From the wiki, here's the bottom line on how the Myles Garrett trade impacts Matthew Stafford's 2026 fantasy outlook:
The short answer: It's a slight negative for Stafford's fantasy ceiling, even though it helps the real-life Rams.
The Garrett trade (June 1 — Browns sent the two-time DPOY to LA for Jared Verse + picks) makes the Rams' defense elite — their Super Bowl odds went from +800 to +600, the only single-digit odds team in the league (from Myles Garrett page). The wiki directly notes that an elite defense paired with aging receivers (Davante Adams is 33) "may limit fantasy ceiling compared to his MVP-caliber 2025" (from Matthew Stafford page).
Here's the logic:
- Fewer shootouts needed — A dominant pass rush (Garrett + Chris Jones) means the Rams will win more games comfortably, leading to more run-heavy, clock-eating scripts in the second half
- The Rams also drafted QB Ty Simpson in the 1st round instead of investing in immediate receiver help, another sign the team is thinking beyond Stafford's window (from Matthew Stafford page)
- Stafford's already a low-ranked QB option — FantasyPros ranks him #100 overall. He won MVP in 2025 (4,707 yards, 46 TDs), but the roster construction around him is trending defense-first for 2026
One bright side: If the Rams are playing from behind less often, his efficiency could stay high — just on lower volume. He's a high-floor QB2 who you're drafting for his arm talent and McVay's scheme, not expecting an MVP encore.