Jared Goff rebounded solidly in Week 8, but is the Lions’ signal calle a fantasy starting option again in Week 9?
After a couple of rough games (to put it mildly), Lions quarterback Jared Goff had a solid rebound in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins with 321 passing yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions.
With six teams on a bye in Week 9, fantasy managers might be a little thin for lineup options in spots. The quarterbacks idle are Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson, Daniel Jones, Jimmy Garoppolo, Kenny Pickett and Jacoby Brissett.
So Goff may be on the radar for some, even just as an option for two-quarterback leagues. But could he deliver a solid outing again?
In Week 9 Goff faces the Green Bay Packers, who are allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season (12.9 per game; Yahoo! scoring). Green Bay is also allowing the fewest raw passing yards per game to opposing signal callers (187.5 per game).
Lions’ quarterback Jared Goff has the makings of a sneaky fantasy start in Week 9
In three games this season, the Packers have faced Justin Fields in a game he attempted 11 passes, Bailey Zappe (15 pass attempts) for most of a game in his first NFL action and Zach Wilson with 18 pass attempts in a game where the Jets handled the Packers. In Week 5, Daniel Jones had 27 pass attempts against the Packers.
So while Green Bay’s secondary is good, the numbers are skewed. Being easier to run against than throw on has helped too.
In each of their last two games, to Taylor Heinicke and Josh Allen, the Packers have allowed multiple touchdown passes. Four quarterbacks have either thrown multiple touchdown passes against them or topped 270 yards through the air, and Kirk Cousins did both in Week 1.
The over/under for Sunday’s game is 49.5 points at last check, tied for the highest on the Week 9 slate. The Lions’ defense is bad enough to drive volume for Goff, and if the game gets one-sided in favor of the Packers the passing ante will be upped even a bit more.
It may not always look pretty for Goff on Sunday, but numbers are what matters in fantasy. It’s easy to envision 35-40 pass attempts against the Packers, with 250-300 yards and a couple touchdowns as easy follows. He is a strong QB2 for two-quarterback league lineups in Week 9, and a sneaky streamer in one-quarterback leagues for those who may be so inclined.