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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.
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.
The #Jets have been eliminated from playoff contention for a 13th straight year.
That's the longest playoff drought in North American professional sports. pic.twitter.com/LjVxXSbl70
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 17, 2023
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.
Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold Show That Bryce Young Isn't the Problem—The Panthers Are https://t.co/apBkZHLK7m pic.twitter.com/u6cPwFjLRH
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 16, 2024
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.
97-YARD TOUCHDOWN PASS #Skol
What a throw from Sam Darnold! What a run by @JJettas2 ✈️
📺 Watch live on @SkySportsNFL pic.twitter.com/OTGGVB0djg
— Minnesota Vikings UK (@UKVikings) September 15, 2024
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.
Sam Darnold navigating the pocket, seeing nothing open downfield, and getting to his checkdown
Our boy is growing up pic.twitter.com/oSBYh2qnq1
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) September 17, 2024
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.
Aaron Jones first Vikings touchdown of his career. pic.twitter.com/hjTIGr6eOJ
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) September 8, 2024
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.
Jordan Addison scores his 10th touchdown of the season! pic.twitter.com/rzVocifLb0
— vikesinsider (@vikesinsider) January 7, 2024
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.
Watch this throw by Sam Darnold.
This was the guy on the Jets?? pic.twitter.com/2nbH1U4Sxk
— Savage (@SavageSports_) September 18, 2024
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.
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