Jared Goff finished his first season as a Lion well, but how useful was he as a fantasy signal caller all season?
As as whole, Jared Goff’s first season as Detroit Lions quarterback wasn’t great. He was unable to overcome the struggles of the entire offense early in the season. But head coach Dan Campbell took over play calling coming out of the bye week, and that made a big difference. The emergence of Amon-Ra St. Brown and the arrival of a familar target in Josh Reynolds was also helpful.
From Week 12-15, Goff was among the five highest-rated passers in the NFL. Then he missed Week 16 on the COVID-19 list, and a lingering knee injury cost him Week 17. He returned in Week 18, and played well to end the season on a high note.
Starting with his return from an oblique injury in Week 12, Goff’s splits were striking.
First nine starts: 66.1 percent completion rate, 6.3 yards per attempt, 8 TD, 6 INT, 84.0 passer rating
Final five starts: 69.6 percent completion rate, 7.1 yards per attempt, 11 TD, 2 INT, 107.1 passer rating
Jared Goff 2021 Fantasy Football Season Review
As we’ve done with D’Andre Swift and T.J. Hockenson, let’s take a look at Goff’s 2021 season week-by-week from a fantasy perspective (via Fantasy Pros). He did not play Week 11, Week 16 and Week 17.
Week 1: QB3
Week 2: QB15
Week 3: QB30
Week 4: QB22
Week 5: QB33
Week 6: QB26
Week 7: QB18
Week 8: QB30
Week 10: QB30
Week 12: QB19
Week 13: QB7
Week 14: QB22
Week 15: QB8
Week 18: QB14
From Week 12-15, with that dud in Week 14, Goff was QB8 in fantasy by total points. Per game from Week 12-18, he was QB16 among signal callers who played more than two games.
Goff actually finished as at least a QB2 in 12-team leagues in nine of his 14 starts in 2021. His per game average from Week 12-18 (16.9 fantasy points per game) would have given him 287.3 fantasy points over 17 games. That would have put him at QB12 on the season, ahead of Ryan Tannehill and Derek Carr.
Goff’s outlook for 2022, in real and fantasy terms, is brighter than it may look. The prospect of a full season with a better play caller, and with better talent around him, may make him worth a look on draft day as a late-round sleeper.