SamDarnold

News: 3 days agoDarnold is poised to start the Vikings' Sept. 8 season opener versus the Giants and could remain atop the depth chart at quarterback for the entire 2024 campaign after 10th overall pick J.J. McCarthy (knee) underwent season-ending meniscus surgery Wednesday, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.

Spin: Darnold will continue dominating first-team reps while Nick Mullens moves up to the No. 2 role. The team may also consider signing another quarterback, but if Darnold is able to competently command the offense, he now has a clear path to a season-long starting gig. While he's mostly struggled throughout his career and has never played more than 13 games in a season, Darnold will have a strong supporting cast at his disposal in Minnesota. Justin Jefferson is arguably the best receiver in the league, Jordan Addison (ankle) is primed to build upon a 911-yard, 10-touchdown rookie campaign, and tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) should eventually provide the quarterback with a third talented pass-catching option. However, the Vikings offense could be somewhat limited if Addison is suspended for his offseason DUI arrest and/or Hockenson's recovery from an ACL tear stretches into the later portion of the regular season. Even with those concerns, it's a better situation than Darnold ever had during his time as a starter with the Jets and Panthers, making him a fantasy option for two-quarterback and superflex leagues, if nothing else.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Darnold signed with the Vikings this offseason, his fourth team in five years, after backing up Brock Purdy in San Francisco last season. With rookie J.J. McCarthy set to miss his rookie season, Darnold is in line to make a majority (if not all) starts for Minnesota this season. Of course, in his six seasons in the league, Darnold has never appeared in more than 13 games, nor has he finished higher than QB28 in fantasy points. Perhaps Kevin O'Connell and a good group of targets can lead Darnold to a surprise breakout season, but he's not worth drafting in standard ESPN leagues.