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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that he's happy to have veteran quarterback Sam Darnold on the team this year. "I think his best football is ahead of him because of how he handled the last couple of years," O'Connell said. The Vikings head coach points out that he saw growth with Darnold's fundamentals as he worked as Brock Purdy's backup in San Francisco last year, and he's excited to get to work with him in Minnesota. The Vikings signed the former first-rounder to a one-year, $10 million deal this offseason, and depending on what the team does in the upcoming NFL draft, Darnold could open the year as the starter under center in Week 1. He'll have one of the best receivers in the game in Justin Jefferson to work with if he's starting, but Darnold will still be a midrange QB2, at best, in fantasy.
Mar 25, 2024 2:16 PM EST
Free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold is expected to sign with the Minnesota Vikings when the new league year begins on Wednesday, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. He will ink a one-year, $10 million deal. The Vikings just lost veteran franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons, so Darnold could have the chance to earn a few starts in 2024. Minnesota could be eyeing a rookie quarterback in next month's NFL Draft, but Darnold could serve as a bridge quarterback as they ease a rookie into action. The former No. 3 overall pick by the New York Jets has thrown for 12,064 yards, 63 touchdowns, and 56 interceptions during his six-year NFL career. He was Brock Purdy's backup in San Francisco last season. Although he's not on the single-QB fantasy radar, he could be worth rostering in two-QB or Superflex leagues early next season.
Mar 12, 2024 9:15 AM EST
Free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold is weighing free-agent offers between the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings, according to sources. The Broncos recently released Russell Wilson, who was quickly picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Meanwhile, the Vikings saw Kirk Cousins walk in free agency to the Atlanta Falcons, so both teams could use a veteran QB addition like Darnold to compete with either Jarrett Stidham (in Denver) or Nick Mullens? (in Minnesota). Of course, both teams could also make a move up in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft to land a future franchise signal-caller as well. Darnold, 26, was a bust for the Jets as the third overall pick in 2018 and has started just seven games in the last two years with the Panthers and Niners. If Darnold ends up starting for the majority of next season with either the Broncos or Vikings, their offenses would be in bad shape.
Mar 11, 2024 11:29 PM EST
The Athletic's Dianna Russini writes that we should look for the Minnesota Vikings to go after free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold after former QB Kirk Cousins joined the Atlanta Falcons in free agency on Monday. Darnold has other suitors on the open market, but perhaps none more desperate than the Vikings right now. The former first-round pick spent the 2023 season as the San Francisco 49ers' backup to Brock Purdy, and he ended up going 28-for-46 for 297 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in 10 games played (one start). The 26-year-old looked much more comfortable with the Niners in limited action last year, but that doesn't mean he'll improve at all in a different organization if he's forced into a starting role for the Vikings in 2024. However, he would be in a strong situation with one of the best receivers in the game in Justin Jefferson.
Mar 11, 2024 4:30 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold took all the snaps under center in Sunday's 21-20 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The former first-round pick got his only start of the season with regular starter Brock Purdy resting in a game the 49ers entered having already nailed down the No.1 playoff seed in the NFC. Darnold completed 16 of 26 attempts for 189 yards passing and one touchdown. He also added seven carries for 19 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Sunday's game was a decent showcase for Darnold as he'll be a free agent this summer hoping to sign somewhere with a chance to compete for a starting job in 2024.
Jan 7, 2024 8:28 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Sam Darnold will draw his first start of the season in the team's final regular season game on Sunday at home versus the Los Angeles Rams. On Wednesday head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that starter Brock Purdy would see no action in Week 18 but that's no guarantee that Darnold will get all the snaps. On Friday morning general manager John Lynch commented "...we'll see if (third-string quarterback) Brandon Allen gets in there." In 2022 with the Panthers, Darnold averaged 14.4 fantasy points per game in a six-game stretch to finish the year, including a three-touchdown performance in Week 17, immediately followed by a dismal Week 18 when he produced less than one fantasy point. The Rams' pass defense has been the sixth-most generous to fantasy quarterbacks, but it's probably unwise to heed season-long statistics in a meaningless game with important starters on both sides resting. Darnold is an extremely unpredictable QB2 play in Week 18.
Jan 6, 2024 12:30 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that quarterback Brock Purdy will not play in the Week 18 regular season finale against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. As a result, Sam Darnold will make his first start of the season in a meaningless game for the Niners, as they are already locked into the top seed in the NFC and will have a first-round bye in the playoffs. In addition to Purdy, the Niners ruled out star running back Christian McCaffrey (calf) already after he strained his calf in the Week 17 win over the Washington Commanders. San Francisco could choose to limit other key offensive weapons this weekend, making all Niners players risky in fantasy lineups in Week 18. Darnold will be in play as a low-end QB2 option for fantasy managers in leagues that start two QBs.
