Sam Darnold headshot

QB · SEA · #14

Sam Darnold

Height
HT 6'3"
Weight
WT 225 lbs
Birth date
Jun 5, 1997 (age 29.2)
College
USC

Path runs QB54 → QB9 → QB14 — a bounce-back, not a blank slate.

Traded from NYJ to CAR (Apr 5, 2021).

Dynasty Value Score (DVS)

3,852

Range 3,5344,163

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

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

Buy low

Darnold threw for 4,048 yards and 25 TDs in 2025, finishing QB14. 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. 2026 still looks like a starter, not a stash. That's a buy-low window if the price still reflects the rough year, not the recovery.

NextDyne coverage

Dynasty notes from our blog that mention Sam Darnold.

2025 fantasy highlights

Half-PPR points

235.4

PPG

13.8

Positional finish

QB14

Key stats

  • Pass yds: 4048 (QB5)
  • Pass TD: 25 (QB9)

2025: 13.8 PPG actual vs 14.4 expected from usage (17 REG weeks, half-PPR) — underperformed by 4%.

Career (Half-PPR)

SeasonFinishHalf-PPR FPPPGPass ydPass TDRush ydRush TDRecRec ydRec TD
2025QB14235.413.840482595
2024QB9308.018.14319352121
2023QB5423.42.32972151
2022QB3586.314.4114371062
2021QB28157.313.1252792225
2020QB32134.011.2220892172
2019QB27189.214.6302419622
2018QB27168.112.92865171351

Career arc

01002003004002018: 168.1 Half-PPR16820182019: 189.2 Half-PPR18920192020: 134.0 Half-PPR13420202021: 157.3 Half-PPR15720212022: 86.3 Half-PPR8620222023: 23.4 Half-PPR2320232024: 308.0 Half-PPR30820242025: 235.4 Half-PPR23520252026 projection: 246.7 Half-PPR2472026*

Dashed bar is the 2026 Engine projection, not a completed season.

Recent games (2025)

WeekHalf-PPR FPOppScriptPassRushRec
2025 W188.8SF65 plays · 40% pass19890
2025 W176.1CAR63 plays · 43% pass147 / 1 TD20
2025 W1619.5LA59 plays · 58% pass270 / 2 TD70
2025 W1511.3IND58 plays · 62% pass27150
2025 W1422.3ATL56 plays · 54% pass249 / 3 TD230
2025 W133.1MIN58 plays · 45% pass12800
2025 W1217.7TEN46 plays · 57% pass244 / 2 TD-10
2025 W114.3LA79 plays · 56% pass279110
2025 W104.9ARI58 plays · 21% pass178 / 1 TD-20
2025 W927.2WAS48 plays · 50% pass330 / 4 TD00

Weekly Half-PPR

ActualExpected
510152025309101112131415161718Week

Hover a week for the gap.

Dashed line is expected Half-PPR from usage.

Those opponents

Pass yards they allowed per game in 2025, vs league. Plus is easier.

  • SF
    +7% · 242 pass yards
  • CAR
    -4% · 215 pass yards
  • LA
    +4% · 235 pass yards
  • IND
    +17% · 263 pass yards
  • ATL
    -1% · 222 pass yards
  • MIN
    -21% · 178 pass yards
  • TEN
    +10% · 248 pass yards
  • ARI
    +8% · 243 pass yards
  • WAS
    +14% · 257 pass yards

Usage and availability

Snap share

2025 offense · 96.2% mean

255075100W1W18

pass-attempt share

2550751009101112131415161718Week

Hover a week for the share.

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

  • 2023
    10 G
  • 2024
    17 G
  • 2025
    17 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

28th of 42

Aggressiveness
13.6%

30th of 42

CPOE
4.3pp

4th of 42

Air yds to sticks
-0.6yd

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 3,852 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?
That's a buy-low window if the price still reflects the rough year, not the recovery. Run the actual numbers on the dynasty trade calculator before you commit — stance is a starting point, not a price.