Fantasy managers looking for a QB1 rest of season need to pick up Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold. Through four weeks pending Monday nights finish, Darnold is sitting at QB5 overall, behind Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts, and Tom Brady.
In his fourth year, Darnold is making a case that the Adam Gase effect is real, posting 1,189 yards passing on a 67.8 percent completion percentage and adding five rushing touchdowns through four weeks. Darnold currently leads the league in rushing touchdowns and without the help of Christian McCaffery in the red zone, Darnold may continue to see an uptick in his 17 designed runs so far this season.
“Really creative use of his athleticism in the red zone,’’ FOX Sports analyst Greg Olsen said on the telecast. “For a guy that’s not really thought of highly as a runner, he’s very effective.’’
Sam Darnold with his LEAGUE-LEADING 5th rush TD of the season ‼️
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 3, 2021
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/ezb0EzmEhw
This is the first time we’ve seen Darnold as a fantasy-relevant quarterback and it looks like he will be here to stay. With D.J. Moore and McCaffery as his primary weapons, Darnold has hyper-targeted the two early on in the season and he doesn’t look to stop. Moore has seen over 10 targets in three out of four weeks and has been a major asset to Darnold’s fantasy relevance.
“I think [the Panthers] have hit on the best quarterback in franchise history.”-Terry Bradshaw on Sam Darnold. #KeepPounding
— Jarrett Bailey (@JBaileyNFL) October 3, 2021
The Panthers have one of the easiest rest of season schedules and with a four-week stretch of Eagles, Vikings, Giants, and Falcons on tap, Darnold will look to continue his fantasy dominance.
With an easy schedule ahead lock and load Darnold as a low-end QB1 rest of season. Somehow, Darnold is still available in 63 percent of leagues and will be a hot pickup on the Week 5 Waiver Wire.
Darnold is available in 63 percent of leagues and currently sits a 14th on The Wolf’s Rest of Season Fantasy Rankings & Big Board. Check back in on Tuesday for updated rankings.
