FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 6/9/2013 1:01pm et

Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand said the team is still talking with QB Matthew Stafford about a contract extension, but the team will have to turn its focus on the season if a deal can be done by a certain point. 'We've still got some discussion to have, but at some point in time we'll either get a deal done or we'll focus on football,' Lewand said. 'It's a different dynamic when you have two years left on a contract versus one. Most of them get done with a year left. And we've worked through a lot of those issues and continue to do that, want to continue the dialogue. But at some point in time we'll either have a deal or we'll agree that the focus needs to be on what's going on on the field.'

Huddle Up: Stafford, who's been a top-10 fantasy QB in each of the past 2 seasons, and his agent are trying to strike when the NFL QB market is hot (i.e. the recent deals for Joe Flacco, Aaron Rodgers and Tony Romo), but it's definitely not a pressing matter at this point.

Posted: 4/14/2013 11:47pm et

Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford will be at the team's facility Monday, April 15, for the start of the offseason program, and he has been at the facility almost every other day since the end of the 2012 regular season. It is a departure from his first few years in the league when he spent large chunks of time doing rehab in Florida, or in his native Texas or adoptive Georgia doing offseason training. 'There is not a guy that's done more for this franchise in this offseason than Matthew Stafford,' team president Tom Lewand said. 'The guy's been in the building every day. He's been living here the entire offseason. He's been working out, he's helped us recruit free agents, he's been involved on a daily basis in trying to get ready for the season, and he would do anything to help us be successful.'

Huddle Up: Stafford saw his fantasy totals take a 59-point drop from 2011 to 2012 thanks largely to a 41 to 20 decline in TD tosses. Finding another red-zone weapon outside of Megaron will be key as teams are keying on the Lions' No. 1 receiver in scoring territory.

Posted: 2/17/2013 3:53pm et

Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand would like to sign QB Matthew Stafford to an extension in order to keep him around for the long run, not just because he is entering the fifth year of his rookie deal with a $20.8 million cap number. 'Matthew Stafford is our quarterback, and we hope is our quarterback for a long time,' Lewand said. 'The reason to explore a contract extension with Matthew is to fulfill that goal of having him be our quarterback for a long time. It's not a short-term look at the salary cap. That's the wrong way to look at that. When you look at extending somebody like Matthew, he's not going to take less money to extend. That's a very short-term focus to look at.'

Huddle Up: Stafford has given the Lions some production and stability at the position -- something they've lacked for what seems like eons. After missing a combined 19 games over his first 2 seasons, Stafford has not missed a start in each of the past 2 years. His 2011 season was a banner fantasy year with 5,038 yards and 41 TDs, and while he threw for 4,967 yards in 2012, his TD throws dipped alarmingly to only 20.

Posted: 1/3/2013 1:48pm et

Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said he will look to add a playmaker in the passing game this offseason. Mayhew has taken one wide receiver in each of his four NFL Drafts as Lions general manager. 'The way I look at it, when you've got a quarterback like Matthew Stafford, you want to keep giving him weapons, and that's what we're going to try to keep doing,' Mayhew said. 'If it's a receiver, if it's a tight end, if it's a running back that can catch passes out of the backfield, all those things help Matthew to be better, and they help Calvin to be better.'

Huddle Up: Stafford can use the help -- a dynamic, pass-catching RB would be a great fit -- and will also get a boost if players such as WRs Ryan Broyles and Nate Burleson and TE Brandon Pettigrew return to health.

Posted: 12/27/2012 1:35pm et

Chicago Bears SS Major Wright said Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford folds under pressure. 'You've got Matthew Stafford,' Wright said. 'He's definitely having an OK season. He can make any throw on that field, so you have to be aware of putting pressure on him because you put a little pressure on him, he kind of folds. You put a little pressure on him, you close the pocket on him, he hesitates. He doesn't make that perfect throw.'

Huddle Up: Stafford has put up some big numbers courtesy of his league highs in attempts (685) and completions (411), but he's likely not starting in many Week 17 fantasy championship matchups after throwing only one TD pass in his past 3 games.

Posted: 12/17/2012 7:41pm et

Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz never thought about making a quarterback change in the team's Week 15 game. 'I think [Matthew Stafford] is our best quarterback and if he's healthy enough he's going to play,' Schwartz said. 'I don't want to farm somebody else's land, but why didn't the Saints replace Drew Brees after four (interceptions)?'

Huddle Up: Stafford was a little better in fantasy Sunday but still was brutal with 246 yards, no TDs and three picks -- two of which were returned for TDs -- and if you somehow survived a playoff matchup starting Stafford, kudos go to the rest of your team. Stafford should be better -- it would be hard to be much worse -- this week in a home Saturday Night Football matchup against the Falcons.

Posted: 11/22/2012 5:38pm et

Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford completed 31-of-61 passes for 441 yards and 2 TDs Thursday in his team's 34-31 Week 12 OT loss to the Houston Texans.

Huddle Up: Stafford has had an up-and-down (mostly down) season so far, but served up a Thanksgiving fantasy feast for his owners by notching his fourth career 400-yard game and his second-best in terms of sheer yardage. He connected with Calvin Johnson and Mike Thomas on his 2 TD tosses, and did not throw an interception.

Posted: 10/23/2012 12:37am et

Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford was 28-of-46 for 268 yards, a TD and an interception Monday night in a 13-7 loss to the Chicago Bears. He added 23 rushing yards on 3 carries.

Huddle Up: Stafford's fantasy numbers weren't horrible -- especially considering he was up against the rugged Bears defense -- but the QB appeared to be impatient at times and a number of his throws were thrown off-balance and off-target. Stafford had 41 TD tosses and 5,038 passing yards a year ago in a magical 2011, but he's on pace for only 13 TDs and 4,696 yards this season.

