Jared Goff has more weapons around him now, but can he recapture past fantasy glory in his second year as the Lions’ signal caller?
Not that expectations were or should have been high, but Jared Goff was not very good in his first season as the Detroit Lions quarterback. And that’s counting a very good closing stretch, as he posted a 107.1 passer rating with 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions over his last five starts.
From a fantasy perspective, in comeback mode, Goff’s first game as a Lion last year was fine (338 yards, three touchdowns, one interception–QB3 for the week). But then he cratered, finishing no better than QB15 in any of his next nine starts.
During his nice final stretch, Goff was a top-10 fantasy quarterback twice in his final four games.
Heading into this year, with more talent around him and a better situation behind the scenes, there is the viable question surrounding Goff’s ability to sustain the fantasy value of the Lions’ skill position players.
But here, let’s focus on Goff’s own fantasy outlook for 2022.
Jared Goff 2022 fantasy outlook and projection
With little rushing production to offer (87 yards last year), Goff’s fantasy value takes an automatic hit. But he did have four touchdowns on the ground with the Rams in 2020, and two rushing scores in each of the two years before that. So a stray rushing touchdown or two isn’t out of the question this year.
Albeit it’s only training camp, but Goff has shown a quick rapport with DJ Chark and some willingness to chuck it downfield to the Lions’ free agent signing at wide receiver. Add in a full season with former Rams’ teammate Josh Reynolds, the connection he built with Amon-Ra St. Brown late last year and the possibility of full healthy seasons from T.J. Hockenson and D’Andre Swift, and there’s plenty to like about Goff’s fantasy prospects this year.
Goff is only going to be drafted in two-quarterback/superflex or very deep leagues (14 or more teams). Even then, he won’t be a preferred option as at best a QB3.
But there is a path to streamer viability in single-quarterback and 12-team leagues here. The Lions’ defense should be naturally better, but to expect consistency from that unit is a step too far.
So Goff will have to air it out plenty sometimes, and even in lower volume games a couple touchdowns wouldn’t be out of the question.
My projection for Goff may be a little low in passing yardage and touchdowns. But that will mean he was a pleasant surprise, and was a viable fantasy quarterback more of the time than anyone expected.
Jared Goff 2022 Projection: 3,825 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, 14 INT; 55 rushing yards, 1 TD