Week 8 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
With Brock Purdy in concussion protocol, Sam Darnold is set to make his first start for the 49ers. Darnold had some moderate success in Carolina and New York, but was never consistent enough to stick. He has the best supporting cast he’s ever had now, however, so the 49ers are hoping he can get the offense back on track after a couple of disappointing losses.
This week, Darnold has a nice matchup against a Cincinnati defense that ranks 22nd in aFPA to opposing quarterbacks. Darnold should find success in what could be a shootout. Darnold is no stranger to fantasy success in the past, and with the weapons he has at his disposal, we have him ranked as a low-end QB1 option in fantasy leagues.
Update: Looks like Brock Purdy is ready to go, so make sure Darnold is no longer in your lineup.
Week 17 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sam Darnold hasn’t been super prolific since taking over as the starter four games ago, but he’s been very solid and pretty efficient. He’s also led the Panthers to a 3-1 record. Darnold threw for 250 yards and a touchdown last week against the Lions and added 19 yards and another score on the ground. Darnold now has six touchdowns - including two rushing - and zero interceptions over his four starts.
This week, Darnold has an above-average matchup against the Buccaneers, who rank 19th in aFPA to opposing quarterbacks. He shouldn’t be in the conversation as a QB1 option in most fantasy leagues, but in 2QB formats, he’s worth a gamble in a key divisional matchup.
Week 16 vs. Detroit Lions
Sam Darnold had 225 yards and a touchdown last week. He’s not doing anything incredible, but he hasn’t thrown an interception and has accounted for four touchdowns - including one rushing - and two victories in three games as the starter.
Darnold has some upside this week in a great matchup with the Lions, who rank 30th in aFPA to opposing quarterbacks. He’s still Sam Darnold, so take the upside with a grain of salt, but if you’re in a two-QB league and desperate, you can talk yourself into starting him. The game should feature a lot of passing and Darnold has looked mildly competent in recent outings.
Week 14 at Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold returned to the starting position before the bye last week, and delivered a victory over the Broncos. Darnold threw for 164 yards and a touchdown, and he also ran in a score in a lopsided victory. Darnold has some upside against the Seahawks this week, who rank 17th in aFPA to opposing quarterbacks. However, he also has a very low floor against a couple of ball-hawking corners. He’s also a candidate to get yanked, given how much the team has struggled all season. Consider him a desperation start in deep, 2QB leagues at best.
Week 17 at New Orleans Saints
The Panthers are on a horrible slide and look atrocious on offense. Sam Darnold may get the start, but he was used intermittently with Cam Newton last week, making it hard to trust his snaps. Whether Darnold starts or not against a tough Saints defense, leave him on waivers.
Week 16 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
There are rumors of Sam Darnold getting a chance to play in a supplemental role this week. Even if those rumors come to fruition, split touches and the struggling nature of this offense make him hard to trust. No thank you. Leave him on waivers.
Week 9 vs. New England Patriots
Sam Darnold had 129 yards passing and 66 yards on the ground last week against the Falcons before leaving with a concussion. His status for next week is up in the air, but regardless of whether or not he’s active, fantasy managers should stay away from the Panthers quarterback situation. Darnold’s been bad over the past several games and the Patriots are seventh in aFPA to opposing quarterbacks. He should be on waivers in most leagues.
Week 8 at Atlanta Falcons
Sam Darnold is getting worse every week. He had a woeful 111 yards and a pick against the Giants last week before he was benched in favor of P.J. Walker. After a great start to the season, Darnold has now lost four straight games and thrown seven interceptions in that time. The Panthers’ offense looked completely dysfunctional as the Giants destroyed them 25-3. Even though he has a great matchup against the Falcons this week, counting on him as anything better than a desperation QB2 option is dangerous. Sit him. Drop him.
Week 7 at New York Giants
Sam Darnold had 207 yards, a touchdown and a pick last week against the Vikings. It was a forgettable day for Darnold – although he did add 48 yards on the ground – as the Panthers dropped to 3-3 on the season and he was sacked four times. Darnold seems like who we thought he was heading into the season: a matchup option who can’t be trusted as an every-week starter.
The matchup favors him this week against a Giants defense that ranks 23rd in aFPA to opposing quarterbacks. New York is riddled with injuries on both sides of the ball, giving Darnold some upside for this week. We have him ranked as a fringe starter, and he should be considered a viable streaming option for teams with bye week issues.
Week 6 vs. Minnesota Vikings
Sam Darnold came crashing back to earth last week against the Eagles, throwing for just 177 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. After putting up borderline top-five numbers through the first four weeks – heavily aided by five rushing touchdowns – it seemed inevitable Darnold’s numbers would normalize. The real Darnold is likely somewhere in between the dreadful showing we saw last week, and the four previous games.
This week, Darnold faces a hot-and-cold Vikings defense that ranks ninth in aFPA to opposing quarterbacks. The Vikings shut down Jared Goff last week, but that was Jared Goff and the Lions, so it’s hard to figure out exactly how good they are. Likewise, with a shaky Baker Mayfield in Week 4. Expect Darnold to bounce back a bit, but to normalize into a fringe, matchup-based starter. We have him ranked just outside of QB1 territory this week, making him a viable streaming option against Minnesota.
