Who Should I Start? Matthew Stafford or Spencer Rattler

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.

Sunday, July 27, 8:13 PM

New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler looks to be in the lead for the team's starting job, according to Jeff Nowak of WWL Radio Sports. Rattler received most of the reps at Sunday's practice as rookie Tyler Shough worked with the second team and Jake Haener was with the third team. While Haener is reportedly under consideration for the No. 1 role, he has always seemed like the longest shot of the group, and Sunday was the third time in four practices that he has worked with the third team. Rattler, a fifth-round pick out of South Carolina last year, started in six of seven appearances as a rookie and completed 57% of passes with four touchdowns against five interceptions. That wasn't enough to stop the Saints from making a fairly sizable investment in this year's draft in Shough, the 40th overall pick from Louisville. The 25-year-old is the only member of the trio who hasn't turned the ball over in camp yet, though Nowak notes that Shough hasn't taken many risks. It appears he'll have more work to do to overtake Rattler.