Source + player page
NFL.com News fantasy football takes on Sam Darnold
Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from NFL.com News about Sam Darnold.
56
Insights
15
Positive
26
Negative
Insight ledger
All NFL.com News insights about Sam Darnold
NegativeProjectionAug 1, 2026
Darnold's 2024 season ended poorly with two disastrous games for Minnesota, including a playoff loss to the Rams where he was sacked nine times and generated his lowest EPA of the year (-27.4). For Darnold to succeed with Seattle, he needs strong pass protection; his 2024 tendency to hold the ball (3.08 seconds average, third-longest in NFL) and take deep shots (73.2% of passes after 2.5 seconds, highest rate in league) makes him vulnerable to pressure.PositiveProjectionAug 1, 2026
Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million deal with Seattle after an excellent 2024 with Minnesota, throwing for career highs of 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns while averaging 3.08 seconds to throw (third-longest in NFL) and attempting 73.2% of passes after 2.5 seconds (highest rate in league). However, he has no guaranteed salary after 2025 and the team can save $27.5 million with a post-June 1, 2026 cut, meaning his performance will be heavily scrutinized in training camp and every snap matters.PositiveProjectionAug 1, 2026
Darnold rejuvenated his career last season in the Vikings offense, which is described as a 'Porsche of offenses' that has made almost every driver look good. The offense features Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and a remade offensive line, demonstrating the quality of weapons and system that elevated Darnold's performance.PositiveProjectionAug 1, 2026
Darnold authored a storybook tale last season, quarterbacking the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title after being viewed as a mega bust; he's back with the pressure of defending a championship and must learn new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury's system, which is similar to the departed Klint Kubiak's but still represents change.PositiveRoleNo date
Darnold has repeatedly seen defenders in his lap through the early part of the season; Nelson's entrance to the Seahawks' offensive line is expected to fix both run-game blocking issues and interior pass protection problems.PositiveProjectionNo date
Sam Darnold swept Caleb Williams in 2024 and comes off an impressive prime-time victory in Week 7, setting up an NFC title game rematch with the Bears on Monday night where he'll face a resurgent defense.NegativeProjectionNo date
Looked better in Week 7 than Week 6; made living off throwing fades to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and still managed to throw one brutal interception, erasing chance to land haymaker on Chiefs just before halftime. Fortunately, it didn't matter, but Seahawks' trade for guard Quenton Nelson wasn't just coincidence; Darnold needs to be settled in order to fully return to top form.NegativeProjectionNo date
Darnold has thrown as many interceptions (eight) as touchdowns through the Seahawks' 4-3 start and has committed at least one turnover in five consecutive games; the source notes this as an ample red flag beyond the offensive line issues.PositiveProjectionNo date
Seahawks quarterback was efficient in Week 7 win over Kansas City, completing 20 of 28 passes for 257 yards and one touchdown with one interception against a stout Chiefs defense; performance signals improvement in Seattle's passing game.NegativeProjectionNo date
After earning his second straight Pro Bowl bid last year and helping the Seahawks win the Super Bowl, Darnold appears to be regressing at age 29; he has thrown seven interceptions in Seattle's last four games (three losses), suggesting a return to earlier career struggles.NegativeProjectionNo date
Darnold has thrown seven interceptions in the past four weeks as the Seahawks' well-documented struggles on the ground are putting too much on the quarterback's plate; the team's decision to re-sign WR Rashid Shaheed to a three-year, $51 million deal while allowing Kenneth Walker III to walk to Kansas City for less money has contributed to this offensive imbalance.NegativeProjectionNo date
Darnold is suddenly turnover-prone and placed in Tier 4 of the QB rankings; Seattle needs better play from its offensive line and to diversify the offense beyond its disproportionate reliance on Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Darnold needs to calm his feet when JSN isn't instantly open. A running game would help, too.NegativeInjuryNo date
Darnold missed the Seahawks' season opener and Week 2 matchup against Arizona with a glute injury but has since returned. He stated he "feels good physically after missing time earlier in the season," indicating the glute injury is no longer a concern.NegativeProjectionNo date
