Lions quarterback Jared Goff getting some traction as a fantasy sleeper for 2022

Jared Goff is lined up to be better this year, and he’s gaining a little bit of traction as a fantasy sleeper.

Jared Goff needed a strong finish last year (11 touchdowns and two interceptions over his last five starts) to get to the numbers he did (3,245 yards, 19 touchdowns, eight interceptions). So that the Lions signal caller finished as QB24 overall in fantasy, and only a little better per game (QB22) among quarterbacks who made more than seven starts, is not surprising.

Goff is not a highly-ranked fantasy quarterback this year, even if some early rankings have been a little too pessimistic about him. But he does appear to be getting some positive traction recently.

Conor McQuiston of Pro Football Focus simulated which NFL quarterbacks are most likely to improve this year based on EPA (Expected Points Added)/Pure Dropback. “Pure dropback” is defined just as might be expected, removing play action, run-pass options and screens. Goff landed seventh on the list.

Jared Goff seems to be getting a bit of traction as a fantasy football sleeper for 2022

Justin Boone of The Score recently named some 2022 fantasy sleepers at each position. Goff was the fourth of four quarterbacks, but he was there.

"It’s been a while since Goff posted back-to-back seasons as a QB1 in fantasy points per game, but it did happen in 2017 and 2018 when he was a member of the Rams. Entering his second year in Detroit, the 27-year-old will have his best supporting cast since those days and could provide a significant return on value in two-QB and superflex leagues."

More surprisingly, Goff also landed on a list of dynasty trade targets from Andrew Hall of Fantasy Pros.

"Goff is not even close to a flashy name in fantasy right now. Most dynasty managers hear the name and immediately throw up in their mouths. But hear me out. Goff is the QB for the Lions for at least 2022 and potentially for 2023. He finished 2021 as QB24 overall and QB23 in points per game. That’s at least starter worthy in Superflex leagues, as bad as it might be to watch him play. The Lions added Jameson Williams and should see improvement from D’Andre Swiftand TJ Hockenson among others. Goff is slightly cheaper than (Davis) Mills, but he’s potentially a throw-in to a larger trade in some leagues. Some managers are just done with him, but I’ll gladly take the risk on him this year if I’m in a position to win a title."

The important context attached to Goff in both cases is that he’s not anywhere near a fantasy QB1, and as a dynasty trade target he may just be a throw-in with a coin-flip chance to pay off much value.

But Goff has fantasy upside this year he hasn’t had in a few years. Add the three games he missed last season at his per-game average, and he would have finished as QB17 for the season. That was with a miserable stretch in the first half of the season, where he threw one touchdown pass over five games.

It would be a mistake to completely discount Goff in two-quarterback/super flex leagues, and in one-quarterback leagues he’s lined up to be on the streamer radar in good matchups.