Who Should I Start? Matthew Stafford or Taylor Heinicke

Monday, March 3, 5:59 PM

By agreeing to a contract restructure last Friday with quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Los Angeles Rams were able to stay on year-to-year terms with the veteran signal-caller. The adjusted contract will be structured under his existing framework that runs through 2026, according to The Athletic's Jourdan Rodriguez. No new years were added, so both sides expect to revisit the matter again next offseason. The specific dollar amount of the adjusted contract are unknown, but Stafford surely receives a double-digit raise from the existing $27 million he was scheduled to be paid in 2025. "We're taking it a year at a time," head coach Sean McVay said. Rodrigue also adds that despite keeping Stafford for this year, the Rams will look to the future at the position. For fantasy purposes, although Stafford almost led L.A. to the NFC Championship, he should be considered a midrange QB2.

Thursday, March 13, 9:30 PM

The Los Angeles Chargers and backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke agreed to a one-year contract extension worth up to $6.2 million on Thursday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Heinicke will return to L.A. for a second season to back up starter Justin Herbert. In his first year with the Chargers in 2024, Heinicke only saw action in four games (no starts) and went only 3-for-5 for 28 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. The 31-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Old Dominion has already played for five different NFL teams in his seven years in the league. His best year came in 2021 with the Washington Commanders, when he played in 16 games (15 starts) and threw for 3,419 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Heinicke has started 29 games in his seven seasons, but he's unlikely to see much work again in 2025 behind Herbert, who is one of the toughest QBs in football.