Matthew Stafford was known as someone who can put up touchdowns with the best of them but can’t win when it counts. Stafford finally has a Super Bowl to his name, so where is that argument now?
Stafford, once known as “stat padford”, is projected to be among the league leaders in touchdown tosses again. According to Pro Football Focus Fantasy, predicted he has 36 of them.
If the projection comes true, Stafford would have the second-most in the NFL. He would be behind only Tom Brady, projected to have 38 touchdown passes.
Projected leaders in passing TDs 🚀 pic.twitter.com/fyrd0h3DVD
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) June 26, 2022
Stafford will throw fewer touchdowns than he did last season if the projection is correct. It makes sense, however. He has a brand new wide receiver two and Cam Akers is expected to be healthy.
The Touchdown Vulture
Akers would likely be the main source of vulturing, to steal a fantasy term, touchdowns from Stafford. The Rams had just 10 rushing touchdowns on the season in 2021. A vulture is someone who takes away touchdowns from someone else.
Darrell Henderson was the leader in that category with five. Five touchdown carries have vacated this offseason since Sony Michel and Robert Woods departed.
The Top Targets
While Akers is likely to be the vulture for Stafford, Cooper Kupp will likely be the top recipient. Kupp had a historic triple crown campaign in 2021, finishing with a league-high 16 touchdown receptions.
Maybe he won’t have as many scores if Stafford throws fewer touchdowns, but Kupp will look to stay hot this season.
Elsewhere, Allen Robinson looks to fill the void of Odell Beckham and Robert Woods. In fairness, no one knows whether or not Beckham will be back on the Rams this year. As things stand, there are 11 touchdown grabs vacated from last year. Robinson figures to get a bulk of these, but Van Jefferson, Tyler Higbee and Tutu Atwell are additional names to pay attention to.