Best Ball has become a popular form of fantasy football because it allows people to experience the joy of drafting a season-long team without worrying about setting their lineup each week. In Best Ball leagues, it’s proven beneficial to stack players from the same team to accrue the most points.
The Los Angeles Rams are an interesting offense to consider stacking in 2023 following a forgettable 2022 campaign. Matthew Stafford will head all of the stacks listed below as you’ll typically want to correlate with the quarterbacks you select in Best Ball drafts.
So with Best Ball drafts being the craze in fantasy football right now, let’s take a look at a few stacks to target for the Rams in 2023.
* Note: All ADPs are courtesy of 4for4’s Underdog ADP.
Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson
Matthew Stafford ADP: 150.7
Cooper Kupp ADP: 4.1
Van Jefferson ADP: 138.7
If you believe Stafford is poised for a bounce-back season in 2023, then there is massive value in selecting the Rams’ veteran quarterback at his current ADP. Stafford is just one season removed from finishing as QB5 overall with the Rams and he’s been practicing with the team in OTAs, unlike last season, which indicates he’s expected to be fully healthy.
Kupp remains one of the first players off the board in Best Ball drafts despite missing eight games in 2022 due to an ankle injury. The All-Pro wideout led the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947), and receiving touchdowns (16) in his first season with Stafford in 2021, and he should continue operating as the No. 1 option in the aerial attack.
With Allen Robinson no longer in the picture, Jefferson should assume the No. 2 role in the passing game. Jefferson also missed time in 2022 because of an injury, but he’s shown he can excel in a complementary role alongside Kupp before. The second wide receiver in other offenses is going earlier than Jefferson, making this a very available stack if you are rewarded Kupp early in the first round.
Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Tyler Higbee
Matthew Stafford ADP: 150.7
Cooper Kupp ADP: 4.1
Tyler Higbee ADP: 144.3
When looking at the Rams offense, we should expect an improvement, simply because it’s hard to believe the team endures the same number of injuries it did in 2022. The offensive line is improved with Steve Avila being the Rams’ first selection in this year’s draft and Logan Bruss will be making his regular-season debut after missing his rookie season a year ago.
Even at 30 years old, Kupp is one of the most productive wide receivers in the NFL, and Stafford will continue to set his sights on finding the sure-handed wideout. The defense of the Rams is expected to be a below-average unit, which will lead to more come-from-behind opportunities.
Higbee set career-best marks in targets (108) and receptions (72) in 2022, and while it’s unlikely he leads the team in both metrics again, he figures to remain in a near-every-down role. Both Higbee and Stafford have ADPs close to each other, but once again, this stack is dependent on selecting Kupp early in drafts.
Matthew Stafford, Van Jefferson, Tyler Higbee
Matthew Stafford ADP: 150.7
Van Jefferson ADP: 138.7
Tyler Higbee ADP: 144.3
Health is one of the only concerns for Stafford as he enters his 15th season in the NFL. Since joining the Rams, Stafford has suffered multiple injuries, though he’s seemingly entering training camp without any lingering ailments.
Jefferson will be tasked with an expanded role in the offense due to the lack of experience throughout the roster. We got a glimpse of what Jefferson could do with more looks in 2021 (WR35 overall finish in half-PPR formats) and he’s entering a contract year with the Rams.
To achieve this stack, you’ll likely need to be in a draft that has people who aren’t high on the Rams in 2023. If you’re able to get Jefferson and Higbee within the same range as each other, then all that is left is taking Stafford in the later rounds of your best-ball draft to round out the stack.
Matthew Stafford, Van Jefferson, Puka Nacua
Matthew Stafford ADP: 150.7
Van Jefferson ADP: 138.7
Puka Nacua ADP: 211.2
Upon looking at the ADPs of quarterbacks on Underdog, Stafford is currently the 20th quarterback selected in drafts. That puts the Rams quarterback behind Derek Carr and Russell Wilson, and slightly ahead of Jordan Love and Kyler Murray.
Kupp expects to dominate targets for the Rams again in 2023, however, someone is going to have to step up in the No. 2 option in the passing game. Jefferson should benefit from the Rams likely needing to air the ball out more with a defense that could be wildly inconsistent in the upcoming season.
In large-field best-ball tournaments, you’ll want to be different to separate yourself from the field. Taking Nacua near the end of drafts is one way to do that if you’re stacking the Rams. Nacua may not begin the season as the No. 3 wideout in his rookie season, but his versatility at the position could pave the way for him to see a role sooner rather than later.
*Note: You can replace Jefferson with Higbee or Kupp, depending on how your draft unfolds.
