Who Should I Start? Matthew Stafford or Michael Penix Jr.

Saturday, July 26, 7:25 PM

According to Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, quarterback Matthew Stafford (back) won't practice next week. Fortunately, the signal-caller didn't suffer a setback. Still, with McVay indicating that the team "will take it a week at a time," the uncertainty surrounding Stafford's return date won't sit well with fantasy managers. He appeared in 16 games for the Rams last season, throwing for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns, and eight picks while completing 65.8% of his attempts. Despite Stafford's age, he continues to play at an acceptable level, making him a viable starting option in Superflex formats. The hope is he'll be available for Week 1. However, if the 37-year-old isn't ready to go when the Rams host the Texans on September 7, Jimmy Garoppolo or Stetson Bennett will presumably be under center. Either quarterback would be a step down from Stafford, which wouldn't be ideal for Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. For now, Stafford should be considered week-to-week.

Tuesday, July 22, 6:31 PM

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who was taken eighth overall in the 2024 NFL draft, enters training camp this summer as the team's unquestioned starter under center after starting the final three games of last season after Kirk Cousins was benched. While the 25-year-old southpaw signal-caller has plenty to work on heading into his first full season as the starter, the Falcons offense did average 32 points a game in his three starts to close out 2024. Nobody should be drafting Penix this fall as a QB1 in fantasy, but he is one of the more intriguing young QBs in the NFL and could eventually join the ranks of QB1s if he can stay healthy. If that is going to happen, the Washington alum is going to need to be more accurate on the short and intermediate throws. Penix has plenty of weapons and is not a bad QB2 in superflex leagues, but his lack of rushing will cap his fantasy ceiling.