Detroit Lions: The most overrated, underrated heading into 2019

Matthew Stafford

Overrated: Stafford’s fantasy football value

Underrated: Stafford’s actual value

Despite five years finishing among the top ten QBs in fantasy points, Stafford isn’t exactly a trendy pick for GMs this year. A down year in 2018, a change in offensive philosophy are probably the main reasons for that, as well as just because he’s Matthew Stafford.

If anything, this should once and for all put a stop to the long-since-debunked ‘Statford’ criticism that some still cling to. In this case, a drop in statistical production shouldn’t be confused with a drop in performance either.

If the new offense goes according to plan, gone are the days of 400 yards passing and 4 TDs, but they’ll be replaced with QB ratings north of 100 and a heavy dose of grind it out 23-17 wins.

We saw a little bit of this in 2017, when Stafford played some of his smartest football and finished the year with the highest QB rating of his career. He doesn’t need late game drama to be effective, and now entering his 11th year, his value to the franchise goes far beyond criticism about his contract, lack of postseason success, and of course, fantasy drafts.