According to Alec Lewis of The Athletic, the Las Vegas Raiders are considered a potential suitor for quarterback Sam Darnold. Lewis also mentioned that the Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, and the New York Giants could also pursue Darnold in free agency. Lewis noted that among the teams that need a quarterback, no team has more cap space than the Raiders. In addition, with new head coach Pete Carroll, they may opt to pair him with a veteran quarterback. This past season, the Raiders relied on Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell under center and could only win four games. The Raiders also hold the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and could look to pair a rookie quarterback with Darnold. Last season, Darnold enjoyed a career season as he led the Vikings to a 14-3 record. He threw for 4,319 yards and 35 passing scores with 12 interceptions.
Feb 2, 2025 2:21 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold resurrected his career by leading the Vikings to 14 wins in 2024 while posting career-highs in passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (35), but he came crashing down hard in losses to the Detroit Lions in Week 18 and the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round in which he had a combined 23 off-target throws and took 11 sacks. Darnold's future is now as unsettled as ever as he heads toward free agency in March, but ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Darnold is still the top free-agent QB. The teams that Fowler has spoken with recently forecasted Darnold in the Geno Smith/Baker Mayfield weight class of contracts. Mayfield got a three-year, $100 million deal last offseason with Tampa, while Smith signed a three-year, $75 million deal before the 2023 season. Darnold tanked to end the year, but he did enough to find work as a starter somewhere else if Minnesota doesn't want him back.
Jan 14, 2025 4:51 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed 25-of-40 passes for 245 yards and one touchdown in Monday night's 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He'd add 19 yards on four carries, tossed one interception, was sacked nine times, and coughed up a fumble that was returned for a TD. Ouch. There's no getting around it: Darnold played poorly for a second consecutive contest, seemingly crumbling again under the pressure of the bright lights. This isn't to take anything away from an exceptional LA Rams defensive game plan, but the 27-year-old held onto the ball for too long, too often. Even the good throws were either well-defended or dropped by the intended target. In two weeks' time, Minnesota went from potentially clinching a first-round bye to being the victim of a first-round exit. The USC product was stellar for a large portion of 2024. Unfortunately, his last two performances will likely mar most of his improvements. He'll head into 2025 on the search for a new job.
Jan 13, 2025 11:46 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (quad) will get his first career playoff start this Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams on the road. Darnold sustained a mild quad injury in last weekend's loss to the Detroit Lions but he is all systems go for the Wild Card round after practicing fully. The 27-year-old is coming off one of his worst starts of the season as Detroit was all over him last Sunday night, though he didn't do himself many favors. He'll line up against a Rams squad that's been a favorable spot for quarterbacks in 2024, letting up an average of 19.2 fantasy points per game -; the ninth-most in the league. The USC product was able to bounce back earlier in the season after a few subpar performances, and we'll see if he can do it again in a win-or-go-home situation. He'll clock in at RotoBaller's QB6 for the tournament's first round.
Jan 11, 2025 4:46 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (quadriceps) finds himself on this week's injury report but he was able to practice in full on Thursday as the team begins preparing to face the Los Angeles Rams on Monday evening in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Darnold appeared to hurt his leg late in the Sunday night loss to the division-rival Detroit Lions in the Week 18 regular-season finale, but he didn't miss any snaps on his way to a poor showing (166 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions). He should be fine to play against the Rams, where he'll have plenty of bounce-back potential despite losing to them back on Oct. 24, when he went 18-for-25 for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, the Rams defense was a top-10 matchup for opposing QBs all year by allowing 19.6 fantasy points per game to the position. Darnold will be a solid midrange QB1 target in fantasy against LA.
Jan 9, 2025 5:40 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed 18-of-41 passes for 166 yards in Sunday night's 31-9 loss to the Detroit Lions. He did not throw a touchdown or interception and added 11 yards on two carries. Week 18 was easily the 27-year-old's worst start of the season, statistically. Darnold's passing output was a season low, and it was the first time since Week 10 that he failed to toss at least one score. Despite being sacked just twice in the meeting, Detroit's front seven was in the signal-caller's face all game, throwing off his timing and forcing him from the pocket. In a game when it mattered most, the Lions' D played incredibly tough -- clinching home-field advantage in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. With the Vikings now occupying the fifth seed in the NFC, they'll square off against the Los Angeles Rams on the road in Wild Card Weekend.
Jan 5, 2025 11:39 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is an excellent play in Sunday night's meeting with their division-rival Detroit Lions. The former first-round pick has been a revelation in 2024, working his way to 4,153 yards and 35 passing scores -; obliterating his previous career bests. Those numbers are good enough for fourth and fifth amongst league leaders, respectively, while his 68.1% completion percentage is a hair better than Lamar Jackson's 67.9. Darnold has undoubtedly played himself into another year of starting and will get a chance to put the cherry on top of his sensational season on Sunday Night Football against a vulnerable Detroit Lions pass defense. The Lions have allowed their opponents the second-most passing yards per game (250.4) and have afforded fantasy QBs 20.1 fantasy points per contest -; the eighth-highest in the league. The 27-year-old comes in at RotoBaller's QB5 ahead of this weekend's slate.
