One of the leading concerns for fantasy football enthusiasts currently revolves around: When will Rams QB Matthew Stafford be able to train again? He’s been kept off the field for a few weeks because of an issue with his back, and Los Angeles is exercising caution with their seasoned starting QB, who is 37. This has led to many people questioning whether Stafford will be prepared for the commencement of the regular season. He was scheduled to resume training on the past Monday but remained absent. The coaching staff intends to assess his condition on Saturday to determine if he can return the following week. Back problems can be problematic, particularly for quarterbacks.
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What’s crucial to observe here is the potential subsequent influence it could have on the Rams’ offensive players in skill positions. The two recognized WRs — Puka Nacua and Davante Adams — are being selected among the leading 20 wideouts in fantasy on Yahoo. Jimmy Garoppolo is the backup QB in L.A., and if he were to start Week 1, it would diminish the value of the receivers. In that scenario, Kyren Williams would likely be seen as more than just a fringe RB1, potentially as a reliable RB2 option around the 2-3 turn in drafts.
As always, continue to monitor the Stafford situation leading up to your draft. Nacua and Adams may be worth fading at their current ADPs if Jimmy G is going to have to play early. Those two WRs could also drop in your draft and actually become appealing values.
Well, let’s delve into the other significant updates from this week originating from NFL training camps and how these developments affect fantasy football.
Rashee Rice won’t start the season suspended
We received significant news concerning Rice as his disciplinary hearing has been delayed until Sept. 30, potentially allowing him to participate in the initial four games of the regular season. However, it’s still possible that he will face a suspension, although it would occur after the season begins. The duration of the suspension for the Kansas City Chiefs WR remains uncertain, but projections range from 4 to 8 games.
Although having Rice available at the season’s start is beneficial, missing him for a significant portion of the schedule’s midsection is not ideal. The Chiefs are scheduled to play the Chargers, Eagles, Giants, and Ravens at the beginning of 2025. This initial schedule is relatively challenging. Rice’s ADP is quickly decreasing on Yahoo, and the only scenario in which he becomes appealing in drafts is if he falls significantly. Yahoo analyst Matt Harmon has examined the Rice situation more comprehensively and suggests it may be preferable to avoid the wideout altogether.
Another top RB gets his contract
You can’t tell me that the Bills didn’t drag out the James Cook contract situation for good TV on Hard Knocks. I know, that’s a bit out therem but it does provide good fodder for an episode. Cook secured a four-year, $48 million agreement, which ended his hold-in at training camp. Now, Buffalo’s primary running back can resume practicing and participate in preseason games before attempting to lead the NFL in rushing touchdowns for the second consecutive season.
There isn’t a great deal to extract from this situation regarding fantasy football, but it reassures managers when choosing the Bills’ running back during drafts. Cook currently holds the RB14 position on Yahoo in terms of ADP, following his placement within the top 10 among running backs the prior season (RB8). Securing Cook as your RB1 in the third or fourth round might represent worthwhile value.
Injuries beginning to pile up in Packers offense
Despite still having a substantial amount of time before the regular season commences, the Green Bay Packers are already facing hurdles. This week, Packers QB Jordan Love underwent a procedure to address a ligament issue in his non-throwing thumb. The previous week, during the preseason opener, WR Jayden Reed was observed wearing a walking boot. WR Romeo Doubs experienced a fall during practice, but is reportedly in satisfactory condition. Christian Watson is slated to commence the season on the PUP list. And Dontayvion Wicks is nursing a calf injury. Essentially, this accounts for the majority of the Packers’ passing game.
Love will only be sidelined this week and is anticipated to return to practice the following week. It is probable that he will not participate until the regular-season opener, which could hinder the offense to some extent. Rookie WR Matthew Golden experiences a favorable boost for fantasy football. He is being selected as the WR46 on Yahoo, on average. Golden could potentially emerge as the team’s primary WR in Week 1, primarily due to the available opportunity. He was already a compelling sleeper candidate, given his performance during training camp. TE Tucker Kraft also benefits slightly if Reed, Wicks, and Doubs are hampered at the season’s commencement.
The Detroit Lions are encountering substantial turnover within their coaching staff as they approach 2025. Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn have both moved on to head coaching positions elsewhere. Consequently, the Lions are navigating some initial challenges during the opening weeks of camp. Key WR Amon-Ra St. Brown addressed these difficulties, and he doesn’t appear overly concerned.
“Things can get tough. But for us as an offense, we know the ability that we have, the playmakers we have, the quarterback we have, the O-line, so it’s just a matter of time for us. Keep getting better and improving is the name of the game for us right now.”
The departure of an OC like Johnson often entails a degree of regression. But to what extent will this regression occur? There is no immediate reason for panic or to refrain from drafting players like St. Brown and RB Jahmyr Gibbs in fantasy. However, it is a factor to consider if faced with a difficult decision near the start of your draft. Even if the offense and O-Line experience some decline, it might not significantly impact Amon-Ra and Gibbs. However, secondary players like Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and David Montgomery could be affected. Closely monitor the Lions during preseason and any emerging narratives from practice sessions.
Chargers backfield morphing into a committee
Throughout training camp and preseason, Chargers RB Najee Harris has been unavailable, recovering from an eye injury sustained during the offseason. It appears that Harris is approaching a return, potentially creating a more committee-based situation in the Los Angeles backfield, alongside rookie RB Omarion Hampton. The first-round pick in 2025 initially seemed poised to make an immediate impact in his inaugural NFL season, assuming the lead-back role. However, the picture has become somewhat clouded if Harris can recover and be ready for Week 1.
Hampton has been selected relatively early lately, as the RB13 on Yahoo. If Harris returns to the field, expect that ADP to decline to some extent. People may become somewhat apprehensive about Hampton, given Harris’s presence. We could see the two players split time early in the season, or head coach Jim Harbaugh may favor the player who is performing better. Regardless, it may be judicious to proceed with caution when drafting Hampton at that high of a position; he’s been selected as early as the third round in certain drafts lately.
Shedeur Sanders’ bid to be starting QB takes hit
Let’s touch briefly on the Cleveland Browns’ rookie QB and his oblique injury. He’s currently being evaluated on a day-to-day basis as the Browns approach Week 2 of the preseason against the Philadelphia Eagles. Sanders showcased great performance in the preseason opener, completing passes for 138 yards and securing two TDs (106.8 passer rating). It seemed as though Sanders had a reasonable chance of securing the starting QB position. Currently, that remains uncertain.
Regarding fantasy, the Browns appear unstable, particularly if Sanders will not be the starting QB in Week 1. It seems that veteran Joe Flacco will start as QB1. While this might not be detrimental to WR Jerry Jeudy and TE David Njoku, it isn’t generating great excitement among fantasy managers. Ideally, Sanders will recover from his injury and make the Browns a team worth watching as 2025 commences.