Jan 3, 2024 3:39 PM EST
With the San Francisco 49ers potentially resting starters in a meaningless Week 18 game against the Los Angeles Rams, quarterback Sam Darnold and running back Jordan Mason could see heavier workloads this Sunday. Darnold could get the start so that the team can rest Brock Purdy heading into the postseason while also giving Darnold an opportunity to showcase his stuff before he heads to free agency in 2024. Brandon Allen could also see reps under center. Running back Christian McCaffrey (calf) has already been ruled out, and given Elijah Mitchell's injury history, Mason could be in line for lead-back duties against the Rams, with fellow 2022 rookie Tyrion Davis-Price also seeing a heavier workload. The Niners would have to elevate Davis-Price from their practice squad to the 53-man active roster.
Jan 3, 2024 12:12 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold finished the team's 33-19 Christmas night loss to the Baltimore Ravens after starter Brock Purdy (stinger) left the game with 8:02 remaining in the fourth quarter. The former first-round pick looked competent considering the situation. Forced into a desperate hurry-up offense while facing a three-score deficit and his offensive line in disarray due to the emergent absence of All-Pro LT Trent Williams (groin), Darnold completed eight of 14 passes for 81 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. If Purdy were to miss Week 17 at Washington, the prospect of streaming Darnold in championship week would surely make fantasy managers squeamish, but he'd be worth consideration for the desperate.
Dec 26, 2023 12:35 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold could be in line for his first start of the year in Week 8 at home against the Cincinnati Bengals. Regular quarterback Brock Purdy remained in the league's concussion protocol on Friday and could be forced to sit. In 2022 with the Panthers, Darnold averaged 14.4 fantasy points per game in a six-game stretch to finish the year, including a three-touchdown performance in Week 17 which was immediately followed by a dismal Week 18 when he produced less than one fantasy point. Cincinnati checks in with the sixth-worst pass defense in football, allowing 355.8 passing yards per game and the 49ers have plenty of options even without Deebo Samuel (shoulder) available. Despite that, the 49ers are likely to lean heavily on the running game, especially if they get the lead early. If Purdy is out, Darnold would be a viable choice in superflex formats but a precarious-at-best play in standard leagues.
Oct 28, 2023 3:56 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold could start on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals due to Brock Purdy (concussion) being in concussion protocol. Purdy entered the NFL's protocol after the Week 7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football. If Darnold starts, he'll have immediate fantasy football value in superflex and two-QB formats. However, the Bengals have surrendered the 13th-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season, so he's not on the fantasy radar in single-QB formats. He does have upside surrounded by Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk, but he has failed to look like a legitimate starting signal-caller since being drafted in 2018.
Oct 26, 2023 12:35 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold has been named the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Brock Purdy. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft struggled in his three seasons with the New York Jets and one season with the Carolina Panthers -- throwing 61 touchdowns to 55 interceptions en route to a 21-34 record as a starter. He'll now be a high-value "handcuff" quarterback for Purdy in superflex and two-quarterback formats. Trey Lance is now the team's third-string quarterback and his future is uncertain moving forward. It'll be interesting to see if teams call about trading for him before or during the 2023 campaign.
Aug 23, 2023 2:51 PM EST
It's still unclear if San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow) will play a couple series with the starting offense in the team's second preseason game on Saturday against the Denver Broncos, but Sam Darnold will play the rest of the first half. Trey Lance will play in the second half. Darnold played in the second half in the preseason opener, so it's a role reversal from the first game, which means Darnold and Lance are still in a competition for the backup job to Purdy once the regular season kicks off. The Niners have been impressed with both Darnold and Lance this offseason, but neither signal-caller will have any real fantasy value if Purdy stays healthy and plays well enough to keep the starting job all year.
Aug 18, 2023 11:36 AM EST
Coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday that Darnold, Brock Purdy (elbow) and Trey Lance are "all capable of being franchise-like quarterbacks", David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.
May 12, 2023 5:30 AM EST
Darnold completed just 5 of 15 passes for 43 yards and two interceptions in Sunday's 10-7 win over the Saints. He also rushed six times for 32 yards.
Jan 8, 2023 2:23 PM EST
Darnold completed 23 of 37 passes for 341 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the Panthers' 30-24 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday. He also rushed five times for 20 yards and committed three fumbles, losing two.
Jan 1, 2023 2:27 PM EST
Darnold completed 15 of 22 passes for 250 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in the Panthers' 37-23 win over the Lions on Saturday. He also rushed six times for 19 yards and another score.
Dec 24, 2022 2:34 PM EST
Darnold completed 14 of 23 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 24-16 loss to the Steelers.
Dec 18, 2022 1:44 PM EST
Darnold completed 14 of 24 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 30-24 win over the Seahawks. He also rushed three times for 31 yards.
Dec 11, 2022 5:17 PM EST
Darnold completed 11 of 19 passes for 164 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in Sunday's 23-10 win over the Broncos. He added three rushes for three yards and a touchdown.
Nov 27, 2022 2:16 PM EST
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