Sam Darnold was viewed as a franchise quarterback back in 2018, when the New York Jets selected him with the third overall pick. While it’s been a bumpy ride, he paid off that pedigree in 2025. He has thrown for 4,000 yards in consecutive seasons, which is certainly not nothing, but is he any more of a fantasy football asset this season than he was last?
Should You Draft Sam Darnold in Fantasy Football?
Everything went right for Seattle last season. The Seahawks were able to dictate the tempo consistently, and they got a career year from their WR1. They reached their ultimate goal, but that success cost Darnold any chance at viability in fantasy football (he spent only seven weeks as a top-15 option).
This makes him a simple fade: when a team aims to limit a player’s statistical output, we avoid that player. The inverse is also true (e.g., Joe Burrow). While Darnold can be highly efficient, it simply doesn’t matter in the volume-centric game we play.
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In 2025, Darnold ranked 30th in quarterback opportunities (pass plus rush attempts) per game. That placed him behind Aaron Rodgers and Geno Smith — two veterans we generally have no interest in.
Naturally, that number could rise a bit in 2026 if Seattle’s run game isn’t as dominant. However, the required change would necessitate a complete flip in offensive scheme, not just standard regression within a reasonable range of outcomes.
Even if Seattle decided to get crazy and change what worked so well for them a year ago, we are still talking about a very fragile fantasy profile. There is no consistent rushing production to bank on, and behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, there isn’t a single volume-target earner on the roster.
In an offense with an elite wideout and a rookie RB1, Darnold could look like a fantasy asset once a month. That wouldn’t be surprising, but you shouldn’t try to pin the tail on those performances in an annual league.
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If the matchup stars align, go ahead and pay down for him in DFS lineups; however, this isn’t a quarterback that season-long drafters need to concern themselves with.
Darnold’s Dynasty Fantasy Football Value
Darnold turned 29 this summer, and it’s pretty clear who he is at the NFL level. The “game manager” label gets thrown around with a negative connotation, and while I don’t think that’s fair in the “real” football world, it’s completely fair in ours.
Darnold can make a good team very good through sound decision-making and execution. Nevertheless, he remains a player with no real path to sustainable fantasy value, given the depth of talent at the position this season.
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If you’re looking his direction in any annual format, it should be as a stable QB2 in a Superflex setting who can help you hold serve at the position. In essence, his role in leagues that allow you to play multiple quarterbacks mirrors his role for Seattle: don’t be the reason your team loses.
