Who Should I Start? Matthew Stafford or Lamar Jackson

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.

Thursday, October 16, 8:53 PM

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring), who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury, is expected to return when the Ravens come off their bye in Week 7 to face the Chicago Bears in Week 8, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Jackson will have three weeks of rest, so he should be a full-go when the team comes off their bye to face Chicago. The 28-year-old two-time MVP has gone 1-3 in his four starts in 2025, but he does lead the league with a 10.5 touchdown percentage, a 10.78 adjusted yards gained per pass attempt, and a 130.5 QB rating. While this may end up being a lost season for the Ravens, Jackson still has the ability to carry fantasy football teams once he's back from his hamstring injury. The elite dual-threat signal-caller needs to be back in all starting fantasy lineups if he's active in Week 8, which is expected.