Supporting Cast
Goff’s weapons fit his game well, and he returns his main receiving options.
Amon-Ra St. Brown remains the centerpiece. He caught 117 passes for 1,401 yards and 11 TDs, giving Goff one of the league’s best short and intermediate targets. His 591 yards after catch also fit Detroit’s short-aDOT style.
Jameson Williams supplies the vertical element. He topped 1,100 receiving yards, scored 7 TDs, and averaged 17.2 yards per catch. Williams’ skills help keep opponents from sitting on the underneath work that defines the rest of the passing game.
Isaac TeSlaa, Greg Dortch, and rookie Kendrick Law round out the WRs.
Sam LaPorta gives Goff another efficient option over the middle. He caught 40 passes for 489 yards in nine games last year, with an 88.9% catch rate and 2.00 yards per route run.
Gibbs is also key to the passing game. Detroit ranked second in RB target share, and Gibbs caught 77 passes for 616 yards and 5 TDs. The team also added Isiah Pacheco after trading away David Montgomery.
Coaching & Offensive Scheme
Goff’s 2026 outlook depends heavily on how much of Petzing’s approach carries over. He is expected to call plays for the team. But the offense has already succeeded under multiple play callers.
The Lions ranked fifth in points in 2022, fifth in 2023, and first in 2024 under OC Ben Johnson. The team finished fifth last season, with OC John Morton and HC Dan Campbell calling plays. That consistency makes Goff easier to trust.
The pass-rate trend also moved in his favor last season. Detroit’s pass rate fell from 55.9% in 2022 to 52.2% in 2024 under Ben Johnson. It picked up to 58.7% in 2025 under Morton and Campbell. Neutral pass rate in 2025 was also the highest since 2021 at 57.8%
Now Petzing arrives after his most pass-heavy season. His pass rate over expected also climbed over his three years calling plays as the Cardinals OC:
| Points | Plays | Pace | Pass Rate | Neutral Pass Rate | PROE |
2023 | 24th | 62.8 | ninth | 55.9% | 52.6% | -4.4% |
2024 | 12th | 60.9 | 19th | 55.3% | 57.3% | +0.1% |
2025 | 23rd | 63.2 | second | 65.9% | 63.4% | +7.3% |
Petzing's recent scoring results were mixed, but the talent jump from Arizona to Detroit should help keep the scoring strong.
Paths To Ceiling
Goff continues to provide consistent production on the Lions. He now has four straight seasons with at least 4,400 yards and 29 TDs and hasn’t missed a game over that time.
He has finished as QB8, QB6, QB7, and QB10 in PPR points in each of those seasons. In fantasy points per game, he ranked QB13, QB8, QB16, and QB16. We should see more of that production in 2026.
The weapons support that outcome. St. Brown supplies volume, Williams adds explosive plays, LaPorta boosts efficiency, and Gibbs turns short throws into meaningful production.
Goff does not need to change. He is a consistent QB2 who should replicate similar production to his past four seasons.
Risk Factors
Goff’s lack of rushing presents his biggest risk factor.
Goff had just five scrambles, so he needs passing yards and TDs to hit every week. That makes him more fragile than QBs who can survive mediocre passing days with rushing production.
The second risk is the shape of the passing game. Goff’s 6.8 intended air yards, 12.5% aggressiveness rate, and Detroit’s 31st-ranked aDOT all point to a controlled offense. That has worked for him, but it leaves him dependent on accuracy, YAC, and TD conversion.
Those two factors keep him out of the top QB tiers. Still, his recent production, strong supporting cast, and Petzing's pass-heavy trend make Goff a good bet for useful QB2 production with weekly QB1 upside.
