Who Should I Start? Sam Darnold or Kyle Allen

Tuesday, January 14, 4:51 PM

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.

Monday, March 25, 4:46 PM

Free-agent quarterback Kyle Allen signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team. Allen, a six-year NFL veteran, has thrown for 4,734 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions through his first 30 NFL games with the Commanders, Panthers, Texans, and Bills. With Russell Wilson and Justin Fields now on the roster, Allen is likely competing to be the team's emergency quarterback and scout team signal-caller. The Steelers carried three quarterbacks on the roster last season, so he has a path to sticking around beyond the offseason and training camp. However, he can be safely ignored in fantasy football, regardless of format.