Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 3rd, 2024, 4:25PM ET
Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
Network: FOX
Los Angeles Rams
Quarterback
Matthew Stafford: Start, QB2
With his two top receivers back in the fold, Matthew Stafford naturally had his best game on the season in the (controversial) win against the Vikings. He completed 25 of 34 attempts for 279 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. It was his first multi-touchdown game this season, and hopefully, better days continue ahead for him as he enters Week 9 with just seven passing touchdowns on the year. You could certainly do worse than Stafford this week if you stream QBs. Seattle just allowed Josh Allen to complete 24 of 34 attempts for 283 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, adding on 25 yards off seven rushes. He’s a good start right on the QB1/2 borderline for Week 9.
Running Back
Kyren Williams: Start, RB1
Blake Corum: Sit
The rushing-score streak came to an end last week for Kyren Williams, as he failed to find the end zone for the first time all season on the ground. However, he did hit pay dirt through the air and still tallied 97 yards on the ground on 23 carries. FantasyData has Williams as the overall RB5 on the year – not bad for a punt returner – and this matchup against Seattle is a smash spot, as they are allowing the seventh most fantasy points to RBs this season.
Blake Corum hasn’t been the factor this season that many may have thought he could be, all in part due to Williams taking a stronghold of the backfield week over week.
Wide Receiver
Puka Nacua: Start, WR1
Cooper Kupp: Start, WR1
Demarcus Robinson: Sit
Remember when Puka Nacua was allegedly going to be on a snap count in his return to action? Per FantasyData, he had 41 on the night, which was technically the third most out of four receivers, but he was peppered with targets and looked like his old self. Nacua caught seven of nine targets for 106 yards, and he will be right back on the map as a projected WR1 this week. Cooper Kupp also returned from being out since Week 2, and he, too, produced. He caught five of eight targets for 51 yards and a touchdown. There were trade rumor clouds that hung over Kupp last week, but that may now be in the rearview.
With Nacua & Kupp firmly back, don’t bother chasing Demarcus Robinson‘s fluky, two-touchdown showing from last week.
Tight End
Colby Parkinson: Sit
Colby Parkinson never really got going as one of the lone healthy targets for Stafford earlier this season with Nacua & Kupp hurt, and he hasn’t offered much as a TE, which is notoriously a bleak position in fantasy circles. Now that the two are back, Parkinson will likely be an afterthought.
Seattle Seahawks
Quarterback
Geno Smith: Start, QB2
This season overall has been a bit of a letdown for Geno Smith. He’s well over 2,000 passing yards already (2,197 entering Week 9), but he only owns an 8:7 passing touchdown to interception ratio. In the lopsided Week 8 loss to Buffalo, Smith failed to throw a touchdown for the first time this season, and he’ll look to bounce back in a pivotal NFC West showdown with the Rams. Currently, Seattle sits in third in the division at 4-4.
Running Back
Kenneth Walker III: Start, RB2
Zach Charbonnet: Sit
Kenneth Walker III had his worst game of the season against the Bills last week in a plus matchup on paper. He carried the ball just nine times and only posted 12 rushing yards, adding four receptions for 33 yards. Largely in part to game script, Walker should be able to get right against the Rams, although they just recently held Aaron Jones to just 58 yards on 19 carries last week.
Zach Charbonnet may have found the end zone versus Buffalo, but he doesn’t offer standalone fantasy value as long as Walker III is in the lineup.
Wide Receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: FLEX, WR3
DK Metcalf: Start if he is active, WR1
Tyler Lockett: Sit
At the time of writing, DK Metcalf was a DNP on Wednesday, but he is expected to practice on Thursday per head coach Mike Macdonald. Assuming he’s a go this week, fire him up as a WR1. While I do think there is a path for Jaxon Smith-Njigba to finish as a WR2 himself, he’s on the FLEX radar most weeks. Since Week 6, he has averaged 7.3 targets per game and has totaled 14 receptions for 131 scoreless yards in that span.
Tyler Lockett has had a down year, all things considered, and is coming off a game in which he had just one catch on three targets for nine yards.
Tight End
Noah Fant: Stream, TE2
If you are a George Kittle owner with him on BYE this week, Noah Fant could be on the streaming radar if you aren’t already prepared. The Rams are allowing the third most fantasy points to the position this season, and he has seen at least four targets per game since Week 6.
-Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ Twitter & Reddit)