Who Should I Start? Matthew Stafford or Brett Rypien

Tuesday, October 21, 11:59 AM

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is playing at an extremely high level so far in 2025. Across seven games, the 37-year-old has completed 66.1% of his pass attempts for 1,866 yards, 17 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. Stafford's average of 7.7 yards per pass attempt is his best since the 2021 season, when he finished the year with 4,886 passing yards and 41 touchdowns. The Rams have their bye in Week 8, so fantasy managers won't be able to deploy Stafford this week. Still, given how he has played this season, fantasy managers may be wise to stash Stafford through the bye, even in single-quarterback formats. For fantasy managers looking to beat the waiver wire in shallow leagues where Stafford might not already be rostered, the Rams have a favorable matchup in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints.

Tuesday, October 14, 7:41 PM

Veteran free-agent quarterback Brett Rypien signed with the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad on Tuesday, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) suffered a fractured orbital bone before Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals when a resistance band snapped and hit him in the face. With Richardson expected to be out multiple weeks, the Colts placed him on Injured Reserve on Monday, meaning he will be out at least four games. Rypien will give the Colts added QB insurance behind starter Daniel Jones and new No. 2 Riley Leonard. The 29-year-old was with the Minnesota Vikings in training camp before joining the Cincinnati Bengals. He played three offensive snaps with Cincy but was cut after the Bengals acquired veteran QB Joe Flacco in a trade. Rypien has completed 58.3% of his pass attempts for 950 passing yards, four touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 11 career games (four starts) since entering the league in 2020 with the Denver Broncos.