Who Should I Start? Matthew Stafford or Justin Herbert

Thursday, August 21, 5:13 PM

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that quarterback Matthew Stafford (back) has been a full participant at practice all week. When asked how Stafford has looked the last few days, McVay said, "He's looked like the stud we know." However, Stafford will not travel with the team to Cleveland for their preseason finale against the Browns on Saturday. The 37-year-old veteran has now practiced four straight days without restrictions and appears to be on track to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 7, against the Houston Texans. He may not be 100% to begin the season, but it's good news for receivers Puka Nacua and Davonte Adams that Stafford should be on the field in Week 1. Expect Stafford to be limited early in the practice week next week. For fantasy purposes, he has become a low-end QB2 with injury risk.

Thursday, August 21, 6:51 PM

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said that quarterback Justin Herbert and the rest of the starters will not play in the preseason finale on Saturday against the San Francisco 49ers. Backup QB Trey Lance will get the start under center and will play one to two series. Taylor Heinicke will come in after Lance, followed by DJ Uiagalelei, who will play the rest of the game. Lance and Heinicke are competing for the No. 2 job this summer, although it's unclear if Lance has the leg up based on the fact that he's making the start in the preseason finale. Neither Lance nor Heinicke figure to be on the field much behind Herbert, who has been one of the toughest QBs in the league since entering the NFL in 2020. Herbert missed four games due to injury in 2023 but has started all 79 of the games he's appeared in over the last five seasons.