Who Should I Start? Sam Darnold or Tim Boyle

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.

Sunday, December 15, 4:07 PM

New York Giants quarterback Tim Boyle made his debut for the team in Sunday's 35-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Signed to the practice squad on November 19, Boyle was activated this week as the primary backup following Drew Lock's heel injury. He entered the game at halftime after starter Tommy DeVito exited with a possible concussion, completing 12 of 24 passes for 123 yards with one touchdown (to Malik Nabers) and one interception. Boyle averaged 5.1 yards per attempt and took one sack, finishing with 7.12 fantasy points in his first action as a Giant.