Jan 3, 2025 4:29 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed 33-of-43 passes for a career-high 377 yards and three touchdowns in Sunday's 27-25 win over the Green Bay Packers. He threw one INT and lost three yards on his three carries. The former USC Trojan was again impressive -- this time in a difficult matchup against a Packers D that entered Week 17 allowing the third-fewest fantasy points per game to signal-callers. Darnold eclipsed the previous career-high in passing yards he set back in Week 14 and has gone over 300 yards three times in his last six outings after not having done so previously in 2024. The 27-year-old is up to a 35:12 TD:INT ratio while leading his squad to a 14-2 record -- an excellent season. He'll get a shot to capture the NFC North and the top record in his conference in a Week 18 divisional clash with the Detroit Lions.
Dec 29, 2024 7:42 PM EST
The Minnesota Vikings want to bring back quarterback Sam Darnold for the 2025 season, and they also hope to extend head coach Kevin O'Connell, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Even with first-round pick J.J. McCarthy (right knee) working to get healthy and make his NFL debut, the Vikings aren't necessarily satisfied with moving on from Darnold. The 27-year-old has enjoyed a career rejuvenation in Minnesota, completing 310 passes for 3,776 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while leading the Vikings to a 13-2 record. Having two starting-caliber quarterbacks on the roster can be both difficult and expensive, but a tandem of Darnold and McCarthy could work given that the latter is still rehabbing his injury, developing as a player, and remains on his rookie deal. On the coaching side, extending O'Connell feels like a no-brainer. The Coach of the Year candidate leads a Vikings squad that is lethal on both sides of the football and has a very solid personnel core, both in terms of players and coaches.
Dec 29, 2024 8:20 AM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold gets a tough matchup on Sunday in a rematch with the Green Bay Packers. The USC product has been on a tear recently. Since tossing five INTs across Weeks 9 and 10, Darnold has compiled a 15:1 TD:INT ratio and averaged 272.5 passing yards per game. However, it wasn't a gauntlet of the league's most formidable defensive units. The 27-year-old will get an actual test in Week 17 against a Packers squad, allowing the ninth-fewest passing yards per game (209.7). Green Bay has been staunch against fantasy QBs in 2024 -; letting up the third-lowest fantasy point total per outing in the league (15.4). Still, the veteran is amid a career year and threw three TDs in his last meeting with Green Bay in Week 4. He's again ranked amongst the top options at his position, landing as RotoBaller's QB6 for the season's penultimate week.
Dec 27, 2024 5:14 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed 22-of-35 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks. He picked up 11 yards on his five carries in the road outing. The 27-year-old was impressive again in Week 16, registering his fifth performance with at least three passing scores. It's been a superb season for Darnold, who has now eclipsed 30 passing TDs for the first time in his seven-year career (32). He's in the top five of the league regarding that stat and will look to continue his success next Sunday in a rematch with the Green Bay Packers. Darnold tossed three scores against the Pack back in Week 4, and Minnesota is still neck and neck with the Detroit Lions in a battle for the NFC North. Continue to fire him up as a QB1.
Dec 22, 2024 10:44 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold will get a rough matchup this Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks on the road. The 27-year-old had his fourth outing of the season with fewer than 16 fantasy points last weekend in a win over the Chicago Bears and has another stiff test on tap in Week 16. The Seahawks are vulnerable on the ground but have allowed the twelfth-fewest passing yards per game to opponents (213.6). Despite letting up a friendly 21:11 TD:INT ratio, Seattle is affording fantasy QBs 17.0 points per game -; a top-eleven mark in the NFL. Still, the Vikings deploy one of the better sets of offensive weaponry in the league, and Darnold should put up a fight with a first-round playoff bye on the line. He comes in at RotoBaller's QB8 ahead of the fantasy semi-finals.
Dec 20, 2024 5:00 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed 24-of-40 passes for 231 yards, one touchdown, and one INT in Monday night's 30-12 win over the Chicago Bears. The Vikings started hot in this one, scoring on their first two possessions to take a quick 10-0 lead against their division rivals. However, they'd slow down from there but essentially controlled the game from start to finish. Darnold was solid, though it likely wasn't the performance fantasy managers who rolled with him were looking for. The 27-year-old's interception came on an early fourth-down heave where he had pressure in his face and was trying to make something out of nothing. Other than that, he played a pretty clean game. It was just his third appearance all season with one or fewer touchdowns, but his ninth in a row with at least 230 passing yards. He and the Vikings will take on the Seattle Seahawks next Sunday during the fantasy semi-finals.
