Sam Darnold
26-Year-Old
2023 Pass/Rush Stats
YDS
297
TD
2
INT
1
YDS
15
TD
1
2024 Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Darnold signed a one-year deal with the Vikings shortly after Kirk Cousins jumped ship for Atlanta. J.J. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in this year's draft, is the Vikings’ QB of the future and likely will take over this season at some point, but Darnold could be under center Week 1. Darnold spent last season as the backup to Brock Purdy in San Francisco, where he started one game and finished the season with an unimpressive 6.5 YPA and 60.9 completion percentage -- pretty much in line with his career averages. That’s likely what Darnold will offer this season while the Vikings wait for McCarthy to develop. Darnold at least has excellent weapons to target in wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson, though the latter is coming back from a late-season ACL tear. Free-agent RB Aaron Jones should also help the passing game, but his presence may encourage coach Kevin O’Connell to run the ball more often this season after ranking third in pass percentage last year (63.3). Darnold has never been skilled at throwing deep, and the Vikings gained just 42.8 percent of their passing yards after the catch last season, the lowest rate in the league. Darnold doesn’t add much on the ground, likely limiting his fantasy value to two-QB leagues even if Jefferson and Addison help him put up better-than-usual passing efficiency numbers. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Vikings won't rush to name starting QB
The Vikings could begin the season with Darnold as the team's starting quarterback despite taking J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, ESPN reports. "We're not going to rush his development," said general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. "We're just going to do what's best for the Vikings in the short and long term."
ANALYSIS
Darnold signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Vikings as a short-term veteran starter or backup. It's hard to handicap when McCarthy may take over the starting job this soon after the draft, but it's notable the Vikings are trying to reduce expectations. Expect the quarterback battle for the Week 1 starting job to commence this summer. Still, odds are Darnold will only be the starter for a few weeks at most if McCarthy is healthy and making progress.
Darnold signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Vikings as a short-term veteran starter or backup. It's hard to handicap when McCarthy may take over the starting job this soon after the draft, but it's notable the Vikings are trying to reduce expectations. Expect the quarterback battle for the Week 1 starting job to commence this summer. Still, odds are Darnold will only be the starter for a few weeks at most if McCarthy is healthy and making progress.
NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Sam Darnold's 2023 advanced stats compare to other quarterbacks?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank.
The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
Bad Pass %
21.7%Avg Target Depth
8.0 YdsSack Rate
11.5%Avg Receiver YAC
5.8 YdsReceiver Drop %
4.3%Loading Advanced NFL Stats...
2023
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2019
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2023 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
2023 Sam Darnold Split Stats
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Measurables Review
View College Player Page
How do Sam Darnold's measurables compare to other quarterbacks?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 3"Weight
225 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.85 secShuttle Time
4.40 secCone Drill
6.96 secVertical Jump
26.5 inBroad Jump
105 inHand Length
9.38 inArm Length
31.00 in
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Still starter heading into camp
Darnold is still expected to be the Vikings' first-string quarterback in training camp even after the team selected J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 Draft, Kevin Seifert of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Minnesota is intent on protecting McCarthy and not rushing him into action before he's ready, so the rookie will really have to wow the coaching staff in camp to claim the Week 1 starting job. That leaves Darnold to run the offense until McCarthy is deemed ready. The third overall pick in the 2018 Draft, Darnold has never been able to put things together in his career, but Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson are a more talented set of targets than he ever had to work with as a Jet or Panther.
Minnesota is intent on protecting McCarthy and not rushing him into action before he's ready, so the rookie will really have to wow the coaching staff in camp to claim the Week 1 starting job. That leaves Darnold to run the offense until McCarthy is deemed ready. The third overall pick in the 2018 Draft, Darnold has never been able to put things together in his career, but Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson are a more talented set of targets than he ever had to work with as a Jet or Panther.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Darnold started the final six games for the Panthers last season after first losing the starting job to Baker Mayfield in training camp and then suffering an ankle injury that kept him out two months. While he threw only three interceptions, he wasn’t accurate. His 65.0 on-target percentage ranked 38th of 40 QBs with at least 140 attempts, and his 58.6 completion percentage was 36th. He signed a one-year deal with the 49ers this offseason to compete with Trey Lance while Brock Purdy recovers from elbow surgery. Should Darnold get snaps, he’ll have more talent around him than he’s ever had before in his career. He can at least dump the ball off and let the 49ers’ playmakers gobble up yards after the catch, as they did last year when they led the league with 6.6 YAC per reception. Darnold is also a capable scrambler, good for about 15-20 yards per game, potentially giving him value in two-QB leagues if he ends up making starts for a loaded Niners team.
More Fantasy News
Commits to Vikings
Darnold agreed to terms on a one-year, $10 million contract with the Vikings on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Solid as backup in 2023
Darnold completed 61 percent of his pass attempts for 297 yards, two touchdowns and one interception across 10 games (one start) with San Francisco in 2023.
ANALYSIS
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Two scores in first start for SF
Darnold completed 16 of 26 pass attempts for 189 yards and a touchdown while rushing seven times for 19 yards and another score in Sunday's 21-20 loss to the Rams. He also lost a fumble.
ANALYSIS
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Starting regular-season finale
Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Wednesday that Darnold will serve as the 49ers' starting quarterback for Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Rams, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Takes over late for injured starter
Darnold completed eight of 14 pass attempts for 81 yards, a touchdown and an interception while adding nine rushing yards on one attempt in Monday's 33-19 loss to the Ravens.
ANALYSIS
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