The Detroit Lions could potentially have the league’s most explosive offense in 2024. They appear loaded at all the skill positions and figure to utilize the passing game as much as any team.
So where does that leave quarterback Jared Goff in terms of fantasy value? Should fantasy football managers view the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback as a QB1 or a QB2 when it comes time to draft?
Here is the fantasy outlook for Goff for the 2024 season.
Jared Goff’s Fantasy Profile for the 2024 NFL Season
Last season, only the Commanders’ Sam Howell had more pass attempts (612) than Goff (605), and only Tua Tagovailoa (4,624) had more passing yards than Goff (4,575).
In addition, Goff’s 30 touchdown passes — fourth-most in the NFL — were his most in a season since 2018.
Goff may have a reputation for not being flashy, but he still produces. He had five 300-yard passing games last season and nine games with at least two touchdown passes.
In addition, nine of Goff’s 30 touchdown passes in 2023 were from 25 or more yards out. By comparison, only three of Patrick Mahomes’ 27 touchdown passes last season were from 25 or more yards.
Yes, the 12 interceptions in 2023 were his most in three seasons with the Lions. And they were costly for the Lions, who went 8-1 in games when Goff did not throw an interception, but only 4-4 in games where he did throw an INT.
However, in the Lions’ three biggest games — the playoffs — Goff did not throw a single interception in a combined 111 pass attempts.
Is Jared Goff a Good Fantasy Pick?
Goff enters this season as the No. 16 quarterback in Pro Football Network’s Fantasy Quarterback Rankings.
There does continue to be a home-road split issue when it comes to Goff’s numbers. Last season, 19 of his 30 touchdown passes came at home, and in his three seasons with the Lions, over 70% of his touchdown passes (55 of 78) have come at home.
The good news for Goff fans is that the Lions will play one more home game that road game this season.
Goff’s lack of running ability — 21 total rushing yards last season — will always be an area that keeps fantasy managers from considering him as one of the elite quarterbacks in fantasy. It will force Goff to really pile up the passing yards and scores to offset the lack of production from running the ball.
But the Lions’ offense appears loaded. They return two 900-yard running backs (David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs), a 1,500-yard receiver (Amon-Ra St. Brown), and the No. 1-ranked tight end in fantasy football in Sam LaPorta. As a rookie last season, LaPorta caught 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns.
But with an array of talent on the offensive end that the Lions possess, Goff could be ready to post the best season of his career.
This would be an impressive feat for a player who already has four seasons of 4,000 or more passing yards on his resume.