Dec 16, 2024 11:27 PM EST
Given how well quarterback Sam Darnold has played in 2024, the Minnesota Vikings have not ruled out offering him a contract for next season despite widespread belief that they will let Darnold walk and hand the job to J.J. McCarthy (knee), who was drafted in the first round in April, according to sources familiar with the team's thinking. Darnold is in the midst of a career season and has thrown for 1,158 yards, 11 touchdowns and no interceptions in the last four games. In that span, he's led three game-winning drives and has led the NFL in completions on passes of at least 15 air yards. Darnold is on pace for a 4,100-yard, 35-touchdown season. "There's no other place I'd rather play. Just so grateful to be a Viking," Darnold said earlier this month. It remains to be seen where Darnold will be playing in 2025, but right now he has been a solid QB1 in fantasy heading into a Monday night game against the Bears.
Dec 16, 2024 12:19 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is an excellent QB1 play in Week 15 despite a tough rematch with the Chicago Bears. Darnold and the Vikings squared off against the Bears back in Week 12, pulling out a thrilling OT victory on the road. Chicago has limited quarterbacks to just 13 passing scores and 15 fantasy points per game through 2024. However, they've let up 876 passing yards since their last meeting and a 6:0 TD:INT ratio. The 27-year-old has been superb in his first stint with the Vikes, turning in seven top-ten fantasy finishes at his position and no interceptions in four straight outings. He should be productive again this week and ranks as RotoBaller's QB6 ahead of their tilt on Monday Night Football.
Dec 14, 2024 3:13 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed 22-of-28 passes for 347 yards and five touchdowns in Sunday's 42-21 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He rushed four times for seven yards and completed his third straight outing with no turnovers. The USC product came out hot in this one, pushing the ball deep early and often including 49- and 52-yard scores to his star pass-catchers. His yardage total and TD output are new career highs. Darnold tossed all five of his touchdowns to wide receivers Jordan Addison (three) and Justin Jefferson (two), while both wideouts went over 130 yards in the contest. It was an impressive performance for the seventh-year field general, who has been stellar this season -- particularly over his last four appearances, turning in an 11:0 TD:INT ratio. He'll get a rematch in Week 15 with the Chicago Bears, who he beat in OT a few weeks back.
Dec 8, 2024 5:24 PM EST
The Minnesota Vikings have not engaged in long-term extension talks with quarterback Sam Darnold, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Darnold was brought in last offseason as a bridge quarterback, but he has been a pleasant surprise, completing 67.6 percent of his passes for 2,952 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while leading the Vikings to an impressive 10-2 record. His success creates a predicament for the Vikings, who have surely been impressed by his performance and would be interested in bringing him back. However, Minnesota also made an enormous commitment to rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, selecting him with the 10th overall pick and developing him before he had to be shut down due to a knee injury. McCarthy remains the Vikings' franchise quarterback of the future, and his anticipated return in 2025 could be one of the reasons why Minnesota is hesitant to offer Darnold a long-term extension. Regardless of what offer the Vikings make, Darnold should open 2025 as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
Dec 8, 2024 8:25 AM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold gets an exploitable matchup this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons at home. The 27-year-old signal-caller has been on a roll over the prior three weeks, averaging 270.3 passing yards per game with six touchdowns and no interceptions. It's been a strong run for Darnold, who will line up against a Falcons defense that's been kind to fantasy quarterbacks -- allowing the seventh-most points per game to field generals (19.3). With the former first-round pick streaking and an above-average matchup on paper for him, he's amongst some of the better options at his position in Week 14. He ranks as RotoBaller's QB5 for this week's slate.
Dec 6, 2024 5:38 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed 21-of-31 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 23-22 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. He rushed for an additional 22 yards on four carries. The 27-year-old had a weird first half this afternoon -- leading his team to two field goals on ten-play drives on two of their three possessions. However, he'd pick it up after that, tossing both of his TDs in the second half, battling back down two scores to earn his fifth straight win. Darnold's touchdowns were from four and five yards out, and he's now gone two consecutive games without a turnover. The USC product will prepare for a juicy Week 14 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta had given up the seventh-most passing yards per contest through 12 weeks (229.9).
Dec 1, 2024 5:35 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold will line up against the visiting Arizona Cardinals this Sunday. The former third-overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft has rebounded nicely over his last two contests from a two-week slump in which he bolstered a 3:6 touchdown-turnover ratio. He'll get a Cardinals defense in Week 13 that's been stingy of late, letting up one TD over their last three matchups. Arizona's defensive numbers look solid overall, but they're susceptible to effective offenses and give up an average of 340.5 yards per game -; the fifteenth-most in the league. The 27-year-old has already set a career-high with his 21 TD passes (fifth-most in the league) and should continue to provide viable fantasy numbers over the season's final stretch. Particularly in a matchup with a 45-point over/under -; one of the higher combined point total projections of the weekend. Darnold is RotoBaller's QB14 in this week's rankings.
Nov 29, 2024 5:59 PM EST
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