Week 17 at Green Bay Packers
In the loss to the Vikings last week Matthew Stafford was benched for the first time since 2015. Before being replaced by Matt Cassell he threw for just 116 yards on 32 attempts. In the past three games, Stafford has passed for an average of only 142 yards and thrown one TD during that span. In the Week 5 win over the Pack Stafford threw for 183 yards and two scores but with the way the offense has sputtered the past month, he’s a QB2 play.
Week 16 vs. Minnesota Vikings
Facing a solid Buffalo defense last week, Matthew Stafford threw for just 208 yards and a TD. It was the fifth straight game he’d failed to pass for 250 yards or multiple scores, without Golden Tate and Marvin Jones. In early November at Minnesota Stafford was held to 199 passing yards and was sacked 10 times. He should be considered a QB2 option at home in the rematch versus a solid pass defense.
Week 15 at Buffalo Bills
Coming into the game with a sore back, Matthew Stafford didn’t need to do much in the win at Arizona last Sunday. In what was an ugly game for both offenses, he threw 23 passes for just 101 yards and no TDs, the second time in the past three weeks that’s happened. It was Stafford’s all-time lowest yardage total in any game he's started and finished, but he was aided by the Lions defense and a ground attack that netted over 120 yards. Limited on weapons, Stafford will be facing the top pass defense in the Bills this week, making him a QB2 start.
Week 14 at Arizona Cardinals
Matthew Stafford put the ball in the air 33 times last Sunday versus the Rams, connecting with seven different pass catchers, for 245 yards with one TD and one INT. He has failed to throw for more than one touchdown in the past three contests and hasn’t posted a 300-yard game since the end of October. Although Stafford’s been losing weapons as the season’s worn on, he may have found a new favorite target in TE Levine Toilolo, who caught four passes for 90 yards in the loss. Despite their record, the Cardinals do have a strong pass defense, which means Stafford remains a QB2 option.
Week 13 vs. Los Angeles Rams
In the loss on Thanksgiving Day, Matthew Stafford threw the game-winning TD – unfortunately, it was a pick-six by Chicago in the fourth quarter. Stafford finished with 236 yards and two interceptions, the second time in three weeks that the Bears picked him off twice. It’s apparent that Stafford misses his go-to WR in Golden Tate, as he’s been held to less than 240 yards in three of the four contests since the trade. He’ll remain at home on Sunday against a Rams pass defense that yields over 250 yards per game. However, Stafford remains more of a QB2 play, especially with no Marvin Jones.
Week 12 vs. Chicago Bears
In the narrow win versus the Panthers last Sunday, Matthew Stafford threw for 220 yards and a TD. In the past three contests, he’s failed to pass for 300 yards and has just three touchdown tosses during the stint. Recently at Chicago, he threw for 274 passing yards and two late TDs, as the Lions were well behind. The Bears possess the No. 3 overall defense and he'll again be without Marvin Jones, keeping Stafford a QB2 option on Thanksgiving.
Week 11 vs. Carolina Panthers
In the loss to the Bears last week, Matthew Stafford threw a couple of late TDs to salvage something for fantasy owners. He finished with 274 passing yards but was sacked six times and intercepted twice. It’s been a couple of tough weeks for Stafford and the Lions offense, facing good defenses in Minnesota and Chicago on the road. Back at Ford Field on Sunday, he’ll be facing a Panthers defense that was torched by Ben Roethlisberger last Thursday. Carolina is No. 22 at stopping the pass, but Stafford is just a low QB1 start, especially with Marvin Jones availability in question.
Week 10 at Chicago Bears
Without Golden Tate as a safety valve, Matthew Stafford had a rough outing last week in Minneapolis. He was sacked 10 times and finished with just 199 passing yards with no TDs, the first time this season he’s failed to toss for at least one score. In three of the past four contests, Stafford has thrown for less than 220 yards and will be facing another solid defense on the road this Sunday. Chicago limits opponents to 236 yards through the air, making Stafford a QB2 play.
Week 9 at Minnesota Vikings
After throwing an early TD to Marvin Jones versus the Seahawks last week, it looked like it might be a big day for Matthew Stafford and the Lions. However, the offense sputtered for much of the contest until Stafford connected with Jones for a second score in the fourth quarter. In the loss, the QB threw for 310 yards and it marked the fifth-straight game in which he’s had exactly two TD tosses. In the seven games this season, Stafford has been over 300 yards three times, with 14 touchdowns. The streak of multiple TDs may come to an end on the road this week against a solid Minnesota defense. Even with the loss of his favorite target in Golden Tate, Stafford remains a low QB1 start.
Week 8 vs. Seattle Seahawks
With the Detroit rushing attack dominating at Miami last week, Matthew Stafford threw only 22 passes but completed over 81 percent of them. In the win, he finished with 217 yards and two TDs, both to TE Michael Roberts. It was the fourth straight game that Stafford tossed exactly two touchdowns and he’s thrown just one INT the past five contests. On Sunday back at Ford Field, Stafford will be facing the Seahawks No. 3 pass defense, making him a second-tier QB1 option.
