Fantasy Football Mock Draft, 12-team 2-QB: Still taking McCaffrey at No. 1

Round 4

• Team 12 (4.01): Le’Veon Bell, RB, NYJ
• Team 11 (4.02): Cooper Kupp, WR, LAR
• Team 10 (4.03): Matt Ryan, QB, ATL
• Team 9 (4.04): Calvin Ridley, WR, ATL
• Team 8 (4.05): Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB
• Team 7 (4.06): Odell Beckham Jr., WR, CLE
• Team 6 (4.07): Melvin Gordon, RB, DEN
• Team 5 (4.08): Allen Robinson, WR, CHI
• Team 4 (4.09): D.J. Moore, WR, CAR
• Team 3 (4.10): Tom Brady, QB, TB
• Team 2 (4.11): Carson Wentz, QB, PHI
• Team 1* (4.12): Matthew Stafford, QB, DET

Make no mistake about it, the Detroit Lions were bad last season. The team finished with the third-worst record in the NFL and looked downright abysmal over the end of the year. But what’s important to remember is that they didn’t have Matthew Stafford for the final eight games. And in the first eight games of the year, they were 3-4-1 before finishing 0-8.

Stafford was the primary reason for the Lions’ early-season success as he was playing like an MVP-caliber player. On a per-game basis last year, he was the QB4 in fantasy football as he threw for 2,499 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions in only eight games. Now back on the field, why wouldn’t we expect something similar?

Right now, whether in 2-QB or standard fantasy leagues, Stafford is one of the best values you can get. The fact that 12 quarterbacks went before him in this fantasy football mock draft is just absurd by my estimation. Darrell Bevell has created an offense that plays to his strengths, namely tossing the ball downfield to big receivers like Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones.

Say what you will about the Lions’ overall roster but Stafford remains immensely talented and might be in one of the best overall positions in Detroit that he’s been in for quite some time. Barring another injury — and it should be noted that he’s been an iron-man for much of his career otherwise — this is an absolute steal for my team.