As the fantasy football season hits its stride, fantasy managers must make some key decisions about their QB investments. Jared Goff, Matthew Stafford, Sam Darnold and Joe Flacco are the talk of the league right now. This has led to one of the more spirited debates on when to trade for, hold, or draft them in fantasy leagues. Their recent stats and future opponents have a lot of context to offer as fantasy managers approach these critical starts/bench decisions.
Goff, at least in terms of fantasy output, has recognized his value as a QB2 option with his last four games averaging 16.7 points. With a consistent ability to throw multiple touchdowns—achieving this feat in four of his last five games—he remains a solid option for teams looking for stability. Goff’s points per game average is likely not high enough for teams that need a more prolific scorer.
Jared Goff’s Performance and Potential
No doubt, Goff’s last two performances have been examples of his ability to thrive when situations are favorable. He’s sure shown an incredible rapport with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, whom draft pundits say is “uncoverable.” That synergy between our organizations has been a winning formula, helping us both to achieve amazing things in the weeks ahead. Sure, Goff has been riding some hot hands lately, but he’s scoring in the weekly 16-18 point range. Fantasy squads looking for boom or bust matchups will be disappointed.
As appealing as Goff’s high floor can be, some fantasy managers may want more bounce to the ounce from their signal-callers. And with the fantasy playoffs coming up, the urgency is heightened. Teams in search of more prolific scoring possibilities will have to adjust their thinking about Goff.
Matthew Stafford: Elite Performance and Favorable Matchups
Matthew Stafford’s performance has been exceptional over the past five games, throwing 16 touchdowns, with an impressive 13 coming from within the 20-yard line. He’s averaged 23.3 fantasy points over this stretch. His star-making performance gets a great boost from elite targets such as Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Stafford’s ability to avoid the big mistake—just two interceptions this season—only deepens his fantasy starter attractiveness.
Looking forward, Stafford’s next slate of opponents includes all nine defenses that currently sit outside the top 10 in Pro Football Focus’ quarterback defense chart. Against this backdrop, Bryant presents an excellent matchup profile. It seems almost impossible for him to keep this high-level performance impactfully through the long weeks to come. It’s a factor fantasy managers should keep in mind while ranking their QB choices.
Stafford’s combination of talent and schedule could lead to significant point totals, making him a valuable asset for teams eyeing a playoff push. Considering his recent form and some nice matchups coming up, he makes an excellent argument for being rostered or picked up.
Sam Darnold and Joe Flacco: Under-the-Radar Options
Sam Darnold has become a stealthy choice, rostered in over 50% of ESPN leagues. His standout performance against Washington in Week 9 saw him score 27.2 points while completing an impressive 87.5% of his throws. In his last five games, Darnold has been averaging 284.2 passing yards. He threw for a staggering 2.4 touchdowns per game, proving that he has the makings of an excellent fantasy asset.
Darnold is averaging 20+ points in three out of his last four games. That’s a good sign for him to provide positive production as the season enters its final third. For fantasy managers looking for high-upside QBs off the waiver wire, Darnold’s newfound availability makes for an enticing opportunity.
Second, Joe Flacco has been the quarterback most to capture our imagination with his tremendous play. He’s thrown an average of 43.3 passes per game and scored an average of 24.9 points per game over his four Bengals’ starts. Flacco is still owned in over 65% of ESPN leagues. His remarkable chemistry with top targets Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins truly raises his value through the roof.
Flacco’s recent performances underline the importance of considering under-the-radar players who can deliver strong results when given the opportunity. For managers desperate for quarterback production, both Darnold and Flacco represent intriguing options that could make a difference as the season progresses.
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