Who Should I Start? Sam Darnold or Lamar Jackson

Thursday, June 19, 12:24 PM

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold had a career year in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings, completing 66.2% of his passes for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 17 regular-season games to lead Minnesota to a 14-3 record. However, the former third overall pick in 2018 finished on a sour note in his final two games and knows he must prove himself again in 2025 with a new team. Darnold has familiarity with new Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak from their one year together in San Fran in 2023, but the move from Minnesota to Seattle is definitely a downgrade in terms of overall offense and the weapons he'll have in Seattle. The 28-year-old was excellent throwing downfield in 2024, but it helped to have one of the best receivers in the league in Justin Jefferson. Fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting a repeat of 2024, when Darnold finished as the QB9.

Friday, June 6, 11:11 PM

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that a contract extension for star quarterback Lamar Jackson is on the docket for the Baltimore Ravens. "We're in the introductory stage of looking at what an extension looks like," general manager Eric DeCosta said. As things stand right now, Jackson is the 10th-highest paid QB in the NFL. The 28-year-old four-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro and two-time MVP not only deserves a new contract, but the Ravens want to get one done so that they can lower his high salary cap number. If Jackson becomes the highest-paid signal-caller in the league, which is probably likely, he'll make more than $60 million per year. He was incredible last year as the QB1 in fantasy with a career-high 4,172 passing yards, 41 TDs and only four picks in 17 regular-season starts while adding 915 rushing yards and four more TDs. As long as he stays healthy, he's pretty much a lock as a top-five QB.