Not too long ago -- 2022 -- everyone had pretty much put aging, banged-up Matthew Stafford out to pasture. Now, he seems pretty underrated, and according to a story this week, perhaps underpaid. He's looking for a salary bump from the Rams, and most likely he'll get it.
Stafford took the Rams to a Super Bowl in his first year with the team (2021), but then struggled and was injured for most of his second season, with it looking like the Rams would start rebuilding with a youngster, and Stafford shuffled off to retirement. But today, it doesn't seem that far-fetched to think he might have another deep playoff run in him.
Stafford is 36, but while he was looking pretty cooked at age 35, he seems to be OK for another year or two of high-quality play. He's certainly been a nice fit for Sean McVay's offense.
He doesn't run, which works against him in some fantasy leagues, but the passing stats have been pretty impressive. Among all quarterbacks to start at least 15 games in either of his two healthy seasons with the Rams, Stafford has posted the 4th and 14th best seasons, in terms of passing yards per game, of those 51 players. His 2021 season was also the 2nd-best in terms of passing touchdowns per game, trailing only 2021 Tom Brady. (Last year he was 10th in that regard among 2023 quarterbacks.)
I haven't seen much interest in Stafford in fantasy drafts. As noted, he doesn't run, and given his age there's the concern that he'll break easy.
But I like him as a possible top-10 quarterback who will be drafted closer to 15th or lower at the position. A nice option for those who want to wait on their quarterback, as long as you can also secure a viable backup, just in case.
Table shows per game passing numbers for quarterbacks from 2021 and 2023, sorted by yardage.
QUARTERBACKS PER GAME PASSING, 2021 AND 2023 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | St | PYd | TDP | Pts |
2021 | Tom Brady, T.B. | 17 | 312.7 | 2.53 | 26.9 |
2021 | Justin Herbert, LAC | 17 | 294.9 | 2.24 | 26.6 |
2021 | Joe Burrow, Cin. | 16 | 288.2 | 2.13 | 24.4 |
2021 | Matthew Stafford, LAR | 17 | 287.4 | 2.41 | 24.3 |
2021 | Patrick Mahomes, K.C. | 17 | 284.6 | 2.18 | 26.0 |
2021 | Derek Carr, L.V. | 17 | 282.6 | 1.35 | 20.2 |
2021 | Dak Prescott, Dall. | 16 | 278.1 | 2.31 | 24.6 |
2023 | C.J. Stroud, Hou. | 15 | 273.9 | 1.53 | 22.3 |
2023 | Tua Tagovailoa, Mia. | 17 | 272.0 | 1.71 | 20.9 |
2021 | Kyler Murray, Ariz. | 14 | 270.5 | 1.71 | 25.5 |
2023 | Jared Goff, Det. | 17 | 269.1 | 1.76 | 21.6 |
2023 | Brock Purdy, S.F. | 16 | 267.5 | 1.94 | 22.8 |
2023 | Dak Prescott, Dall. | 17 | 265.6 | 2.12 | 24.1 |
2023 | Matthew Stafford, LAR | 15 | 264.3 | 1.60 | 20.3 |
2021 | Kirk Cousins, Min. | 16 | 263.8 | 2.06 | 22.5 |
2023 | Patrick Mahomes, K.C. | 16 | 261.4 | 1.69 | 22.3 |
2021 | Josh Allen, Buff. | 17 | 259.2 | 2.12 | 28.3 |
2021 | Aaron Rodgers, G.B. | 16 | 257.2 | 2.31 | 23.9 |
2021 | Jimmy Garoppolo, S.F. | 15 | 254.0 | 1.33 | 19.6 |
2023 | Josh Allen, Buff. | 17 | 253.3 | 1.71 | 28.2 |
2023 | Trevor Lawrence, Jac. | 16 | 251.0 | 1.31 | 21.5 |
2023 | Jordan Love, G.B. | 17 | 244.6 | 1.88 | 22.9 |
2023 | Geno Smith, Sea. | 15 | 241.6 | 1.33 | 19.1 |
2023 | Justin Herbert, LAC | 13 | 241.1 | 1.54 | 21.5 |
2021 | Lamar Jackson, Balt. | 12 | 240.2 | 1.33 | 24.7 |
2023 | Baker Mayfield, T.B. | 17 | 237.9 | 1.65 | 20.0 |
2021 | Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt. | 16 | 233.8 | 1.38 | 17.6 |
2021 | Matt Ryan, Atl. | 17 | 233.4 | 1.18 | 17.3 |
2023 | Sam Howell, Was. | 17 | 232.1 | 1.24 | 20.1 |
2021 | Jared Goff, Det. | 14 | 231.8 | 1.36 | 17.6 |
2023 | Lamar Jackson, Balt. | 16 | 229.9 | 1.50 | 24.6 |
2023 | Gardner Minshew, Ind. | 13 | 229.2 | 1.08 | 18.2 |
2023 | Derek Carr, N.O. | 17 | 228.1 | 1.47 | 17.8 |
2023 | Jalen Hurts, Phil. | 17 | 226.9 | 1.35 | 25.6 |
2021 | Mac Jones, N.E. | 17 | 223.6 | 1.29 | 17.1 |
2021 | Russell Wilson, Sea. | 14 | 222.4 | 1.79 | 20.4 |
2021 | Taylor Heinicke, Was. | 15 | 219.8 | 1.27 | 18.4 |
2021 | Ryan Tannehill, Ten. | 17 | 219.6 | 1.24 | 20.0 |
2021 | Teddy Bridgewater, Den. | 14 | 218.0 | 1.29 | 17.7 |
2021 | Baker Mayfield, Cle. | 14 | 215.0 | 1.21 | 17.0 |
2021 | Trevor Lawrence, Jac. | 17 | 214.2 | .71 | 16.2 |
2023 | Desmond Ridder, Atl. | 13 | 213.8 | .92 | 17.9 |
2021 | Jalen Hurts, Phil. | 15 | 209.6 | 1.07 | 24.0 |
2021 | Carson Wentz, Ind. | 17 | 209.6 | 1.59 | 18.5 |
2021 | Tua Tagovailoa, Mia. | 12 | 207.9 | 1.33 | 17.8 |
2023 | Russell Wilson, Den. | 15 | 204.7 | 1.73 | 20.9 |
2023 | Justin Fields, Chi. | 13 | 197.1 | 1.23 | 21.7 |
2023 | Joshua Dobbs, 2TM | 12 | 192.2 | .92 | 19.1 |
2023 | Bryce Young, Car. | 16 | 179.8 | .69 | 13.6 |
2021 | Zach Wilson, NYJ | 13 | 179.5 | .69 | 15.2 |
2023 | Kenny Pickett, Pitt. | 12 | 172.5 | .50 | 11.6 |
--Andy Richardson