Sam Darnold fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 2 (2024). Should you start or sit Sam Darnold in your fantasy football lineups?
BALLER MOVE: Sit in 1QB Leagues
POSITIONAL VALUE: QB2
ANALYSIS: Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold had a good debut against the New York Giants in Week 1, tossing for 208 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. However, he is not a top-12 fantasy QB. He has very little rushing upside and is not a high-volume passer. Darnold is in a nice offensive system and can be consistent though.
This 99-yard touchdown drive against the Giants was our longest since 2008!
Sam Darnold 🤝 @JJettas2 pic.twitter.com/U1aL8f3vfd
— Minnesota Vikings UK (@UKVikings) September 11, 2024
Darnold's role in head coach Kevin O'Connell's is a little bit too "game manager-y" for fantasy managers, and he isn't a threat to score 20+ points in any given week if things stay the same. His job for the Vikings aligns more with "don't make big mistakes" than it does with "put up big numbers."
Darnold has never been a top-12 fantasy quarterback, and has had a shaky career up to this point. While he's in a better offensive system and overall situation than he's ever been in his career, that doesn't necessarily translate to fantasy production, and he's best left out of starting lineups outside of very deep or multi-QB leagues.
More Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks

Jordan Mason - Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks for Week 1 (2025)
BALLER MOVE: Start in 12+ team leagues POSITIONAL VALUE: RB3/FLEX ANALYSIS: The 26-year-old inked a two-year contract worth $10.5 million in the offseason with the Minnesota Vikings. Jordan Mason has spent his entire three-year NFL career in San Francisco. Through its first two seasons, Mason ran the ball just 41.5 times per season. However, in […]

Elic Ayomanor - Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks for Week 1 (2025)
BALLER MOVE: Sit in all leagues POSITIONAL VALUE: WR4 ANALYSIS: The Titans bolstered their wide receiver room by adding Elic Ayomanor out of Stanford in the fourth round of the draft. Ayomanor spent his entire collegiate career with Stanford. In 2023 and 2024, Ayomanor averaged a strong 922.0 receiving yards per season and found the […]

Dont'e Thornton Jr. - Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Fantasy Football Picks for Week 1 (2025)
BALLER MOVE: Start in 14-team leagues POSITIONAL VALUE: Upside WR3/WR4 ANALYSIS: The Las Vegas Raiders added two wide receivers in the draft, Jack Bech in the second round and Dont'e Thornton Jr. in the fourth. However, the fourth-rounder appears to have not only surpassed Bech on the depth chart but has claimed a starting role […]

Austin Ekeler - Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks for Week 1 (2025)
BALLER MOVE: Start in 12-team leagues POSITIONAL VALUE: High-floor RB2 in PPR leagues/flex in standard leagues ANALYSIS: Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler served as the primary pass-catching back in his debut season in D.C., but appears poised to take over the lead role this season. In 2024, Ekeler saw most of his opportunities in […]

Isaac TeSlaa - Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Fantasy Football Picks for Week 1 (2025)
BALLER MOVE: Sit in most leagues POSITIONAL VALUE: WR4/Bench Stash ANALYSIS: Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa has made a name for himself in the preseason and is making a strong case to open his rookie season in a starting role. The Lions selected TeSlaa in the third round with the 70th overall pick […]
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!