Darnold has completed 60.4 percent of his passes for 1,033 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions through four games since returning in Week 3, tied with Justin Herbert and Drake Maye for the most interceptions in the NFL. The Seahawks are 1-3 with Darnold as starter, and he was under significant pressure in Thursday's loss with five sacks and 17 QB hits from Denver. Macdonald acknowledged Darnold "turned the ball over more than we want," and Darnold himself said "I think it's BS for me to keep turning the ball over."NegativeRoleNo date
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald stated unequivocally that Darnold's starting job is not in jeopardy, saying "No, no" when asked about benching him. Macdonald emphasized faith in Darnold despite recent performance struggles, noting "Sam's played a lot of great football for us. He's done a lot of great things this year" and positioning him as "definitely part of the solution rather than the opposite." This confirms Darnold will remain the starter despite turnovers and offensive struggles.NegativeInjuryNo date
Darnold said he feels good physically after missing time earlier in the season with a glute injury sustained in the season opener against New England.NegativeUsageNo date
Darnold was sacked five times for the second time in five days against Denver. He acknowledged he can get the ball out quicker and said on Tuesday he'd like to be more decisive. Cooper Kupp lamented that Seattle's offense is not doing a good enough job protecting Darnold, with the Broncos hitting him 17 times in the game.NegativeProjectionNo date
Darnold threw his seventh interception of the season (tying the NFL lead) in a 17-14 loss to Denver on Thursday night, including two picks in the game with the second in overtime setting up the game-winning field goal. He has led the league with 20 turnovers in the 2025 regular season (14 interceptions and six lost fumbles), though he flipped the switch in the playoffs with three turnover-free games. His repeated turnovers have become a critical liability for Seattle's championship defense, which can no longer overcome his mistakes as easily as they did last season.NegativeMatchupNo date
Sam Darnold's turnovers helped the Broncos' defense bail out Denver's struggling offense in the 17-14 OT win over Seattle. The source credits Darnold's mistakes as a key factor in Denver's ability to win despite generating only 168 total yards.NegativeProjectionNo date
Darnold's turnover issues are escalating into a critical problem for Seattle. Over six games, he has thrown seven interceptions (tied for league lead), with three multi-interception outings in 2025 matching his entire 2024 total. On Thursday, he threw a career-high 51 times for 278 yards with a 52.6 rating, including two costly interceptions: one with 1:31 remaining in regulation with a chance for a go-ahead score, and the game-killer in overtime when he threw an atrocious pass jumped by Ja'Quan McMillian. All of his picks this season have come in one-score games. The source emphasizes that despite his Pro Bowl 2024 season and Super Bowl win, his 2025 performance cannot be overlooked, and Seattle's offensive line and Darnold's play must both improve for the team to duplicate last year's success.NegativeMatchupNo date
Seahawks quarterback was baited into throwing an interception by Renardo Green, who recognized the play design and let tight end Elijah Arroyo run by momentarily before breaking on the ball.NegativeProjectionNo date
Darnold took five sacks (most since joining the Seahawks) and threw two interceptions against the 49ers last week, continuing a turnover pattern where he has accounted for five giveaways in Seattle's last three games. He has the same number of interceptions and touchdown passes (three each) in the last two weeks with the seventh-lowest passer rating among qualified QBs during that period. Against Denver's defense tied for sixth-most interceptions (five through Week 5), Darnold's sloppiness presents significant risk.NegativeProjectionNo date
Darnold is still playing some sloppy football after returning from injury, which all but canceled out his good plays in Sunday's narrow loss to San Francisco.NegativeProjectionNo date
Darnold tossed an interception on his first pass attempt for the second straight week and threw a pair of interceptions Sunday, increasing his season total to five—all of which have come during Seattle's past three games, including two losses. With 87 interceptions in 104 career NFL games, Darnold recognizes he cannot put possessions in jeopardy and must improve at taking care of the football.NegativeProjectionNo date
