Matthew Stafford Lost For Season: Fantasy Implications
Matthew Stafford has been diagnosed with a grade 3 tear of his shoulder which is worse than the injury that kept him out for multiple weeks earlier in the season.
This injury will likely keep him out for most if not the rest of the season and he is a serious candidate for the I.R.
This news has wide-ranging implications for the Lions skill players as all get a slight downgrade with this news.
Calvin Johnson is still a top-5 WR but now has someone a lot less reliable getting him the ball. He remains a WR1 but is no longer expected to produce the same type of big weeks one could expect with Stafford under center.
Nate Burleson gets a downgrade with this news after breaking out last week as Drew Stanton seems to favor throwing to exceptional pass catching tight ends Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler but that could change as the two build chemistry.
Brandon Pettigrew’s value actually stands to stay the same as Stanton has a good chemistry with the 2nd year tight end. Consider him a low-end TE1 or elite TE2.
Tony Scheffler is in line to take a slight value hit and should be employed as no better than a TE2 in fantasy leagues.
The run game also takes a hit and Jahvid Best who is dealing with turf toe and backup Kevin Smith will likely see smaller lanes with opposing D’s respecting Drew Stanton less than Matthew Stafford.
