Los Angeles Rams enter 2025 with an offense that could again be among the league’s elite, pegged around the 11th-best by The Ringer. The backbone remains Sean McVay’s system with Matthew Stafford at the controls, assuming health allows the A-game to shine. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams give Stafford dangerous playmaking on the outside, Kyren Williams provides a steady backfield option, and Terrance Ferguson adds another layer via the draft. Even with health concerns surrounding Stafford, the infrastructure around him suggests a high ceiling for a top-10 offense if he can stay upright and avoid a long midseason slide.

Stafford’s health is the hinge. The veteran showed the ability to deliver when circumstances align, but back issues and late-season signs of decline complicate the projection for a 17-game season. EPA metrics from last year show Stafford under pressure faring poorly (28th of 36) and without play-action, still middling (21st). That means the Rams must keep Stafford clean and leverage McVay’s offense to protect him. The offensive line’s shakiness only amplifies the risk, yet the surrounding pieces—Nacua’s emergence, Adams’ proven ceiling, Williams’ juice, and Ferguson’s versatility—offer a very real pathway to top-tier production.

For fantasy and betting, the calculus is simple: if Stafford is healthy and protected, Nacua and Adams become premium targets with Williams offering a reliable weekly floor, while Ferguson could become a late-round dart. The Rams’ path to sustained success rests on Stafford’s health and the front five, but the talent around him makes this unit a potential fantasy staple once again.

Matthew Stafford spoke to reporters with a light-hearted jab about a paper cut, but the spotlight quickly shifted to a back issue described as an aggravated disc. After four straight days of practice, the 37-year-old veteran looked good and insisted he’s stacking productive days while a cautious, day-by-day plan guides his ramp-up for a potential Week 1 start. He declined to share specifics, stressing that there wasn’t a lone offseason incident and that he has done “everything under the sun” to get back on the field.

Sean McVay praised Stafford’s progress, calling him the stud the Rams know and expressing confidence that he’s trending upward. Los Angeles won’t take Stafford to Cleveland for the final preseason game, keeping him closer to the team as it eyes a potential Super Bowl run. The Sept. 7 opener versus Houston looms, and how Stafford feels week to week will shape early-season usage and fantasy value for Rams playmakers.

The Rams are betting on Stafford’s resilience and leadership, balancing risk with the urgency of a championship chassis. The back issue remains a focal point of their medical and coaching conversations, underscoring how crucial the quarterback’s health is to their competitive window this season.

Rams watchability for 2025 sits at 27 in ESPN’s rankings, a nod to their potential but a warning flag around quarterback stability. Stafford, 37, carries a back issue that could tilt big-play upside either way, while Garoppolo’s presence offers a safer but less flashy floor. Davante Adams entering the mix injects a spark into a roster largely intact, making the offense worth watching for fantasy managers who chase late-season fireworks and big-week potential. If Stafford is healthy, L.A. remains a top-tier fantasy play; if not, the Rams trend toward grindy, lower-scoring games, elevating the value of defense and opportunistic late drives. Week 1 health clarity could push the ceiling back toward the high end, keeping Rams playmakers on radars despite the season-long questions.

Andrew Luck returns to Palo Alto as Stanford's general manager, tasked with modernizing a program that peaked in the early 2010s but has since drifted. Luck’s first moves center on aligning NIL, the transfer portal and revenue sharing with Stanford's core mission: player development and culture. Frank Reich joins as interim coach for one season, providing NFL-grade stability while a national search unfolds. The setup signals a careful reset rather than a quick rebuild, balancing tradition with modern college football realities.

Luck emphasizes a one-day-at-a-time mindset and a unicorn recruiting philosophy—high-character players who excel academically and athletically. He wants to diversify the roster through transfers and emphasize culture and development as the program's backbone. The season opener at Hawaii will be the first real test of this new era as Stanford pursues bowls and a return to relevance, navigating NILs, portals, and scale while keeping the human element at the center.