X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Has Sam Darnold Arrived in Minnesota? 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook

Sam Darnold - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold is off to a hot start to the 2024 NFL season. Has Sam Darnold arrived? Check out the latest news and updates for Sam Darnold for fantasy football (2024).

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold has been maligned nearly his entire career in the NFL. He was drafted by the New York Jets with the 3rd overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and had three miserable years with the Jets, followed by two awful years with the Panthers and one as purely a backup for the 49ers.

However, Darnold's career appears to have been revived. He's played great football through the first two weeks of 2024, and head coach Kevin O'Connell has the offense led by Darnold firing on all cylinders. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson looks to be in form, and Darnold has had no issues feeding him the ball.

Darnold is playing well, but is he worthy of being considered a top NFL quarterback? Is he a viable fantasy option for the rest of the season, and should managers pick him up off waivers and start him? Let's examine the rise of Sam Darnold.

Editor's Note: Find sleeper picks, undervalued ADPs, and draft targets to help you dominate your fantasy football drafts. Try our free who to draft tool for personalized recommendations.

 

Why Hasn't Darnold Been Good Until Now? 

It's not much of a secret that Darnold didn't have much help around him as a starting quarterback at any point before this season in his career. His first team, the Jets, had been a dumpster fire for a significant amount of time. In the eight years before Darnold was drafted, the Jets had just one winning season.

It hasn't gotten much better for the Jets after Darnold's departure either. 13 straight seasons without a playoff win is abysmal. Darnold likely wasn't enough to fix the systemic issues the Jets faced, and some teams are so dysfunctional no single player or coach can turn things around.

His time with the Panthers wasn't much better. Darnold joined the Panthers in 2021, after they had rattled off three straight losing seasons, and it was much the same. Other than running back Christian McCaffrey, the Panthers had very few playmakers on offense.

Both Baker Mayfield and Darnold are doing much better on other teams after awful tenures with the Panthers. It's hard to blame Darnold for the Jets' and Panthers' deficiencies when there's so much evidence that they were awful organizations that didn't put him in any position to succeed.

 

Has Sam Darnold Truly Arrived Now? 

It looks like has, from everything we've seen. The Vikings have won two straight, blowing out the New York Giants and shocking the San Francisco 49ers in their first two games. The 49ers were seen as the second-best team in the NFL after their Super Bowl appearance last season and had a great offense and defense.

This was the moment of Darnold's arrival. Up three points, backed up in his own end zone, going against the vaunted San Francisco defense, Darnold evaded pressure from All-Pro defensive end Nick Bosa, stepped up in the pocket, and calmly launched a missile nearly 55 yards through the air for a thunderous Jefferson touchdown.

The Vikings' stunning defeat of the elite 49ers squad wasn't an accident. Darnold showcased his instincts, intelligence, and arm strength on one play, and let the NFL know the Vikings are aa top-tier team and to be taken with the utmost seriousness. It was the longest touchdown the 49ers have ever allowed.

A deeper dive into the tape shows Darnold excels as a decision maker, calmly going through his reads and not being afraid to take the check-down when nothing is open. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell's offense can run efficiently and effectively with Darnold making the right plays at the helm.

 

What Is Sam Darnold's Fantasy Outlook For 2024? 

Darnold has entered QB1 status so far this season, and he's likely to be a contender for season-long low-end QB1 status. He doesn't have much rushing upside but leads a team with excellent playmakers in Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and now Jalen Nailor at wide receiver. Tight end T.J. Hockenson will return at some point as well.

The Vikings also have running back Aaron Jones, who joined the team from the Green Bay Packers, and when healthy, Jones is a fantastic runner and pass catcher, capable of producing nice yardage as a check-down option or taking some work off Darnold's shoulders in the run game. Fellow running back Ty Chandler has played well too.

Addison had a fantastic rookie season in 2023, and once healthy, he should be able to continue his excellent play. Addison is yet another piece in this high-end passing attack that will help Darnold sustain drives and score more touchdowns, leading to more fantasy points.

The Vikings have been a pass-heavy offense under Kevin O'Connell, which is another facet that adds to Darnold's potential for scoring more fantasy points.

 

Should I Start Sam Darnold For The Rest of 2024? 

While Darnold isn't an elite QB1, for teams that didn't draft a quarterback highly in the fantasy draft this year, Darnold presents an excellent option to get QB1 numbers. If you picked him up off the waiver wire or drafted him in the late rounds, Darnold is easily startable right now.

Darnold has succeeded even with his No. 2 weapon, Addison, who didn't play in Week 2. When he returns, the offense should be even better. Darnold has elevated Nailor to the tune of 19.5 PPR fantasy points through two games, and Addison is a clear step ahead of Nailor talent-wise.

