Rams at Commanders Preview: Matthew Stafford's Elbow, a Washington Front Missing Both Starting Tackles and Jayden Daniels Without Terry McLaurin

The Los Angeles Rams (4-4) visit the Washington Commanders (2-4-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET as roughly 5.5-point favorites with a total near 47.5. The two storylines that matter most for fantasy managers point in opposite directions: Matthew Stafford appeared on the Rams' injury report with a right elbow issue, while Washington's defensive front is so depleted that the Commanders placed both starting defensive tackles on injured reserve this week.

Matthew Stafford's elbow

Stafford was listed on the first Week 9 injury report with right elbow soreness, but he practiced in full on Wednesday. Head coach Sean McVay described it as soreness and did not express concern about the reigning MVP's status. Stafford himself said he has been icing the arm for weeks and has not missed a practice rep.

There is a reason to pay attention, though. Pro Football Talk noted that Stafford's pass attempts have dropped in recent weeks, from 33 in Week 6 to 29 in Week 7 and 25 in Week 8. A separate fantasy preview pointed out that he has not reached 7.0 yards per attempt in a game since Week 5. Neither trend proves the elbow is limiting him, but together they explain why the injury report is worth watching.

The fantasy verdict: start Stafford. Washington's defensive line is short-handed, he has a clean practice record and the matchup favors the pass. Just recognize that his weekly ceiling has been lower lately than his MVP season suggested.

Washington's depleted front

The Commanders placed both starting defensive tackles on injured reserve this week, and Shy Tuttle was limited with a shoulder injury the next day. Jer'Zhan Newton was a full participant with a pectoral issue. That leaves Washington thin in the middle against a Rams offense that has historically been at its best when the quarterback has a clean pocket.

For fantasy, that is a boost for the Rams' entire offense. Interior pressure is what disrupts Stafford most, and a run defense missing its starting tackles is a good draw for the Rams' running backs. Kyren Williams, or whichever Rams back carries the early-down load, is a confident start.

Rams injuries to watch

The Rams have their own concerns, mostly on defense. Cornerback Trent McDuffie and safety Kam Curl did not practice to open the week, and the team lost cornerback Jaylen Watson for the season, per CBS Sports' Week 9 report. Tight end Colby Parkinson also missed practice with a rib issue.

Those defensive absences matter for Washington's passing game. A Rams secondary without McDuffie, Curl and Watson is far more vulnerable than the unit that started the season, which raises the floor for Jayden Daniels and his receivers.

Jayden Daniels and Washington's offense

Jayden Daniels practiced in full despite a left elbow issue on his non-throwing arm. He finished as a QB15 in his last game, and one fantasy preview frames him as a back-end QB1 this week, mostly because of his rushing ability. Against a Rams secondary missing multiple starters, he is a start in one-quarterback leagues. The rushing floor makes him safer than his passing numbers suggest.

The receivers are a different story than earlier in the season. Terry McLaurin is out for the year after rupturing a patellar tendon in Week 6, which reshapes Washington's target tree. Stefon Diggs sat Wednesday's practice for rest, and Treylon Burks did not practice with a foot injury. If Diggs is active, he is the de facto top target and a WR3 with upside against a banged-up secondary. Burks is a speculative flex only if he is cleared.

Washington's backfield faces a game script risk: as a 5.5-point underdog, the Commanders could be passing in the second half. Prioritize the back who catches passes.

DFS angle

In daily fantasy, this game is one of the better mid-priced stacking options on the main slate. A Rams stack built on Stafford and his top receiver benefits from a Washington defense without its interior tackles, and the game total near 47.5 is among the higher marks of the early window. The bring-back from Washington is Daniels himself, whose rushing gives him a ceiling that passing-only quarterbacks at his salary lack. Because Stafford's elbow headline may scare off some players, his ownership could come in lower than the matchup deserves, which creates leverage in tournaments.

Betting angle

The Rams at -5.5 with a total of 47.5 imply a final score in the range of 26.5 to 21. One public projection lands on 27-20 Rams, and another model gives Los Angeles roughly a two-in-three chance to win. The split among betting analysts on the spread reflects the tension in this game: the Rams' offense has an ideal matchup, but their own defensive injuries keep Washington live as a back-door cover candidate.

The total may be the better angle. Two offenses facing depleted defenses is a recipe for points, and a game script in which Washington trails and has to throw pushes the same direction. For the model's view of this game and the rest of the Week 9 slate, see the NFL Week 9 picks and the NFL predictions page.

What to do in your league

Start Stafford and the Rams' lead running back with confidence. Start the Rams' top receivers as usual, since a Washington defense without its interior tackles cannot generate consistent pressure. On the Commanders' side, start Daniels in one-quarterback leagues and Diggs as a WR3 if he is active. Bench Burks unless he practices fully on Friday. Check Friday's final reports for McDuffie, Curl and Parkinson, because those statuses will shape both the spread and the fantasy ceilings for Washington's passing game.