Who Should I Start? Matt Ryan or Sam Darnold

Sunday, January 4, 9:40 PM

Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports that the Atlanta Falcons are "strongly" considering former quarterback Matt Ryan for a "high-profile" front office role with the team. Atlanta fired general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris on Sunday after the franchise completed its eighth straight losing season. Ryan quarterbacked the Falcons for 14 seasons from 2008 to 2021, winning an MVP award and leading his team to the Super Bowl in 2016. He has a borderline Hall of Fame resume as a player, throwing for over 60,000 yards and 381 touchdowns across 222 career NFL games. However, Ryan has zero front office experience, working as an analyst for CBS since leaving the NFL at the end of the 2022 season. It's unclear at this time whether Ryan would be the lead decision-maker with the Falcons if he and the team can reach an agreement.

Friday, December 26, 11:24 PM

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is a risky streaming option against a talented Carolina Panthers pass defense in Week 17. The Seahawks' passing game has been inconsistent in recent weeks, further adding to the risk factor for Darnold. Carolina is No. 8 against opposing quarterbacks in fantasy. They have also forced 13 interceptions, which is good for No. 9 in the league. Darnold himself has thrown 13 interceptions this season. Seattle should be able to move the ball on the ground, and they may lean less heavily on Darnold and the passing game this week than in normal weeks. Darnold, of course, should continue his smooth connection with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but a high enough passing output to merit a fantasy start may not be in the cards. Proceed with caution with Darnold in Week 17 if you have struggled with injuries at quarterback this year.