Detroit Lions: Was the NFL’s ranking of Matthew Stafford fair?

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions walks off the field after the Lions defeated the Browns 38-24 at Ford Field on November 12, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions walks off the field after the Lions defeated the Browns 38-24 at Ford Field on November 12, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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Rodgers played 7 games in 2017
CHARLOTTE, NC – DECEMBER 17: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers leaves the field after a 31-24 loss to the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Number 8, Aaron Rodgers

If you share this article with a Packer’s fan, they’re going to assume that this is just throwing shade. The Top 100 did put Aaron Rodgers at #10 for all players, after all.

However, I’m going to go ahead and call horse pucky (this article has been edited to keep it SFW). Maybe in 2016 he was that good. Rodgers may be that good next year. In 2017, he didn’t play 9 games and that has to mean something when you’re ranking the best of the best. Rodgers was 4-3 in 2017, while the Packers finished 7-9, overall.

If you slightly more than doubled his stats, he would’ve been top 2 roughly, but I am not going to put him higher on the list for less than half of a season. He didn’t have a ton of help, even when healthy, though, which is why he’s not #9. He has talented wide receivers, but his other factors are low on the list.

Rodgers exemplifies what past performance and reputation can do for your Top 100 ranking.

TD rank: 9th (16)

INT rank:1st (6*)

Comp. % rank: 4th (64.7%)

Games played: 7 (last)

Help factors: *in 7 games 

Sacks taken rank: 3rd (22*) and GB gave up 51 for 2017

Run game: 17th in NFL

Defense: 26th in scoring

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