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Factoid

Old Man Stafford

Can Rams QB do it one more time?

Matthew Stafford is 38 years old, making it tough to sign off on him as a fantasy (or NFL) starting quarterback. But everyone said the same a year ago, when he was 37.

Old, immobile, iffy back -- Stafford staying healthy all year, let alone finishing as the league MVP and No. 2 fantasy quarterback, seemed really unlikely. But it happened.

Can he do it again? It doesn't happen a lot, but it's not unprecedented.

I went to the files to see how many 38-year-old or older quarterbacks had finished with top-10 numbers. I then expanded it to top-15, to get a larger group of names.

Since 2000, there have been 19 instances of a 38-year-old (or older) quarterback ranking in the top 15 at the position (1 point for every 20 passing or 10 rushing yards, 4-point TD passes). A little less than once per season. About half of those guys (10) ranked in the top 10.

Those 19 seasons are divided among eight different guys, and just 3 different top-10 quarterbacks in the past 10 years: Brady, Rodgers, Brees. That's the list.

QBS IN THE TOP 15, 2000-PRESENT (38 OR OLDER)
YearPlayerAgeGSPassTDRunTDRk
2024Aaron Rodgers, NYJ4117389728107015
2022Tom Brady, T.B.4517469425-1110
2022Aaron Rodgers, G.B.391736952694113
2021Tom Brady, T.B.44175316438123
2021Aaron Rodgers, G.B.381641153710138
2020Tom Brady, T.B.4316463340637
2020Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt.381538033311014
2019Philip Rivers, LAC381646152329013
2019Tom Brady, N.E.421640572434315
2018Drew Brees, N.O.39153992322249
2018Tom Brady, N.E.411643552935213
2017Tom Brady, N.E.40164577322803
2017Drew Brees, N.O.381643342312211
2015Tom Brady, N.E.38164770365332
2014Peyton Manning, Den.3816472739-2403
2009Brett Favre, Min.4016420233707
2009Kurt Warner, Ari.381537532610013
2008Brett Favre, NYJ391634722243111
2007Brett Favre, G.B.38164155281207

So it happens. I'm inclined to think Stafford is safe to draft for one more season. He won't be taking a lot of hits, won't be running at all; the ball should come out quick. And he's going to have an above-average line and one of the league's best receiving corps.

I don't know if he'll be as good as last year, but seems like he'll still be pretty good.

--Andy Richardson

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