Who Should I Start? Matthew Stafford or Cameron Ward

Saturday, October 18, 9:36 AM

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has been terrific this season, ranking as the overall QB10 in fantasy football. While he has a long track record of success in the NFL and has proven that this season's results are no joke, managers should temper expectations with the veteran signal caller this week. First of all, he will be without Puka Nacua (ankle), who is the heart and soul of Los Angeles' receiving corps. That will leave Davante Adams as the de facto No. 1 receiver. While Adams is dominant, too, he hasn't flashed the strongest rapport with Stafford, which could be an issue now that he's in a bigger role. Furthermore, Stafford will be tasked with overcoming the challenges of international travel; he arrives in London on Saturday and will take on the Jaguars just one day later. Both of these factors reduce Stafford's fantasy value, but he still cracks the top 12. It helps that Jacksonville has allowed the fifth-most passing yards to quarterbacks this season, as well as the 11th-most fantasy points to the position. Stafford is a low-end QB1 for this week.

Saturday, October 18, 1:31 AM

Tennessee Titans quarterback Cameron Ward has already faced plenty of adversity this week after his head coach was fired mid-season. Now, to make matters worse, Ward will face off against a New England Patriots team that has been terrific over the last two weeks. The Patriots have enjoyed resounding wins over the Bills and Saints, largely due to big contributions from the defensive side of the ball. That same defense will look to make life extra difficult for Ward in his first game with interim head coach Mike McCoy -- his third different head coach over the last 12 months. The rookie No. 1 pick has struggled through his first six NFL contests, completing just 55 percent of his passes for 1,101 passing yards, three touchdowns, four interceptions, and four lost fumbles. The staggeringly high turnover-to-touchdown ratio could possibly grow even larger this week; not only has New England forced four turnovers in its last two games, but it has also allowed the 13th-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in 2025. Ward should be avoided at all costs in Week 7.