Week 5 vs. Seattle Seahawks
Jared Goff completed 21-of-36 passes for 255 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Rams' Week 4 win over the Cowboys. Sean McVay hasn't asked Goff to make many throws into tight windows, which has built the second-year quarterback's confidence. He took what Dallas' defense gave him, routinely finding Cooper Kupp and Todd Gurley on short throws. After he was lost as a rookie, Goff looks component this season under McVay.
At some point this season, Goff will make for a solid streaming option for fantasy owners dealing with bye-week situations. But this is not that week. The Rams will host the Seahawks on Sunday and Seattle owns the No. 10 defense versus fantasy quarterbacks. Ranked as our QB19 for Week 5, avoid Goff this weekend.
Week 4 at Dallas Cowboys
Jared Goff had a career game last week, completing 22-of-28 passes for 292 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Rams’ win over the 49ers. The second-year QB has thrived in new coach Sean McVay’s system, posting a QB rating of 118.2 through three weeks. For comparison, Goff’s QB rating as a rookie was 63.6. He shredded a San Francisco defense last week that didn’t drum up any sort of pressure.
That said, Goff still isn’t a reliable fantasy option. Ranked as our QB26, avoid Goff against the Cowboys, who harassed Carson Palmer in Arizona on Monday night.
Week 3 at San Francisco
After an excellent season debut, Jared Goff took a step backward last Sunday versus Washington. Goff completed 15-of-25 passes for 224 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the Rams' Week 2 loss to Washington. His lone interception ended the Rams' comeback attempts with under two minutes remaining in the game.
There's no question Goff looks more competent under new coach Sean McVay, but he has ways to go before he's fantasy relevant. Goff is a streaming option depending on the matchup, but this week the Rams will play the 49ers on Thursday night. San Francisco ranks as fantasy's No. 13 defense against quarterbacks, so avoid Goff this week. He ranks as our QB25 for Week 3.
Week 2 vs. Washington
Jared Goff completed 21-of-29 passes for 306 yards and a touchdown while also adding 1 carry for 2 yards in the Rams' Week 1 blowout win over the Colts. Goff looked like a different quarterback, standing tall in the pocket and throwing with confidence in Sean McVay's system. Goff immediately showed a connection with former Bills receiver Sammy Watkins, who caught all 5 passes Goff threw his way. Now that he's playing for a head coach who isn't stuck in the 50s offensively, perhaps Goff will start living up to the billing of a No. 1 overall pick.
Then again, the Rams did play a Colts team that will be fighting for next year's No. 1 overall pick, so let's not hyperventilate here. Goff could become a streaming option this season, but, for now, leave him on your waiver wire until he proves he can post those kind of numbers consistently. He ranks as our QB23 for Week 2 and will face a Washington defense that is No. 24 against fantasy quarterbacks.
Week 1 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Jared Goff struggled mightily as a rookie in 2016, throwing for just 1,089 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions in seven starts. The good news is he'll have a new left tackle protecting his blindside in free agent addition Andrew Whitworth, a competent playcaller in new head coach Sean McVay, as well as a new No. 1 receiver in trade acquisition Sammy Watkins.
Despite a better surrounding cast, Goff is not fantasy relevant. Some believe he's a sleeper in deeper leagues and he'll be a cheap option in DFS all season, but he needs to prove he can run an NFL offense. For now, he ranks as our No. 23 QB for the Rams' Week 1 matchup versus the Colts. Even though Indianapolis ranks as fantasy's No. 29 defense against quarterbacks, avoid Goff.
Fantasy Upside
Jared Goff struggled mightily as a rookie in 2016, completing just 54.6 percent of his passes for 1,089 yards. That said, no Rams player will benefit more than Goff from the hiring of new head coach Sean McVay. Goff said multiple times this offseason he was able to pick up the new offense much quicker than he did a year ago under Jeff Fisher and company. Given the offensive ineptitude the Rams showed under Fisher, Goff stands to make real strides under McVay. The team also traded for receiver Sammy Watkins, added veteran Andrew Whitworth to replace former first-round bust Greg Robinson at left tackle, plus signed John Sullivan to play center. At least on paper, the revamped Rams offensive line looks better than a year ago.
Fantasy Downside
Goff struggled in every imaginable way as a rookie in 2016. Even though McVay's presence will help, the second-year quarterback has a long way to go to be fantasy relevant. Goff struggled with pressure, struggled when he wasn't pressured, struggled to read defenses, struggled with his accuracy, and had zero command of the offense after taking over as the starter in November. Despite the additions of Whitworth and Sullivan, the offensive line remains a work in progress. Jamon Brown is shifting to right tackle after starting his career at guard, while Rob Havenstein has kicked inside after spending the last two years as the team's starting right tackle. Rodger Saffold is solid when healthy, but has struggled with injuries his entire career. The Rams signed Robert Woods in free agency and added tight end Gerald Everett in the second round, but Los Angeles remains devoid of talent at the skill positions.
2017 Bottom Line
Goff will show improvement under McVay but not enough to merit sleeper status in fantasy. He ranks as our No. 28 overall QB and is going undrafted in most 10- and 12-team leagues. Until the Rams are serious about upgrading their skill positions, Goff will struggle to post respectable numbers. It figures to be another long season in Los Angeles.
Week 17 vs. Arizona
Jared Goff was abysmal last Sunday in the Rams' Week 16 loss to the 49ers, completing 11-of-24 passes for 90 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. It's far too early to declare Goff as a bust, but it's also clear that the No. 1 overall pick is a massive project. Protected by a horrible offensive line and with no running game to help take pressure off him and the passing game, Goff hasn't been set up for success either. Ranked as our QB31 for Week 17, Goff isn't worth a DFS play this week.
Week 16 vs. San Francisco
Jared Goff was predictably horrible in the Rams' Week 15 loss to the Seahawks, completing just 13-of-25 passes for 135 yards, with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also suffered a concussion in the loss, but he was fully cleared this week and will start on Saturday when the Rams host the 49ers. Even against San Francisco's sieve-like defense, Goff isn't a fantasy option. He ranks as our QB27 and should be avoided in Week 16.
Week 15 at Seattle
Jared Goff was a disaster in Week 14, completing 24-of-41 passes for 235 yards with two interceptions and one lost fumble in the Rams' 42-14 loss to the Falcons. One of Goff's interceptions halted a drive deep in Atlanta territory, and the Falcons turned his other two turnovers into defensive scores. Outside of one good half in New Orleans, Goff hasn't proven that he has the capability of being an NFL backup, nevertheless a franchise quarterback. He ranks as our QB32 for Week 15 and should be avoided in all formats.
Week 14 vs. Atlanta
Jared Goff completed 14-of-32 passes for 161 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in the Rams' Week 13 loss to the Patriots. He also took four sacks and the touchdown pass was pretty much a gift from a New England defense that had checked out by that point in the game. The Rams will host the Falcons on Sunday and despite Atlanta ranking as the No. 26 defense versus fantasy quarterbacks this season, Goff is our QB31 for Week 14. Avoid him.
