Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Xavier Smith caught four passes for 34 yards on five targets to lead all Rams receivers in Saturday's loss to the Houston Texans in the final preseason game. Smith was efficient in catching four of his five looks but didn't stretch the field much on his catches. The Rams went deep into their depth chart in the last preseason game, giving Smith a big opportunity. He did nicely with his chance but is not someone who will be on the fantasy radar this season.

Los Angeles Rams running back Boston Scott rushed 11 times for 34 yards in the team's final preseason game against the Houston Texans on Saturday. He was targeted once in the passing game but did not record a catch. Scott wasn't very efficient on his touches as he closed out his preseason. He is competing with Zach Evans for a backup role behind Kyren Williams and rookie Blake Corum. There wasn't much to see here as the Rams struggled to move the ball on offense as they went deep into their depth chart in the last preseason tuneup. Although Evans scored twice, neither Scott nor Evans really separated themselves in the preseason.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett will serve as the backup for Week 1 and Week 2 of the regular season. This was expected to happen with Jimmy Garoppolo suspended for the first two weeks of the season. Bennett sat out of the preseason finale after starting the first two games. He threw for 437 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions during the preseason. Those aren't exactly great results, but Bennett isn't likely to see the field at all in 2024. Matthew Stafford should be full healthy and ready to go for the season opener. Garoppolo should take over as the primary backup once he's cleared to play, so Bennett is unlikely to play at all unless Stafford gets injured in the first two games.

After practice, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay reported that running back Boston Scott (leg contusion) is dealing with a "minor leg contusion," which led to him being held out of practice. However, McVay confirmed that Scott will receive a substantial workload in Saturday's preseason game. Scott performed well in last weekend's game, rushing ten times for 55 yards in the Rams' victory over the Chargers. Although Scott was the second back to see action behind Zach Evans, both were used early in the game. Scott and Evans are vying for a spot in a crowded running back room that includes Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, and Ronnie Rivers. Additionally, the Rams have bolstered their running back depth by signing SaRodorick Thompson, who is expected to join Evans and Scott as active ball carriers for the upcoming preseason game against the Houston Texans. Assuming he makes the final roster, Scott will likely serve in a backup and special teams role this season.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (hamstring) was a full participant in Thursday's joint practice with the Houston Texans, according to head coach Sean McVay. Stafford returned to team drills at training camp earlier this week after he was limited to individual drills on Monday. Even though the 36-year-old signal-caller's hamstring issue isn't very serious, he's not expected to suit up for the preseason finale this Saturday against Houston. Stafford finished as the QB15 last year in what was a bounce-back campaign after he played in only nine games in 2022 due to injuries. He had 3,965 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 15 regular-season contests. Even with wideouts Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, the aging Stafford's fantasy ceiling and floor have come down considerably. At best, if he stays healthy, he's probably no better than a midrange QB2 at this point in his career.