Lions quarterback Jared Goff is a rock-solid fantasy start in Week 5 vs. Patriots

Jared Goff has been one of the biggest surprises of the fantasy football season thus far, and he’s hard to keep out of lineups in Week 5.

Back in August, if someone told you Jared Goff would be a top-end fantasy quarterback at any point this season you would’ve called them crazy. But here is, at QB5 in fantasy through four weeks coming off a week as the QB1 for the week in Week 4. He is tied for the league lead with 11 passing touchdowns, and he’s third in passing yards (1,126).

Goff performed the way he did in Week 4 against the Seahawks (378 yards, four touchdowns) despite being without Amon-Ra St. Brown, D’Andre Swift and DJ Chark. An offensive line that has hit a bit by injuries again has protected him nicely no matter who is available, and he has thrived.

Goff probably won’t finish the year as a top-five fantasy signal caller. But he’s becoming impossible to ignore as a viable fantasy option.

Jared Goff is a rock-solid fantasy starter in Week 5 vs. the Patriots

Goff’s Week 5 matchup against the New England Patriots is naturally tougher than last week. A look at the Patriots standing against quarterbacks, as they’ve allowed the ninth most fantasy points to the position (21.2 per game; Yahoo! scoring), is deceiving with Lamar Jackson’s boom game in Week 3 (40.42 points).

The detractors for Goff in this week’s matchup against the Patriots will lean into what Bill Belichick did to him and the Rams’ offense back in Super Bowl LIII. But that was a long time ago, and nothing much should be taken from it now.

In three of their four games this season, the Patriots have allowed more than 250 passing yards or multiple passing touchdowns to a quarterback. Both have happened only once (Aaron Rodgers in Week 4, however narrowly with 251 yards and two touchdowns), but New England has allowed multiple passing touchdowns in back-to-back games (six total).

The Lions’ bad defense should have an easier time with the Patriots’ offense  on Sunday, as they may have rookie Bailey Zappe making his first start under center. But they could still allow 20-30 points, thus pushing Goff to have to throw the ball plenty again. If St. Brown and Chark are back, particularly St. Brown, that’s obviously to Goff’s benefit.

Goff is going to be on the “start” side of these fantasy “start/sit” questions until he proves otherwise. He won’t be the QB1 again in Week 5, but anything less than a top-12 (QB1) finish would be disappointing.