As the football-loving world gears up for another exciting season, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford looks to improve on his MVP campaign in 2025. With Stafford seemingly entering another peak in his illustrious career, he’ll be a top candidate for fantasy owners this year.
Stafford led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns last season, and despite Stafford’s lack of ability as a runner, his production resulted in him being the No. 3 quarterback in fantasy scoring last season. However, ESPN’s Tyler Fulghum states that Stafford is a top candidate to be a fantasy bust.
“I hate to say it as a staunch Rams fan, but Matthew Stafford is screaming regression for 2026,” wrote Fulghum. “His 2025 MVP campaign was magical. At age 38, Stafford started all 17 games, led the league in passing yards (4,707) and set career highs in passing TDs (46) and TD% (7.7). It is extraordinarily likely that most, if not all, of those numbers take a dip in 2026.
“Even if he plays all 17 games again — which at his age is also going to be hard to do — it’s going to be tough to match what he did in 2025. He also adds next to nothing with his legs. This year we’re drafting Stafford as QB9, when in 2025 his price tag was QB20! I hate to admit this, but Stafford is likely going to disappoint fantasy managers who invest in him this season.”
There are many reasons to believe Fulghum will be correct in his evaluation. There are also three primary reasons why he’ll be wrong. Stafford’s success has always been predicated on having a relatable head coach, a singular offensive playmaker, and a consistent defense to rely on.
Stafford’s success in Detroit coincides with clear quality leadership from the coaching staff. It’s the same with Sean McVay in Los Angeles. Stafford also relies on his ability to accurately place footballs in 50-50 situations, using his top playmakers to be the difference. Stafford is excellent at dissecting coverage, but when the picture is unclear, it’s Stafford’s ability to force the action that keeps the Rams rolling. It’s why Calvin Johnson, Cooper Kupp, and Puka Nacua have had their statistical peaks during their time with Stafford.
The key to Stafford’s recent success is limiting his boldness. Stafford is a true gunslinger, and he has a knack for putting the ball in danger when he’s forced to engage in a shootout. With the Rams overhauling their defense, that should give Stafford the comfort to pick apart defenses, while also making smart decisions when taking risks. Those elements should be the reason Stafford doesn’t regress in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: ESPN analyst names Matthew Stafford as a regression candidate for 2026
Reporting by Brock Vierra, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brock Vierra, Rams Wire | USA TODAY Network
