It Might Be Time To Panic On This QB
On July 26, Sean McVay said he didn’t have “any reason to be concerned” about Matthew Stafford’s back.
And then last Thursday, he said that “If we were playing a game this week, he would be playing in the game.”
Things have changed since then, though …
On Monday, McVay was once again asked if he was concerned about Stafford, and he couldn’t say no, and also said he didn’t know if Stafford would have been able to play in a game this week.
Ruh oh.
This Could Be A Real Pain For The Rams
Look, up until now, I’ve been on the side of not panicking about this Stafford stuff. He’s a 37-year-old QB with back pain—Check out where he’s ranked in the QB Tiers from Ian and from Dwain. Of course, he doesn’t want to practice or play until it actually counts.
But 1) McVay is clearly concerned, and 2) the rabbit hole goes deeper here …
Instead of practicing on Monday—which is what he was expected to do—he spent time inside this “Ammortal chamber.” What is an “ammortal chamber?” Great question, so glad you asked. It is a “wellness device that aims to optimize human performance and promote holistic health through a combination of non-invasive technologies."
I have no clue what the gobbledygook actually means, but it almost sounds like the Rams are attempting to cryogenically freeze Stafford until the start of the season?
I don’t know where we go from here, but I’m certainly going to chill on drafting Rams. The only thing worse than a half-thawed Stafford throwing balls to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams would be a warm-blooded Jimmy Garoppolo behind center.
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Editors’ Picks
The content doesn’t stop, and neither do we. We’re overflowing with great analysis to get you ready for your drafts later this month. Before we get into it, make sure to sync your leagues—it takes about a minute—and don’t forget our DvP tool to get a read on how defenses performed last year. And the Strength of Schedule tool helps you look ahead to the matchups. Now for some content you can’t miss.
 | RB Draft StrategiesWe all have different draft strategies that center around the running back: Hero RB, Zero RB, Robust RB. Dwain McFarland takes it a step further and offers optimal strategies by sections of each draft. |
 | A Mock Draft—But TDs Only!Every league is unique, and there are still some very unique ones, dating back to the early days of fantasy football when only one thing mattered: Touchdowns. |
 | Buy, Sell, HoldYes, there are player takes to be had, but cooterdoodle makes sure we buy in with good league etiquette—pay your league fees!—and regulating how long to “admire” your roster post-draft. |
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10 Tiers, 65 Running Backs
We’re onto the next position in Ian Hartitz’s positional tiers for 2025, with the RB position up next.
If you missed his TE Tiers or his WR Tiers, be sure to check them out as you prep for your upcoming drafts (after we dive into his RB Tiers, of course).
And speaking of his running back tiers, we have 10 (!!) to dive into ….
Tier 1: Ballers, shot callers
Tier 2: Stud workhorses
Tier 3: We don’t have 99 problems, but we do have one
Tier 4: Darkhorse rookie RB1s
Tier 5: Older, but not forgotten
Tier 6: Committee szn
Tier 7: Yikes …
Tier 8: FLEX with benefits
Tier 9: Elite handcuffs
Tier 10: We’re saying there’s a chance …
You know the drill. Dive into every RB, in every tier, below. ⬇️
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Braelon Allen Is Skyrocketing Up Draft Boards
As we enter the heat of fantasy draft season, ADPs across the various platforms are moving by the day as more and more draft data pours in.
Sam Wallace has been on top of the market changes, calling out the ones we should really be paying attention to:
Braelon Allen: Up 6.9 Spots On Sleeper
Once again, the New York Jets will be one of the more intriguing offenses to follow this season. Our projections have Justin Fields finishing as the QB10, so there's at least some hope for fantasy value.
However, aside from Fields, the biggest storyline has been that of fourth-year RB Breece Hall.
Hall, a second-round pick, is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and has already stated he doesn't anticipate getting a new deal before the season starts. He's talked about how he wasn't drafted by the current coaching regime and that he's not "their guy."
We'll have to wait and see how that plays out in the weeks and months ahead, but the news has pushed second-year player Braelon Allen up the board.
As a rookie, Allen tallied 334 rushing yards and a pair of TDs on 92 rushing attempts (3.6 yards per carry). On the flip side, Allen posted a solid line of 209 / 876 / 5 (4.2 yards per carry). Our projections for 2025 have them posting similar lines.
Allen is starting to creep up the draft boards, and managers who take Hall may be forced to snag his backup as well. Even if you don't draft Hall, Allen may provide enough stand-alone value to be more than just a high-end, league-winning handcuff.
For five more ADP risers and fallers on Sleeper Fantasy, read here. ⬇️
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CAUTION: These Takes Are HOT, Avoid Direct Eye Contact
It’s that time of draft szn! Our faithful readers want to hear our experts take stands. They want people shouting from the rooftops that Patrick Mahomes will push 5,000 passing yards again. That Ja’Marr Chase will follow his Triple Crown with a 2K assault. That Derrick Henry will defy Father Time again and blow past 20 TDs.
Kendall Valenzuela is here to accommodate. It’s not just time to be bold. It’s time to be HOT. These takes are so caliente that you just might want to read them wearing sunglasses. A cool ice tea will help, too. 😎👇🏼
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Around the Watercooler
The latest fantasy nuggets, silliness, and NFL gossip from our merry band of football nerds.
📊 WR rankings and tiers. Where’s JSN?
💪 Deebo’s plans for greatness. He got shredded.
📺️ Matthew on The Tonight Show? MATTHEW ON THE TONIGHT SHOW! Nice prop.
🎶 Drafting from the 1.09 can be pretty jazzy.
👀 Injuries and potential suspension updates impacting fantasy football.
😬 Draft these rookies at your own risk in Guillotine LeaguesTM.
🐻 Travis Kelce on the cover of GQ. Here ya go.
🤷 Can someone please decipher this post for me? What is Tank saying?
🙏 Don’t panic on the Jordan Love injury. Here’s why.
🤯 Do you play on ESPN? Here are some values you can’t ignore.
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