Week 6 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jared Goff threw three touchdown passes in Detroit’s big win the Panthers in Week 5. And that was without Amon-Ra St. Brown in the lineup. He gets the Buccaneers this week and gets St. Brown back. Goff is a worthy start. He’s steady and can always break out a big game in any given week.
Week 5 vs. Carolina Panthers
Another ok performance for Jared Goff in Week 4, but the Lions also ended up pounding the football with David Montgomery getting 32 carries. It was Goff's 4th straight game with a touchdown but his 3rd straight with an interception. The good news is Goff gets Jameson Williams back after the league ended his suspension two weeks early. Amon-Ra St. Brown is a bit banged up but hopes to play. Goff will start getting his full array of weapons again. He cracks our top 12 this week against the Panthers, but part of that is because guys like Justin Herbert and Geno Smith are off this week.
Week 4 at Green Bay Packers
Jared Goff was fine from a fantasy perspective in Week 3 with 243 yards and a touchdown. His day was boosted by his first rushing touchdown of the season. Through three weeks, Goff is doing enough to keep the Lions moving and help them win games on the field, but his fantasy numbers won't tip the scales. He gets the Packers on a short week, a team he was okay against last season. On the road and on a short week, Goff is a fine QB2 option but nothing fancy.
Week 3 vs. Atlanta Falcons
It was a shootout between the Seahawks and Lions in Week 2 which helped allow Jared Goff to throw for 323 yards and three touchdowns while completing 80% of his passes. Week 3 may not be as explosive. The Falcons have been playing good football and look better on defense thanks to having Jessie Bates in the backfield. They're allowing the third-fewest passing yards thus far. Goff is still a fine fantasy play as he always is, but he may not match his Week 2 numbers in Week 3.
Week 2 vs. Seattle Seahawks
How about them Lions? Jared Goff helped keep the offense afloat and lead Detroit to a huge Week 1 win in Kansas City with 253 yards and a touchdown. This week, he gets a Seattle defense that was rocked in Week 1 by a Rams team that did not have Cooper Kupp. Goff has worked his way into QB1 territory.
Week 1 at Kansas City Chiefs
The Lions have been the darlings of the offseason and now is finally the time to put up or shut up. Jared Goff and company visit the defending Super Bowl champions but they may be catching a big break Thursday. Goff may not have All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones breathing down his neck as he continues his contract holdout. So Goff has a chance to sling the football against a young but talented Chiefs defense. Still, Detroit has the arsenal to put up points and Goff under offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has turned his luck around. Goff is a sneaky streaming option this week as Detroit has had all summer to prepare for the Chiefs. They’ll have a plan.
Fantasy Upside
Jared Goff took a step forward in 2022 and seemed to give the Lions hope that he can still be the guy, posting a top-ten fantasy quarterback finish and was sixth in passing yards. There were thoughts Detroit would draft a quarterback early with one of their two first-round picks. Instead, they took a running back and an off-ball linebacker, pointing to the thought that Detroit believes they can contend this year. Another year with Amon-Ra St. Brown to throw the ball to and having offensive coordinator Ben Johnson calling the plays means Goff has a chance to post another strong season as Detroit looks for the first division crown in about 30 years.
Fantasy Downside
If you're in a league that values rushing, Goff won't offer much more for you as he had just 73 rushing yards in 2022, but that's a minor nitpick. Goff also won't have Jameson Williams for the first six games of the season after the wide receiver was busted for violating the league's gambling policy. Goff also hasn't thrown for 30 touchdown passes since 2018, though he did get to 29 in 2022.
2023 Bottom Line
Goff will never wow you as a quarterback. But if you're looking for a steady option, Goff is your man. He's currently going in the 10th round as a mid-tier QB2 but will offer QB1 upside each week.
Week 17 vs. Chicago Bears
The Lions were playing catch-up for quite a while against the Panthers, leading to Jared Goff throwing for 355 yards and three touchdowns, giving him multi-touchdown games for the fourth time in five games. He has a good chance to make it five out of six going against a bad Chicago defense that is ready for the season to end. Incredibly, Jared Goff is a QB1 for the fantasy finals.
Week 16 at Carolina Panthers
Jared Goff's streak of three straight multi-touchdown games was snapped last week, but the Jets are one of the top defenses in the league. Goff's one touchdown came on the 51-yard strike to Brock Wright in the fourth quarter. Detroit faces another solid defense this week in the Panthers, though certainly not as stingy as the Jets. Still, Goff has been up and down, though more on the up lately. Goff remains a solid QB2 for this stage of the fantasy playoffs.
Week 15 at New York Jets
Jared Goff has been picking up steam of late, including 330 yards and three touchdowns last week in a huge win over the Vikings. That's seven touchdown passes in his last three games. Of course, all of those games have been at home. Goff and the Lions go back on the road this week to take on one of the toughest defenses in the NFL in the New York Jets -- though one that may not have Quinnen Williams. It's a very tough matchup -- No. 1 on our matchup rankings -- and in the playoffs, it makes Goff a pretty risky play if you're in a 2-QB league,