The Vikings also won't have to face the 49ers' defense each week, and Darnold's performance in just his second game with the Vikings shows that he can build on his success even further. Darnold should be started in all leagues over 10 teams in size, and he should be a steady low-end QB1 as long as the Vikings stay mostly healthy.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Back in Action to Begin Second Half
Yordan Alvarez

Resumes Swinging -- Return Imminent?
Jake Burger

to Miss an Additional 2-3 Weeks
TreVeyon Henderson

Signs Rookie Contract
Christian Watson

Goes on PUP List
Austin Riley

Hopes to be Activated Next Week
Ketel Marte

Lands on Restricted List After Burglary
Ricky Pearsall

Heads to PUP List
Brandon Aiyuk

Placed on PUP List
Luther Burden III

Signs Rookie Deal
Washington Nationals

Eli Willits Expected to Sign Contract on Saturday
Grayson Rodriguez

Being Shut Down Again - Will We See Him Again This Year?
Ezequiel Tovar

Activated and Back in Lineup on Friday
Max Fried

"Hopeful" to Pitch Next Week - Looks Like He'll Avoid IL Stint
Steven Kwan

Receives Injection in Wrist, Considered Day-to-Day
CJ Abrams

Back to Start Second Half
Alec Bohm

Back From Rib Injury on Friday
Trey Hendrickson

Holdout to Spill into Regular Season?
Jalen McMillan

Bucs Offensive Coordinator Not Forgetting About Jalen McMillan
Levi Onwuzurike

to Miss at Least Four Games
Nick Emmanwori

Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori Reach Agreement on Rookie Deal
Max Holloway

Set For Main Event
Brandon Lowe

Back From 10-Day Injured List
Dustin Poirier

Set For His Final UFC Fight
Roman Kopylov

Set For Co-Main Event
Paulo Costa

Returns At UFC 318
Luis L. Ortiz

to Remain on Leave for Another Month - Will he Pitch Again?
Daniel Rodriguez

Looks For Third Win In A Row
Kevin Holland

Set For His Fourth Fight This Year
Dan Ige

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
MMA

Patricio Freire Set For His Second UFC Fight
Daniel Zellhuber

Set To Open Up UFC 318 Main Card
Michael Johnson

Looks For Third Consecutive Win
Elijah Arroyo

Signs Rookie Deal
Jaydon Blue

Described as "Borderline Lazy"
T.J. Sanders

Bills Sign T.J. Sanders to Rookie Deal
Christian Wilkins

Raiders Put Christian Wilkins on PUP List
Jabari Small

Lions Add Jabari Small to Backfield
Quinshon Judkins

Remains Unsigned, Won't Report With Rest of Rookies
Mason Taylor

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Jets
Hendon Hooker

Leading Lions QB2 Battle Entering Training Camp
Ozzy Trapilo

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Bears
Tate Ratledge

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Lions
Jack Bech

Signs Rookie Contract with Raiders
Yegor Chinakhov

Requests Trade
Dakota Joshua

Maple Leafs Acquire Dakota Joshua
Lukas Dostal

Signs Five-Year Extension with Ducks
Shemar Stewart

Not Practicing With College Team
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Expected Back Friday
Damian Lillard

Returning to Portland
Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
Brooks Barnhizer

Grabs 19 Points, Nine Boards in Summer League Win
Jeremiah Fears

Scores 22 Points in Summer League Loss to Thunder
Isaiah Collier

Collects 17 Points In Summer League Win
Caleb Houstan

Joins Hawks
AJ Johnson

Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
Washington Wizards

Leaky Black Logs Double-Double in Loss to Jazz
Connor Norby

Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Trey Alexander

Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
Johni Broome

Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
Jahmir Young

Has Historic Summer League Outing
Rob Dillingham

Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
Tyrese Proctor

Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
Cody Williams

Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
LeBron James

Mavs Not Interested in "Gutting its Roster" For LeBron James
Josh Hart

Undergoes a Procedure on Right Finger
Jake Burger

Goes on 10-Day Injured List With Quad Strain
Sal Frelick

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain, TBD for Start of Second Half
Chris Sale

Plays Catch
Los Angeles Clippers

Bradley Beal Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
Rayan Rupert

Scores 24 Points in Summer League Win
Derik Queen

Collects Third Consecutive Double-Double in Summer League Loss
GG Jackson II

Records 13 Points in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Johni Broome

Logs Double-Double Against Wizards
DaRon Holmes II

Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
Kyle Schwarber

Named All-Star Game MVP
Harris English

Takes Stellar 2025 Performance to The Open Championship
Aldrich Potgieter

Seeks Better Result in Northern Ireland
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
Tony Finau

Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
Daniel Berger

Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
Shane Lowry

Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
Brian Harman

Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
UTA

Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
Bowen Byram

Signs Two-Year Deal with Sabres
Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
Keegan Bradley

Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF