I don't think fantasy owners were debating whom they'd rather see start for the Detroit Lions at quarterback this season. Instead, people have generally been avoiding both Matthew Stafford and Daunte Culpepper in drafts. I can't argue with that.
Now that the rookie Stafford has been named the starting quarterback, I don't think my mind has really been changed at all about his viability as a draftable fantasy option. Yes, he's got one of the best wide receivers in Calvin Johnson at his disposal, and a productive running back in Kevin Smith behind him as well, but he's still a raw, 21-year-old rookie getting thrown into an ugly fire. Even against the New Orleans Saints this weekend, I'm staying away … but not solely because he's a rookie.
Fantasy owners have been warned for years against trusting rookie quarterbacks, but the fact is not all of these first-year signal-callers are close to created equal. This Lions team hasn't won a game that counted … since 2007. I think it will win a few games this season, but remember our goal in fantasy is to study statistics and trends. Despite the success of Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco last season, and Ben Roethlisberger before them, let's be careful not to confuse real-life success with strong statistics. Ryan threw 16 touchdown passes last season, Flacco 14. What's so great about that? Sure, they didn't make a ton of mistakes and we expect more from them as sophomores, but an average of 15 touchdown passes, or fewer than one per game, won't win you a fantasy league. Jason Campbell, whom nobody seems to want in drafts, produced more fantasy points. Tyler Thigpen had a lot more!
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Eric Karabell
