Entering this season, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff was one of three signal callers to finish as a top-10 fantasy quarterback in each of the previous four seasons (through Week 18). It's often a meandering route to get there, but he gets there despite offering nothing as a runner.
Of course the negative narrative about Goff makes him a value pick in fantasy drafts every year, and the condition of the Lions' defense plus an easy schedule fortified the upside for this year.
Through Week 7, Goff was tied for second in fantasy points per game among quarterbacks (22.2). Still, he was potential bench material in Week 8 against the Minnesota Vikings and he delivered his lowest fantasy point total of the season.
Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins, who entered the week allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks (Yahoo! scoring), looked like a nice rebound opportunity for Goff. There could've been some concern about the Lions nursing a big lead late, but that didn't stop Mike Wright of the "Fantasy Footballers" from making Goff his start of the week at quarterback. He was not alone in that optimism.
Jared Goff delivers an unexpected (?) fantasy dud vs. Dolphins
A, let's call it interesting, decision to bench left guard Christian Mahogany for the clearly inferior Miles Frazier almost really cost the Lions against the Dolphins. Goff was under siege on a regular basis by an underrated Miami defensive front, and we know how dramatically he is rendered ineffective by pressure.
Per Lindsay Rhodes of Sumer Sports, Goff didn't even complete pass when under pressure against the Dolphins until the third quarter. When you're pressured on nearly 38 percent of your drop backs in a game, according to NFL Pro, that's not good enough.
Goff finished 17-for-25 for 170 yards with no touchdowns and an interception against the Dolphins, while adding five rushing yards on four credited attempts (including two kneel-downs). Depending on how interceptions are demerited in the scoring system of most leagues, he had either 6.3 or 5.3 fantasy points for the day. If interceptions aren't demerited at all, he had 7.3 fantasy points.
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Week 10 against the New England Patriots, who have allowed multiple passing touchdowns in three straight games and over 300 yards through the air in two of them, looks very favorable for Goff. Week 12-14, against the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans, also looks good. Week 16 (New York Giants at home) and Week 17 (Bears again, assuming the weather in Chicago is fine) look to be favorable matchups too.
Week 9 was a continued par for the course for Jared Goff as a fantasy QB
Fantasy managers who draft Goff know, or should know, exactly what they're getting at this point. He doesn't offer the safety net of rushing production, and if there are any kinks in the passing game (or his pass protection) in any given week, the ceiling gets practically eliminated. The Lions' offense hasn't been as productive overall over three games since the bye, and Miami's defense has shown itself as being plenty tough lately.
Just when you think you can confidently start Goff in fantasy no matter what, at least this side of games against the Vikings, he delivered a rug pull. Adjusted fantasy points has been far kinder to the Dolphins' defense than raw fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks, so maybe it was possibly to be weary of a looming dud from Goff.
The best way to avoid the Goff headache in fantasy, obviously, is to not draft him in the first place. Failing to deliver in what looked like an ideal situation in Week 9 is just the latest proof of that concept, even if a decision to bench an offensive line starter did him zero favors.
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