It's not just another day, it's TODAY…
In today’s Fantasy Life Newsletter presented by BetMGM:
The Lions just made Jared Goff a whole lot richer
Watercooler: Tell us how you REALLY feel, Sean Payton
What now? New Team Who Dis?
It’s 5/14. Take it away, Ian Hartitz…
Babe, wake up: Only Joe Burrow ($55M) now makes more money on an annual basis than Mr. Jared Goff ($53M). The done deal for the Lions’ franchise QB totals $212 million across the next four years — including a whopping $170 million guaranteed.
Of course, it’s been quite a ride for Goff over the years. On March 18, 2021, he was traded to the Lions alongside a 2022 first-round pick, a 2023 first-round pick, and a 2021 third-round pick in return for Matthew Stafford. Originally viewed as a bonafide thrown-in or salary dump, even truthers couldn’t be blamed for assuming Goff was set to be little more than a bridge QB in Detroit.
And then after a shaky first season something funny happened: Goff started playing like a legit top-10 QB (again):
Goff among 36 QBs with 500-plus dropbacks over the last two seasons
EPA per dropback: +0.173 (No. 8)
PFF pass grade: 81.2 (No. 13)
Passer rating: 98.5 (No. 6)
Adjusted completion rate: 78% (No. 5)
Yards per attempt: 7.5 (No. 8)
Now, Goff hasn’t been perfect. His home/away splits are pretty alarming, and things have also gone south pretty quickly when opposing defenses have been able to pressure him.
But lucky for him: Detroit has managed to put together one of the best offensive environments in the entire NFL.
We can get an idea of how good a QB's supporting cast is by averaging a team's PFF rushing, receiving, pass blocking and run blocking grades (everything except passing). It's not a picture-perfect formula (what is?), but the results demonstrate just how cozy this Lions offense has become in fantasy land in recent years.
Lions rank in Supporting Cast Rating:
2019: No. 18
2020: No. 18
2021: No. 22
2022: No. 9
2023: No. 2
Looking ahead to next season: The Lions return four of five starters from PFF’s reigning second-ranked offensive line and also boast a dynamic crop of skill-position playmakers headlined by our one true Sun God Amon-Ra St. Brown, current ADP TE1 Sam LaPorta and one of the league’s single-best backfield duos in rising second-year stud Jahmyr Gibbs and ESPN create-a-player David Montgomery. Hell, former No. 12 overall pick Jameson Williams flashed last season and is someone who could take a big step forward in 2024 with Josh Reynolds out of town.
Throw in one of the league’s best play-callers Ben Johnson and ever-aggressive head coach Dan Campbell, and this sure looks like a group once again poised to score PLENTY of real-life and (more importantly) fantasy points again in 2024.
Just imagine if Goff can do the unthinkable and lead the franchise to their first NFL championship since 1957. Detroit might never stop chanting his name again.
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🤝 Joining a dynasty startup league? The best values to target from the AFC.
🍿 The 2024 NFL season opener has been revealed. REMATCH.
🃏 Sean Payton has some thoughts on his RB room. “Joker” role discussion and a tough look for Javonte Williams.
🤠 The Cowboys and Browns will meet in Week 1. And you’ll never guess who is announcing.
🤑 The NFL’s first highest-paid DB who plays safety. Plus no income tax in Florida.
🏈 Falcons QB1 to Falcons WR1. You love to see it.
👀 The Fantasy Footballers had a cool convo with Kurt Warner. Great thoughts on Bo Nix.
✍️ New Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is a pretty sharp dude. Great article on his defensive system.
🏃♂️ Underdog Cardio Club is BACK. How to enter.
It may still be the offseason, but we're always plugged in. Cooterdoodle is here to keep our minds in check by asking the age-old, evergreen question: “What Now?”
😥 What Now? New Team Who Dis?
In the NFL offseason, change is the name of the game.
If you've been dialed in, you've likely grown accustomed to seeing old players in new jerseys. But if you're just starting to pick up where 2023 left off, you're in for a doozy. Change creeps in slowly and before you know it, everything's different…
Or is it? Some narratives live on.
✈️ Jameis Winston - NO to CLE
Winston has officially wrapped up his time with the Saints, but not without leaving behind his loyal legacy.
If you've somehow forgotten, Winston "disobeyed" HC Dennis Allen when he put the final nail in the Falcons’ coffin with a little one-yard TD to Jamaal Williams on literally his final snap with the team. The city loved him for it, but the feeling wasn't unanimous. ATL's HC at the time, Arthur Smith, was very vocal about his disgust with the team's decision to go for it when the W was already decided.
But now, Smith has moved on to the AFC North with the Steelers. And Winston is… oh, wait… in the AFC North with the Browns.
Jameis really has an opportunity to do the funniest thing ever if the Browns run up the scoreboard against PIT in 2024. #GoForIt.
✈️ Russell Wilson - DEN to PIT
All memes aside, Wilson's bank account is getting the last laugh. Sure, the Steelers are only paying $1.21 million for whatever role they assign to Russell alongside Justin Fields this year…
… But with DEN coughing up his remaining $39 milly in 2024: Wilson will have a real shot at breaking a personal record this season in Pittsburgh!! (I'm talking about the bathrooms. He can buy more bathrooms.)
✈️ Stefon Diggs - BUF to HOU
It finally happened. The cryptic tweets and unease that the BUF WR has hinted at over the last few offseasons have finally come to a head. Diggs is now stationed in Texas, where everything is bigger - especially the competition for targets.
Instead of his 2023 WR corp of Gabe Davis (746 yds, 7 TDs) and Khalil Shakir (611 yds, 2 TDs), Diggs now gets to play alongside CJ Stroud's duo of Tank Dell (709 yds, 7 TDs) and Nico Collins (1,297 yds, 8 TDs).
But hey, football is a team sport after all. A win is a win, regardless of who's seeing the most targets. I'm sure Diggs knows that.
"I wish guys like Rashee Rice and Tank Dell would just stay home and play video games or something instead of going out to these nightclubs"
Kyler Murray:
