on Thursday against the Carolina Panthers, according to head coach Mike Tomlin. Pass-rushers T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward also will not play. Rodgers will end up not playing at all in the preseason as he heads into his first year with the Steelers and potentially his last year in the NFL. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer will take on his former team, the New York Jets, in Week 1 on Sunday, Sept. 7, where he'll be an unappealing, low-upside QB2 option for fantasy managers against a strong defense. Rodgers has looked slow during training camp and is expected to be more of a game manager in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's scheme in 2025. With Rodgers on the sidelines on Thursday, Mason Rudolph should start against Carolina.

Tuesday, August 19, 1:30 PM

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (back) is practicing again on Tuesday, according to Adam Grosbard of the Los Angeles Daily News. Stafford practiced for the first time at training camp this summer on Monday after recovering from an aggravated disc in his back. The 37-year-old was extremely limited and made only around 20 throws on Monday as the Rams ease him back in. Head coach Sean McVay said Stafford's workload is "a very fluid situation and demands flexibility." He almost certainly won't play in the preseason finale this Saturday against the Cleveland Browns, but the plan is to have him "upright" for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sept. 7 against the Houston Texans. The Rams have been optimistic all along that Stafford will be ready for Week 1, although it sounds like he may not be 100%, making him an even riskier low-end QB2 selection in superflex fantasy leagues.