Anyone who took Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff in a fantasy football draft this year knew what they were getting into. His home-road splits are drastic, even if he has since defied them at times this season.
Let's look at his weekly fantasy finishes (Week 1-8, since the Lions had a bye in Week 9; Yahoo! scoring). By total points, Goff is QB12 entering Week 10.
Week 1: QB18
Week 2: QB6
Week 3: QB14
Week 4: QB21
Week 5: QB4
Week 6: QB4
Week 7: QB24
Week 8: QB20
We took a look at Goff's post-bye fantasy outlook, albeit before Week 9 was complete. Adjusting after Week 9, here's how his remaining opponents rank in fantasy points per game allowed to quarterbacks (Yahoo! scoring; 1st being the easiest matchup, 32nd being the toughest).
Week 10, at Los Angeles Chargers: 3rd
Week 11, vs. Chicago Bears: 1st
Week 12, vs. Green Bay Packers: 29th
Week 13, at New Orleans Saints, 22nd
Week 14, at Chicago Bears: 1st
Week 15, vs. Denver Broncos: 7th
Week 16, at Minnesota Vikings: 15th
Week 17, at Dallas Cowboys: 19th
Fantasy Football: Jared Goff named a buy-low candidate before trade deadline
Heading into Week 10, Charles Curtis of USA TODAY's "For The Win" named seven buy-low candidates as the trade deadline approaches in fantasy leagues. He had Goff third on the list.
"He’s coming off a bye with a Swiss cheesy schedule: the Chargers, Bears twice, Packers, Broncos and Vikings are ahead. Take advantage if someone wants to unload him."
Jason Katz of Pro Football Network also had Goff on his list of buy-low trade targets going into Week 10.
"Jared Goff is coming off two dismal fantasy outings, with just 10.36 and 13.68 fantasy points. He’s thrown a single touchdown in his last two games. This week, he was on his bye. That means it’s been a month since Goff was a startable fantasy QB."
"Goff’s fantasy managers may be growing a bit frustrated. Perhaps they’ve searched for — and found — an alternative. Either way, now is not the time to give up on Goff. Instead, you should be buying him."
The trade deadline can vary depending on your league. But it is coming this month, one way or the other.
If Goff's fantasy owners expected different than what he has done thus far, that's on them. It's hard to see how anyone would be clamoring to trade him, and they'd be selling low right now.
What could be acquired in a trade for Goff anyway? A quarterback with a worse upcoming schedule? A running back or wide receiver that might be a flex option? The return would not be notable, that's for sure.
Fantasy owners with issues at quarterback could, and should, look to engage the Goff owner in their league and try to buy low in a trade. It's just hard to see how said Goff owner wouldn't just shrug off that kind of offer, keep him and ride it out over the rest of the season.