Sam Darnold To Take Majority Of First-Team QB Snaps In Camp
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that quarterback Sam Darnold will take the majority of the first-team QB snaps in training camp this summer, although rookie first-rounder J.J. McCarthy will get some first-team work as well. This isn't breaking news, as the Vikings announced in early June that Darnold, a former first-rounder himself, would head to camp as the QB1 as they look to give McCarthy plenty of time to develop as their potential franchise signal-caller. Darnold looked sharp in offseason workouts and is working with the best supporting cast of his career in Minnesota. His fantasy stock is on the rise as a QB2 in fantasy and is ranked as the No. 17 QB by RotoBaller. However, Darnold is going to need to perform well in 2024 in his first year in Minnesota if he wants to hold off McCarthy all season long.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that he'd call quarterback Sam Darnold his No. 1 QB at the moment this offseason, even though the Vikings haven't had to put out a depth chart yet in 2024. It's not a surprise with the team slow-playing first-rounder J.J. McCarthy's development during offseason workouts. On top of it, the 27-year-old Darnold has looked really good at mandatory minicamp and has taken all of the first-team repetitions to this point. All signs point to Darnold seeing most of the first-team reps in training camp this summer, too, before opening the regular season as the starter under center in Minnesota. While the Vikings offense could be the best that Darnold has ever worked with, he'll be a low-end QB2, at best, in superflex leagues in 2024. McCarthy, meanwhile, will have his chance to prove he's the starter in 2024 as well, but he's more of a dynasty/keeper asset for now.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold has looked calm, confident and prepared at the team's mandatory minicamp this week for what is likely to be another starting opportunity for him in the NFL to start the 2024 season. Darnold's consistency has stood out all week, and he's shown good chemistry with top receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. He also took every first-team repetition over rookie first-rounder J.J. McCarthy, who is being eased in while learning new concepts. "This is the best team he's been on. This is the best system for him. He's hopefully going to find the ceiling of his play this season for us," defensive tackle Harrison Phillips said. The 27-year-old former first-rounder is going to need to play well to hold off McCarthy in 2024, but if he's the starter, Darnold will have QB2 appeal in superflex leagues given the talent that he's working with on offense.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold could be named the team's Week 1 starter over first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. As Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com writes, "It's only a matter of time before McCarthy becomes the Vikings' starting quarterback [...] but it is not likely to happen as quickly as some fans might hope, and if anything, the Vikings are poised to err on the side of methodical caution." Such a scenario could see Minnesota let Darnold, whom they signed this past offseason when Kirk Cousins left for Atlanta, start a few games before transitioning to McCarthy. Darnold has struggled to support major fantasy production from his playmakers at previous stops, including the Jets and Panthers, so fantasy managers might want to temper expectations with players like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson to start the year. Darnold himself falls to the low-end QB3 tier in fantasy football drafts.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that he's happy to have veteran quarterback Sam Darnold on the team this year. "I think his best football is ahead of him because of how he handled the last couple of years," O'Connell said. The Vikings head coach points out that he saw growth with Darnold's fundamentals as he worked as Brock Purdy's backup in San Francisco last year, and he's excited to get to work with him in Minnesota. The Vikings signed the former first-rounder to a one-year, $10 million deal this offseason, and depending on what the team does in the upcoming NFL draft, Darnold could open the year as the starter under center in Week 1. He'll have one of the best receivers in the game in Justin Jefferson to work with if he's starting, but Darnold will still be a midrange QB2, at best, in fantasy.
Free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold is expected to sign with the Minnesota Vikings when the new league year begins on Wednesday, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. He will ink a one-year, $10 million deal. The Vikings just lost veteran franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons, so Darnold could have the chance to earn a few starts in 2024. Minnesota could be eyeing a rookie quarterback in next month's NFL Draft, but Darnold could serve as a bridge quarterback as they ease a rookie into action. The former No. 3 overall pick by the New York Jets has thrown for 12,064 yards, 63 touchdowns, and 56 interceptions during his six-year NFL career. He was Brock Purdy's backup in San Francisco last season. Although he's not on the single-QB fantasy radar, he could be worth rostering in two-QB or Superflex leagues early next season.
Free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold is weighing free-agent offers between the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings, according to sources. The Broncos recently released Russell Wilson, who was quickly picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Meanwhile, the Vikings saw Kirk Cousins walk in free agency to the Atlanta Falcons, so both teams could use a veteran QB addition like Darnold to compete with either Jarrett Stidham (in Denver) or Nick Mullens? (in Minnesota). Of course, both teams could also make a move up in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft to land a future franchise signal-caller as well. Darnold, 26, was a bust for the Jets as the third overall pick in 2018 and has started just seven games in the last two years with the Panthers and Niners. If Darnold ends up starting for the majority of next season with either the Broncos or Vikings, their offenses would be in bad shape.
The Athletic's Dianna Russini writes that we should look for the Minnesota Vikings to go after free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold after former QB Kirk Cousins joined the Atlanta Falcons in free agency on Monday. Darnold has other suitors on the open market, but perhaps none more desperate than the Vikings right now. The former first-round pick spent the 2023 season as the San Francisco 49ers' backup to Brock Purdy, and he ended up going 28-for-46 for 297 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in 10 games played (one start). The 26-year-old looked much more comfortable with the Niners in limited action last year, but that doesn't mean he'll improve at all in a different organization if he's forced into a starting role for the Vikings in 2024. However, he would be in a strong situation with one of the best receivers in the game in Justin Jefferson.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold took all the snaps under center in Sunday's 21-20 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The former first-round pick got his only start of the season with regular starter Brock Purdy resting in a game the 49ers entered having already nailed down the No.1 playoff seed in the NFC. Darnold completed 16 of 26 attempts for 189 yards passing and one touchdown. He also added seven carries for 19 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Sunday's game was a decent showcase for Darnold as he'll be a free agent this summer hoping to sign somewhere with a chance to compete for a starting job in 2024.
San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Sam Darnold will draw his first start of the season in the team's final regular season game on Sunday at home versus the Los Angeles Rams. On Wednesday head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that starter Brock Purdy would see no action in Week 18 but that's no guarantee that Darnold will get all the snaps. On Friday morning general manager John Lynch commented "...we'll see if (third-string quarterback) Brandon Allen gets in there." In 2022 with the Panthers, Darnold averaged 14.4 fantasy points per game in a six-game stretch to finish the year, including a three-touchdown performance in Week 17, immediately followed by a dismal Week 18 when he produced less than one fantasy point. The Rams' pass defense has been the sixth-most generous to fantasy quarterbacks, but it's probably unwise to heed season-long statistics in a meaningless game with important starters on both sides resting. Darnold is an extremely unpredictable QB2 play in Week 18.
