Fantasy Football: Should you bench Matthew Stafford while Calvin Johnson is out?

After Matthew Stafford’s back-to-back 11 point fantasy games without Calvin Johnson, it’s time to start worrying a little bit. In fact I’m benching Stafford in every league until Calvin Johnson is back in the lineup. The Lions just announced that it’s entirely possible that Calvin Johnson doesn’t come back till after the Week 9 bye. Some will look at his game against the Jets and will buy-in to the 25 fantasy points, but I can’t. In that game he managed to have a rushing touchdown, which isn’t something you can count on from Stafford for each week. If you take out the rushing touchdown, that gives Stafford 19 fantasy points, which means he would have been under 20 fantasy points in four straight games. Let’s sell the Stafford stock for now, until he proves differently.

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So who can you go pick up this week to replace Stafford? Remember that I’m not dropping Stafford, I’m just benching him.

*Remember these defensive rankings are before Week 6 completion, so it doesn’t factor in the Week 6 games”

Oct 12, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) signals to teammates during the first half against the Washington Redskins at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

1.) Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals

Palmer is currently owned in only 6.4% of ESPN Leagues. Palmer was a top-15 quarterback headed into the season for me, and now that he’s back I like him to play well down the stretch of the season. Last week you could tell that he wasn’t 100% and was clearly slightly rusty. However, he will shake off the rust with his next few games. In his two starts this season, Palmer is averaging 19 fantasy points per game and has a favorable schedule leading up to Week 10.

Week 7: At Oakland (20th most fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks)
Week 8: v. Philadelphia (2nd most fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks)
Week 9: At Dallas (22nd most fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks)

2.) Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Minnesota Vikings

Bridgewater is coming off a horrible two point fantasy game against Detroit, which will cause some owners to shy away from him. However, Bridgewater is only owned in 11.2% of ESPN Leagues and his schedule is also very nice. As bad as he was against Detroit, they have actually been pretty decent against the pass this season, and they have managed to make every quarterback struggle against them. Bridgewater is only a rookie, so he will be up and down this season with his consistency. However, over the next three weeks, all his opponents have given up at least one big game to opposing quarterbacks. Buffalo (Tom Brady); Tampa Bay (Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan); Washington (Eli Manning and Russell Wilson).

Week 7: At Buffalo (23rd most fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks)
Week 8: At Tampa Bay (10th most fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks)
Week 9: v. Washington (the most fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks)

3.) Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens

Flacco is coming off a dominating 32 fantasy point game against Tampa Bay, and that is part of the reason he is even in this piece. However, it isn’t the only reason, as Flacco has gifted offensive weapons. Even though I’d feel better if Dennis Pitta wasn’t injured, I cannot deny a quarterback playing well, along with having a favorable schedule.

Week 7: v. Atlanta (14th most fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks)
Week 8: at Cincinnati (25th most fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks)
Week 9: at Pittsburgh (24th most fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks)

Stafford might be okay this week, but it’s hard to see him in the 20-plus fantasy point club unless the matchup is amazing without Megatron.

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