Who Should I Start? Matthew Stafford or Brock Purdy

Thursday, July 25, 9:33 AM

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has been in the offseason retirement rumors over the last two seasons, but he is back for a 16th NFL campaign (fourth with the Rams), and team reporter Stu Jackson said he is looking sharp at the start of training camp. "Matthew Stafford picked up where he left off with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, but best connections were on TD passes to TEs Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen," Jackson wrote on X. The 36-year-old gun-slinger is unlikely to be a trustworthy fantasy option in single-QB leagues, but he's a fine backup or QB2 in Superflex or two-QB formats. Stafford has thrown for at least 4,000 yards in nine of the 10 seasons that he has played in at least 16 contests. With a healthy Kupp and more experienced Nacua, don't be surprised if Los Angeles' continues to have a high-powered passing attack.

Monday, June 10, 8:18 PM

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy feels better positioned for success heading into the 2024-25 campaign. Unlike last offseason, when the signal-caller was working his way back from an elbow injury, he has been training since the 49ers were defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. "We got all the way to the end. We're right there and weren't able to finish it," Purdy said during an interview. "So for me, I had that taste in my mouth, and then get back into the gym, start slowly, working into it. And then here, in OTAs, getting with [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] and going over all the games that we played in, every play, and going over situational football and stuff, and taking that and actually going out on the field and running things and repping things, and throwing to receivers. Last year, I didn't have that, so now that I'm able to attack those things, I feel like I've gotten better." Purdy finished the regular season by throwing for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 picks while completing nearly 70% of his throws. It remains to be seen if the 24-year-old will be better than he was in 2023-24. But he's a viable fantasy quarterback in nearly all formats, even more so if Brandon Aiyuk remains with the Niners.