Seahawks quarterback has gone 1-1 since returning from the hip injury that knocked him out of the first quarter of the season opener, posting six passing touchdowns and three interceptions in those games; he faces a 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris who will dial up the pressure to force Darnold into mistakes.NegativeMatchupNo date
Sam Darnold will face Seattle's elite defense in Week 5; the Seahawks have the seventh-lowest pressure rate (31.6%) but still allow the fewest total yards per game (246.8), yards per play (4.0), and pass yards per game (144.8) while tying for the most interceptions (6) in the league.NegativeProjectionNo date
Still a little rusty in second game back from injury in Week 4, although it didn't matter much in Seattle's victory over Chargers.NegativeProjectionNo date
Return from injury was fraught with turnovers, but between back-breaking mistakes, made some fantastic throws primarily to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and piled up 379 passing yards; mixed performance with both elite moments and critical errors.NegativeInjuryNo date
Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury in Week 1 and could return from the injury this week against the Commanders, though his status remains uncertain as the Seahawks have maintained their 2-0 record with Drew Lock at quarterback.PositiveInjuryNo date
Darnold cleared from injury report with no designation after missing Week 2 with glute injury; progressed from limited participation Wednesday to full practice Thursday; will start Week 3 against Washington Commanders.PositiveProjectionNo date
Darnold is striving to start against the Commanders on Sunday; coach Mike Macdonald said the Seahawks would decide by end of Friday whether Darnold or backup Drew Lock will start, with the decision hinging on Darnold's availability and comfort level rather than Lock's solid play or Seattle's defense. Macdonald stated: "It's a function at this point of, 'Does he feel good enough to play.'" Darnold said he was taking it day by day and that his final hurdle before feeling ready to play will be a mental one—being able to take off and slide without worrying about the hip.PositiveInjuryNo date
Darnold was a full participant in Thursday practice after being limited Wednesday, marking his first return to the field in two weeks following a glute injury sustained five snaps into the season-opening win over New England on Sept. 9. Offensive coordinator Brian Fleury said Darnold has looked "great," and Darnold reported feeling only slightly sore after Wednesday's session with otherwise a clean bill of health. The injury, initially described as a "very unique, soft-tissue injury" to the hip, was not career-threatening; Darnold's recovery timeline has "shifted quite drastically" for the better in the 10 days since the injury, and he was never a candidate for injured reserve.NegativeInjuryNo date
QB Sam Darnold (glute) is 'striving' to play Sunday against the Commanders; he has missed most of the last two weeks with the injury suffered in Seattle's Week 1 game and returned to practice on Wednesday.PositiveInjuryNo date
Darnold is expected to return to practice in some capacity this week for the Seahawks after suffering a glute injury in Week 1, with the team maintaining competitive 2-0 record in his absence via backup Drew Lock.PositiveInjuryNo date
Darnold is expected to return to practice in some capacity this week for the Seahawks after suffering a glute injury in Week 1, suggesting near-term availability.NegativeInjuryNo date
Sam Darnold was unavailable for Sunday's game against Arizona but is expected to practice this week and could return as early as Sunday against the Washington Commanders.PositiveInjuryNo date
Sam Darnold is out with a glute injury but coach Mike Macdonald said postgame that Darnold's timetable for returning has 'shifted quite drastically for the better'; Darnold could start as soon as September 27 against the Washington Commanders, indicating a faster-than-expected recovery.NegativeInjuryNo date
Darnold remains sidelined for the Seahawks heading into their Week 2 matchup against the Cardinals. The source notes that despite Darnold's absence, Mike Macdonald's team is plenty capable of winning games with defense, as evidenced by Seattle's 13-10 win over New England in Week 1.NegativeInjuryNo date
Darnold is out with a glute injury and missed Wednesday's practice, sitting out again Thursday. Lock has been leaning heavily on Darnold in quarterback meetings despite Darnold's absence, with Darnold unable to participate in practice preparation.NegativeInjuryNo date
Sam Darnold is dealing with a glute injury that forced him out of Week 1, with Drew Lock taking over in relief; Brooke questions whether Lock can deliver in his first start since Week 18 of the 2024 season.NegativeInjuryNo date
The source reports that Sam Darnold suffered an opening-drive injury in Week 1 against the Seahawks, forcing the Patriots to rely on backup quarterback Drake Maye for the remainder of the game.NegativeRoleNo date
