Of course, that Week 9 game against the Jets was also the last time we saw Stafford; he injured his throwing shoulder in the fourth quarter and didn't play again the rest of the season. Stafford's season also ended prematurely as a struggling rookie. That's basically my concern with Stafford, the durability, because it's not his ability. This guy was the first overall draft pick in 2009, which in itself isn't important -- other top picks have failed -- but I think the fellow has serious game. But the injury history is why I can justify ranking him in the top 10 for a given week, in a beautiful matchup when he's healthy, but not for the season. Who knows how many games he ends up starting?
For Eric Karabell's notes on Matthew Stafford, Vincent Jackson, Cam Newton and others, you must be an ESPN Insider.
Eric Karabell | email
ESPN.com Senior Writer- ESPN contributor on TV, radio, podcasts, blogs, Magazine
- Charter member of FSWA Hall of Fame
- Author of "The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments"
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Eric Karabell
Eric Karabell is an ESPN.com senior writer. He has worked at ESPN since 1997 and covered fantasy sports for ESPN since 2001, specializing in baseball and football. Eric appears several times per week on SportsCenter, NFL Live and other ESPN shows, contributes to ESPN Radio and ESPN The Magazine and is the host of the Baseball Today Podcast. He has been honored twice as fantasy sports writer of the year by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, his blog was named best fantasy baseball series for 2007 and he was inducted into the inaugural FSWA Hall of Fame class in 2010.
Eric grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, and accordingly, favors Philly teams first, his fantasy teams second. He previously served as ESPN.com's lead NBA editor, and is a former Washington Post and Philadelphia Inquirer sports writer. Eric is also the author of "The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments," published by Source Books and available in bookstores and online.
Check Eric's ESPN work:
Karabell archive