Posted: 10/11/2012 1:19pm et

Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford said he wants to get WR Titus Young more involved in the passing game as he receives plenty of single-coverage. 'He's a guy that we understand is getting a lot of the singles and we have to start making teams pay for that,' Stafford said.

Huddle Up: Young was a popular preseason sleeper pick, but other than his 6 catches, 75 yards and a Hail Mary TD catch in Week 3, he's only had 3 receptions for 42 yards.

Posted: 10/2/2012 6:57pm et

Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand pointed to QB Matthew Stafford and TE Brandon Pettigrew when speaking about the team's slow start, and he said both must play better. 'I would say that Matthew, in particular, is capable of playing better,' Lewand said. 'I think he'll be the first to tell you that. We've got a guy like a Brandon Pettigrew, our young tight end, who is capable of playing at a higher level than he's played. He's dropped some passes, including one on Sunday that cost us a touchdown. Those are the kinds of things we have to look at.'

Huddle Up: A number of fantasy owners, particularly Stafford's, already have beaten Lewand to the punch. Stafford, a near-consensus top-five drafted QB, only has thrown for 3 TDs so far as has been outscored by the likes of Matt Cassel, Andy Dalton and Ryan Fitzpatrick. The yards have been there (1,182), but the inability to hook up with Calvin Johnson in the end zone (Megatron's lone scoring pass came from backup Shaun Hill) has been one of the more inexplicable occurrences so far this season.

Posted: 9/28/2012 3:24pm et

Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford (hip) practiced again Friday, Sept. 28, and he's on track to start against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4.

Huddle Up: Put your Shaun Hill's down! This was not unexpected after the news coming from Lions camp all week, but this is nice confirmation for Stafford owners heading into the weekend. Start with confidence.

Posted: 9/27/2012 11:49am et

Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford returned to practice Thrusday, Sept. 27.

Huddle Up: After leaving the Lions' Week 3 loss with a hamstring injury, there was some concern Stafford might not be available this week. However, practicing on Thursday is a good sign Stafford will be in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Vikings.

Posted: 9/26/2012 1:40pm et

Updating a previous item, Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford (leg) will likely play in Week 4 despite not practicing Wednesday, Sept. 26. Stafford showed no obvious signs of injury as he walked out for the session.

Huddle Up: Despite missing practice, this is great news for Stafford owners and the Lions offense, though Shaun Hill stepped in and performed admirably when Stafford went down. He should be back on the practice field soon enough, hopefully having shaken off the funk he was in to start the season.

Posted: 9/26/2012 12:28pm et

Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford did not practice Wednesday, Sept. 26.

Huddle Up: Stafford left the Lions' Week 3 loss with a hamstring injury. Shaun Hill will take the first-team reps and be in line to start Sunday against the Vikings if Stafford isn't able to go this weekend.

Posted: 9/23/2012 6:38pm et

Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford (leg) suffered a strained leg muscle in Week 3 and left Sunday's game in the fourth quarter.

Huddle Up: Stafford was replaced by super sub Shaun Hill, who stunned the Titans with 2 TD passes in the final 18 seconds of regulation to send the game into OT. Stafford had only thrown one earlier TD, but was having a strong outing, completing 33-of- 42 passes for 278 yards. Hill was unable to get the job done in OT but finished 10- of-13 for 172 yards and the 2 TDs. Stafford will undergo an MRI Monday.

Posted: 9/19/2012 12:40pm et

Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford has won his last four games against AFC opponents, and he has completed 65 percent of his passes for 1,325 yards with 14 touchdowns and only one interception in those games. Stafford plays the Tennessee Titans in Week 3.

Huddle Up: Stafford has had a rough go the first two weeks, but the Titans should be good medicine for the fourth-year quarterback. The Rams showcased an improved secondary against him, and he had to travel to San Francisco to face that fearsome defense on the road. Tennessee provides some lighter fare on defense.

Posted: 9/13/2012 11:38am et

Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford can become the first quarterback in league history to record five straight 350-yard passing games in Week 2. Stafford tied New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees' record with his fourth consecutive 350-yard passing game in a Week 1 victory.

Huddle Up: Standing between Stafford and the record is a road date with a pretty good San Francisco defense. Maybe the two coaches will place a bet on whether or not Stafford can hit 350 and shake on it prior to kickoff.

Posted: 8/27/2012 11:52am et

Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford broke a blood vessel in his left hand; however, he still expects to be ready for Week 1.

Huddle Up: The injury is to Stafford's non-throwing hand, and there's actually a term for his condition: it's called a bruise. Other than serving as a reminder of Stafford's injury-riddled past, the hubbub over the injury was much ado about nothing.

Posted: 8/27/2012 12:08am et

Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford (hand) underwent X-rays on the left hand injury he suffered during the preseason game Saturday, Aug. 25, but they were negative. He said he would have able to return if the injury happened in a regular season game.

Huddle Up: It sounds like no worries here. Go ahead and count on Stafford as one of the top QB options in fantasy.

Posted: 8/25/2012 11:27pm et

Updating a previous report, Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said he thinks QB Matthew Stafford (hand) will be fine after suffering a left hand injury in the third preseason game Saturday, Aug. 25.

Huddle Up: Schwartz and Lions fans are crossing their fingers, hoping that this is the case with Detroit's franchise QB. Stafford finally played a full season a year ago after missing a combined 19 games his first two NFL seasons, and the Lions reaped the benefits returning to the playoffs for the first time since the turn of the century.