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

By Michael Kirkland

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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Wentz,, when healthy, is elite
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 10: Quarterback Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles drops back to pass against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 10, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

Number 3, Carson Wentz

The top 4 guys were all hard to rank because of the factors being used. There’s no doubt that Carson Wentz was having a special year when he got hurt, and his team completed the dream year without him. The Eagles broke an NFL championship drought similar to the one the Lions have going.

Ultimately, I did give him a slight edge in production, although not all of his stats are the third best or better. Wentz’s touchdowns and low interceptions indicate that he belongs near the top for his performance in 2017, though.

Why is Wentz at number three? Wentz’s big numbers, other than his completion percentage, need the context of his help factors. No other player had as much help. Both, his defense and running game, were top 5 in the NFL.

In many ways I wanted to put him much lower for those factors, but his production in only 13 games is just too great to completely chalk it up to his team.

TD rank: 2nd (33)

INT rank: 2nd (7)

Comp. % rank: 8th (60.2%)

Games played:13

Help factors:

Sacks taken rank: 5th (28)

Run game: 3rd in NFL

Defense: 4th in scoring (18.4 pts/ gm)

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