Who Should I Start? Sam Darnold or Jordan Addison

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, October 5, 1:52 PM

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison saved the day for both his team and managers who started him Sunday with a late touchdown grab that turned the tide in a 21-17 Vikings victory, finishing the day with five catches on six targets for 41 yards and a touchdown. Unknown to the general public prior to the game, Addison (coach's decision) was held out of the entire first quarter after being benched, the latest incident after he began the year with a three-game suspension. Addison atoned, however, with an athletic 12-yard touchdown catch in which he got both feet down and fell inside the pylon to score with 25 seconds remaining. As long as wide receiver Justin Jefferson is healthy, Addison won't be Minnesota's top target, but he has performed well enough alongside the All-Pro to be a consistently playable fantasy WR3/Flex option.