Darnold executed the walk-off 2-point conversion pass to Eric Saubert in Week 16 overtime against the Rams, demonstrating his role in Seattle's high-leverage situational moments under Mike Macdonald's scheme-focused approach.NegativeInjuryNo date
Glute injury will prevent Sam Darnold from playing in Week 2; QB Drew Lock will start for Seattle against the Cardinals on Sunday, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters on Wednesday.NegativeInjuryNo date
Darnold suffered a glute injury in Week 1 and only saw a handful of plays, landing ahead of Jacoby Brissett in the rankings largely because he wasn't afforded much time to succeed or fail.PositiveInjuryNo date
Darnold (glute) suffered a 'very unique soft-tissue injury' five snaps into Week 1 against New England but is not expected to land on injured reserve, per Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald. The source clarifies Darnold's hip joint was not affected and suggests he will be back within a month; the team will take a week-by-week approach to his return. He is ruled out for Week 2 but the outlook is described as promising.PositiveProjectionNo date
Darnold's bounce-back 2024 season provided validation of O'Connell's offensive system; the Vikings won 14 regular-season games with Darnold at quarterback, and O'Connell was named NFL Coach of the Year, establishing the foundation for the 2025 season.NegativeInjuryNo date
Darnold suffered a 'very unique soft-tissue injury' to his glute with his hip joint unaffected; the injury is not considered long-term but has no firm timeline for return. He exited Wednesday's Kickoff Game win over the Patriots and was not seen on the field during Monday's practice media availability. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that Darnold avoided a major injury and could miss a few weeks; Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said the team received 'really, really good news' on Darnold.NegativeInjuryNo date
Seahawks QB Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury during Wednesday's 13-10 win against New England and exited after just five plays, giving way to backup Drew Lock. Coach Mike Macdonald said the team received 'positive news' about the injury and is working through the extent of the damage. With 10 days until the next game against Arizona on Sept. 20, Darnold will have extended time to recover, though his availability remains uncertain.NegativeInjuryNo date
Sam Darnold (hip) is expected to miss Seattle's Week 2 game against Arizona. Coach Mike Macdonald characterized the injury as more of a 'muscle' thing rather than structural, suggesting potential for faster recovery than a more serious hip injury.NegativeInjuryNo date
Darnold exited Wednesday's Week 1 win over New England after five plays due to a hip injury sustained on a sack; he limped to the locker room in obvious discomfort. He is expected to miss Week 2 against Arizona. Coach Mike Macdonald reported the hip is intact and it's a muscle issue rather than structural damage; Darnold could miss just a few weeks and has avoided a lengthy absence. With 18 days between Week 1 and Week 3 (vs. Washington), a one- or two-week absence is possible.NegativeInjuryNo date
Darnold, the Patriots' starting QB, was lost five plays into the season-opening game against Seattle, forcing Maye into action. The source does not specify the nature or severity of the injury.NegativeInjuryNo date
Sam Darnold's first game as a Super Bowl champion ended after just five plays when he was sacked on third down and suffered a hip injury that knocked him out of the game, dampening Seattle's offensive momentum for more than two quarters.NegativeInjuryNo date
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury during Seattle's first drive of the season opener against the Patriots when sacked by Dre'Mont Jones on third down; he was attended to by trainers in the blue tent and limped to the locker room, rendering him questionable to return.NegativeRoleNo date
Sam Darnold will rely on the Seahawks' running back trio of Jadarian Price, George Holani, and Emanuel Wilson to put him in manageable situations where he can thrive, following the departure of Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III.NegativeProjectionNo date
Sam Darnold is one of just three Seattle Seahawks representatives in the Top 100 Players ranking, despite the team winning the Super Bowl. The source argues the Seahawks were underrepresented relative to their championship status.PositiveProjectionNo date
Darnold produced a career-best year for the Vikings in 2025 after J.J. McCarthy underwent season-ending knee surgery as a rookie, opening the starting opportunity for Darnold to establish himself as a reliable option at the position.