Sam Darnold's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

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.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that quarterback Brock Purdy will not play in the Week 18 regular season finale against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. As a result, Sam Darnold will make his first start of the season in a meaningless game for the Niners, as they are already locked into the top seed in the NFC and will have a first-round bye in the playoffs. In addition to Purdy, the Niners ruled out star running back Christian McCaffrey (calf) already after he strained his calf in the Week 17 win over the Washington Commanders. San Francisco could choose to limit other key offensive weapons this weekend, making all Niners players risky in fantasy lineups in Week 18. Darnold will be in play as a low-end QB2 option for fantasy managers in leagues that start two QBs.

With the San Francisco 49ers potentially resting starters in a meaningless Week 18 game against the Los Angeles Rams, quarterback Sam Darnold and running back Jordan Mason could see heavier workloads this Sunday. Darnold could get the start so that the team can rest Brock Purdy heading into the postseason while also giving Darnold an opportunity to showcase his stuff before he heads to free agency in 2024. Brandon Allen could also see reps under center. Running back Christian McCaffrey (calf) has already been ruled out, and given Elijah Mitchell's injury history, Mason could be in line for lead-back duties against the Rams, with fellow 2022 rookie Tyrion Davis-Price also seeing a heavier workload. The Niners would have to elevate Davis-Price from their practice squad to the 53-man active roster.