By Sunday 
Can Goff Maintain His Fantasy Value Without His Trusted Playcaller?
Jared Goff has enjoyed a career resurgence with the Detroit Lions, delivering his best fantasy football performance in 2024. However, with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson departing for the Chicago Bears’ head coaching job, Goff’s ability to replicate his recent success is a pressing question.
A Career Revived in Detroit
After being cast aside by the Los Angeles Rams, Goff found new life in Detroit, particularly after Ben Johnson took over as passing game coordinator in 2021. Johnson’s promotion to offensive coordinator in 2022 only furthered Goff’s growth, as he tailored the offense to fit the quarterback’s strengths rather than forcing him into a rigid system.
The results spoke for themselves. Despite being a limited runner—his only ground contributions in 2023 being two rushing touchdowns—Goff became a consistent top-10 fantasy quarterback under Johnson. He finished as QB10 in 2022, climbed to QB7 in 2023, and peaked at QB6 in 2024.
Now, with Johnson moving on, Goff faces a major test.
New Playcaller, Same Success?
The Lions opted for continuity by hiring John Morton as their new offensive coordinator. Morton was on the Lions’ staff in 2022 before working under Sean Payton in Denver. Head coach Dan Campbell also ensured Goff had a say in the hire, signaling that Morton’s approach will still align with what the quarterback does well.
Still, concerns remain. While Morton brings experience, his last stint as an NFL offensive coordinator was in 2017 with the New York Jets—a season where the team finished 28th in total offense.
Fantasy Football Implications
Losing Johnson could lead to regression for Goff, and some analysts are already flagging him as a potential fantasy “loser” heading into 2025.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay named Goff as the biggest fantasy football loser from this year’s coaching cycle, stating:
“Goff [had] the best performances of his career under Johnson. The veteran signal-caller finished as fantasy’s QB10 or better in all three seasons the pair worked together, including in 2024 when Goff posted a career-best QB6 finish.”
Kay also noted that with Morton calling plays, Goff’s fantasy ceiling may be lower:
“With former Denver Broncos assistant John Morton taking over Johnson’s vacated role, Goff and his supporting cast have far less upside… The Lions are in line for an offensive regression without Johnson calling the shots.”
While it’s debatable how much Morton’s past struggles with the Jets should factor into this discussion—given the talent disparity—fantasy managers should approach Goff with caution.
Draft Strategy: Proceed with Caution
Until we see what the Lions’ offense looks like under Morton, Goff remains an uncertain fantasy commodity. He still has an elite offensive line and top-tier weapons, but the loss of Johnson could disrupt his efficiency and consistency.
Fantasy managers may want to draft a strong backup option or avoid Goff altogether unless his draft value presents undeniable upside. His performance in the early weeks of the 2025 season will be crucial in determining whether he remains a viable fantasy starter or falls into the ranks of unreliable streamers.