QB · SEA · #14
Sam DarnoldD
- Height
- HT 6'3"
- Weight
- WT 225 lbs
- Birth date
- Jun 5, 1997 (age 29.3)
- College
- USC
Played a short 2026 (1 games) — health is the nearer question than talent.
Traded from NYJ to CAR (Apr 5, 2021).
Dynasty Value Score (DVS)
3,757
Range 3,449–4,060
Based on 2025 production and our 2026 projection
Proven QB in his prime — production and runway both hold.
DVS is our model view, scored on Engine-default half-PPR — not a guaranteed price in your league. Bye weeks and schedule strength are left out on purpose.
2026 Engine Projections
246.7 pts
14.5 PPG · 16.5 games
3812.1 pass yds · 25.1 pass TD · 170.2 rush yds
Dynasty Value Score over time
History starts Preseason 2026.
Player quality
Why this DVS moved off a raw projection.
Durability ×0.98
One recent short season (games missed). Production already saw the missed games — this is forward risk only.
Process ×0.99
Process residual (not a second production percentile).
Org environment ×0.99
Team pass/rush volume vs league — scheme residual, not a second projection.
Quick answer
WatchDarnold threw for 13 yards in 2026, finishing QB35. Darnold won Super Bowl LX with Seattle in the 2025 season, but fantasy value slipped as Seattle shifted him into a game-manager role after Week 10 and leaned on defense and the run. Played a short 2026 (1 games) — health is the nearer question than talent. Treat this as a watch, not a hold-forever — confirm the dip is real before adding more exposure.
NextDyne coverage
Dynasty notes from our blog that mention Sam Darnold.
- NewsNextDyne
Sam Darnold "Dodged a Bullet." Here's His Updated Timeline.
Sam Darnold's MRI results are in — the Seahawks say he "dodged a bullet." Here's his return timeline and updated dynasty value after Week 1.
- NewsNextDyne
Sam Darnold Is Out for the Rest of Week 1. Here's What We Know.
Sam Darnold is out for the rest of Seattle's Week 1 opener with a right hip injury. Here's what it means for his dynasty value and Drew Lock's outlook.
- NewsNextDyne
The Season Is Here — What to Know Before Week 1 Kicks Off
Dynasty and redraft managers, the season starts tonight. Here's every Week 1 storyline, injury tag, and lineup question that matters before kickoff.
- StrategyNextDyne
Jayden Daniels Missed Half of 2025 — Is He Still a Top-Tier Dynasty QB?
Jayden Daniels played just 7 games in 2025 due to three separate injuries. The latest board keeps him in the QB1 mix — 6,973 DVS, 13th among quarterbacks — with an 18.7-point 2026 projection.
- StrategyNextDyne
Is T.J. Hockenson Still a Top-5 Dynasty TE?
Kyler Murray just won the Vikings' starting job over J.J. McCarthy. Here's what it means for T.J. Hockenson's dynasty value after two down years.
- StrategyNextDyne
Is JSN's Breakout Year Real or a Product of Volume?
Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the NFL in receiving yards, won a Super Bowl, and just signed a $168.6 million extension. Here's why his dynasty value isn't a volume mirage.
2026 fantasy highlights
Half-PPR points
0.5
PPG
0.5
Positional finish
QB35
Key stats
- Pass yds: 13 (QB34)
- Pass TD: —
Career (Half-PPR)
| Season | Finish | Half-PPR FP | PPG | Pass yd | Pass TD | Rush yd | Rush TD | Rec | Rec yd | Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | QB35 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | QB14 | 235.4 | 13.8 | 4048 | 25 | 95 | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | QB9 | 308.0 | 18.1 | 4319 | 35 | 212 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 2023 | QB54 | 23.4 | 2.3 | 297 | 2 | 15 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 2022 | QB35 | 86.3 | 14.4 | 1143 | 7 | 106 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 2021 | QB28 | 157.3 | 13.1 | 2527 | 9 | 222 | 5 | — | — | — |
| 2020 | QB32 | 134.0 | 11.2 | 2208 | 9 | 217 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 2019 | QB27 | 189.2 | 14.6 | 3024 | 19 | 62 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 2018 | QB27 | 168.1 | 12.9 | 2865 | 17 | 135 | 1 | — | — | — |
Career arc
Dashed bar is the 2026 Engine projection, not a completed season.
Recent games (2026)
| Week | Half-PPR FP | Opp | Script | Pass | Rush | Rec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 W1 | 0.5 | NE | 46 plays · 52% pass | 13 | 0 | 0 |
Week 1 Engine grade
Projected 14.6 · scored 0.5 half-PPR · outside the floor–ceiling band. Miss +14.1.
Those opponents
Pass yards they allowed per game in 2026, vs league. Plus is easier.
- NE-11% · 200 pass yards
Usage and availability
Snap share
2025 offense · 96.2% mean
Pass-play participation
99.5%
2025· share of the team’s dropback plays this player was on the field for. Presence, not a charted route rate.
Advanced (2025)
- Pressure rate
- 21.0%
- On-target throw %
- 79.8%
- Avg time in pocket
- 2.4s
Durability
- 202310 G
- 202417 G
- 202517 G
- 16.5 projected games — injury history is priced as risk, not a short 2026 slate.
R1 (3 overall) QB · that slot hit at 39.5% in 2010–2023 classes (n=43; contributor 62.8%). Window is the first three NFL seasons.
Next Gen Stats
2025 season · Next Gen Stats · ranks among NGS sample
- Time to throw
- 2.86s
- Aggressiveness
- 13.6%
- CPOE
- 4.3pp
- Air yds to sticks
- -0.6yd
28th of 42
30th of 42
4th of 42
15th of 42
Historical comps
Similar age, draft capital, and role — context for outcome bands, not a second DVS.
FAQ
- What is Sam Darnold's dynasty value on NextDyne?
- Darnold scores 3,757 out of 10,000. The score blends 2025 production with our 2026 projection. Superflex and TE Premium shift the rankings; the trade calculator shows how.
- What is Sam Darnold's 2026 Engine Projection?
- We project 14.5 half-PPR points per game for 2026. That rate feeds Value Score — multiply by games and your league’s scoring if you want a season total.
- How are season fantasy points calculated on this page?
- Season totals and the recent game log use Half-PPR so every public profile matches our Engine board. Your league’s scoring shows up inside the app.
- Should I trade for Sam Darnold in dynasty right now?
- Treat this as a watch, not a hold-forever — confirm the dip is real before adding more exposure. Run the actual numbers on the dynasty trade calculator before you commit — stance is a starting point, not a price.