Who Should I Start? Sam Darnold or Joe Burrow

Tuesday, October 14, 4:59 PM

Fantasy managers were understandably skeptical as to whether quarterback Sam Darnold could follow up his outstanding 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings this year after heading to the NFC West to play for the Seattle Seahawks. Through six weeks with his new team, it's clear that the former third overall pick out of USC is picking up where he left off. The 28-year-old continued to play well in Week 6 against a ball-hawking Jacksonville Jaguars defense and finished just shy of 300 yards passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Darnold has latched onto star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba as his go-to target, and it's working. Since a mediocre 150-yard, no-touchdown performance in Week 1, Darnold has thrown for multiple touchdowns in five games and has gone 98-for-138 for 1,391 yards, 11 TDs, and three picks. He continues to be aggressive downfield and should at least be rostered in every fantasy league as a high-end QB2 going forward. He'll really be tested in Week 7 against a Houston Texans defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing QBs through five games.

Sunday, September 21, 1:20 PM

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (toe) has officially undergone surgery and is hopeful to make a return around mid-December, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. For now, Cincinnati will turn to backup Jake Browning in Burrow's absence and hope to stay afloat in time to make a run at the NFL playoffs. Burrow's injury was a tough one for fantasy managers, who drafted the QB to be an every-week starter and didn't even get two full games. A return could happen within fantasy playoffs, but managers are going to have to lean on their bench or a trade in the meantime.