Sam Darnold Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

QB Baker Mayfield has the "inside track" for the Panthers' starting job, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Mayfield and QB Sam Darnold have been splitting reps in camp, and that's expected to continue in the preseason, per Rapoport. "Based on the understanding [Mayfield] has of this offense, based on the kind of plays he can make, the kind of command he's already getting inside this locker room, it certainly does seem like it's Baker Mayfield's job to win," Rapoport says. We've projected Mayfield as Carolina's starter since the trade was made back in early July. Mayfield is just a low-end QB2 but should be an upgrade for RB Christian McCaffrey, WR D.J. Moore and the rest of the Panthers' skill-position guys.

Joseph Person of The Athletic reports that the Panthers continue to alternate QB Baker Mayfield with QB Sam Darnold in 1st-team workouts at training camp. HC Matt Rhule says he'll let the competition play out rather than anointing anyone. Person writes, "My expectation is that it will be Mayfield -- and nothing from the first seven practices has changed my mind." He adds that Mayfield has looked more comfortable in the 2nd week of camp than he did the 1st, though he also says Darnold has "looked sharp." We'll continue assuming that Mayfield wins out but will watch for confirmation.

Panthers GM Scott Fitterer called the team’s QB situation “an open competition” on Tuesday. As such, Fitterer anticipates the reps being divvied up “fairly evenly” at the start of training camp. While competition might be a point of emphasis, Baker Mayfield enters camp as the clear favorite to start Week 1 over Sam Darnold. Current QB projections have the former Brown slated for 15 games.

The Browns are trading QB Baker Mayfield to the Panthers for a conditional 5th-round pick in 2024, NFL Network reports. The 2 teams "split the financials to make it happen," according to Ian Rapoport, so Carolina is presumably picking up about half of Mayfield's nearly $19 million 2022 cap hit. Mayfield is coming off a disappointing, injury-riddled 2021 season but played well the previous year, finishing 10th among 32 qualifiers in Pro Football Focus' passing grades. In fact, Mayfield earned higher PFF passing grades in each of his first 3 NFL seasons than QB Sam Darnold has managed in any of his 4 NFL seasons. So Mayfield is a tangible upgrade for D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, Terrace Marshall and Christian McCaffrey. Mayfield himself looks like just a middling QB2, although those weapons give him some weekly upside. Check out the updated projections for the Panthers offense.

Update: Per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Mayfield agreed to shave about $3.5 million off his 2022 salary. The Browns will pay him $10.5 million this year; the Panthers around $5 million.

Speaking at minicamp, Panthers HC Matt Rhule indicated that QB Matt Corral isn’t close to earning the starting job. “He has a good spirit, a good demeanor about him when he walks in the building. And I think he understands there’s no timetable for him,” Rhule said Tuesday. “I think he has that sense of urgency when he works. I respect the way he works. But he has a lot to learn. A lot to learn.” None of this should be shocking — it’s June, and Corral’s a Round 3 rookie. Still, with Sam Darnold running with the starters and Carolina reportedly very interested in Baker Mayfield, Corral’s path to year 1 snaps looks rough. He’s a dynasty-only stash for now.

CBS' Jonathan Jones reports that the Browns and Panthers are involved in trade talks "surrounding" QB Baker Mayfield. Jones reports that there's "urgency" for Carolina to make a move early enough to get Mayfield some minicamp reps with the team. He adds that the Panthers' offer is the best Cleveland has gotten and that the primary sticking point is how much of Mayfield's 2022 salary the Browns would pay. The QB is in the 5th and final year of his rookie contract and will likely face a "prove it" year, with unrestricted free agency ahead in March 2023. He makes obvious sense for Carolina, which currently sports Sam Darnold and Matt Corral as the top 2 options. And the relationship between Mayfield and the Browns looks finished. Mayfield hasn't proved to be a high-upside fantasy QB through 4 seasons, but the Panthers would set him up with nice pass-catching talent -- led by D.J. Moore and Christian McCaffrey. Stacking him with 1 or both players in best-ball tournament lineups now would be a low-risk, high-upside move.

According to beat writer Jonathan Alexander, Panthers QB Sam Darnold “seems primed" to start the season opener vs. Cleveland. Alexander points to Darnold's experience and performance at OTAs thus far as supporting evidence. While Darnold’s a near lock to start Week 1, the smart money is on rookie Matt Corral taking over at some point in 2022.

The Panthers' starting QB job is "up for grabs," GM Scott Fitterer said. Fitterer said that Sam Darnold "is the number one guy right now" and "has every opportunity to take it and run with it." But he also added that QB Matt Corral will play if he “gives us the best opportunity to win.” Frankly, it's a win for the rookie that the GM isn't fully committing to the veteran at this point of the offseason. If it's truly an open competition in training camp, Corral has a shot to be under center come Week 1.

The Panthers chose QB Matt Corral in Round 3 of the NFL Draft. Corral’s college career infamously finished with a high-ankle sprain in the Sugar Bowl. Before that, though, came a pair of successful starting seasons under HC Lane Kiffin. Corral threw 49 TDs vs. 19 INTs over those 2 campaigns, cutting his turnovers down as a senior. More importantly for fantasy, he also tallied 1,120 yards and 15 TDs on the ground in an RPO-heavy offense. Corral doesn’t look like a future fantasy stud, but he could be a useful QB2. He’ll immediately push QB Sam Darnold for the starting job in Carolina.

Panthers QB Sam Darnold will start this weekend's game vs. the Saints, HC Matt Rhule said Wednesday. Rhule added that QB Cam Newton "will be ready," but it's unclear if he'll play at all. Darnold, of course, isn't a recommended fantasy play even if he's out there for 100% of the snaps.

Panthers QB Sam Darnold could play a "substantial amount" vs. the Bucs today, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. QB Cam Newton will get the start but Darnold is expected to enter "within a few series," per Rapoport. "Playing time will be determined based on the success Darnold is having." This is obviously a situation to avoid in Week 16 fantasy lineups. Rapoport adds that Darnold could cement himself as the starter for the final 2 games of the season based on his performance today.

Panthers HC Matt Rhule said Wednesday that QB Sam Darnold (shoulder) will play vs. the Bucs this weekend. QB Cam Newton will start and have a "major role," Rhule added. It's completely unclear how snaps will be divvied between the 2 QBs, making the situation an easy avoid in Week 16 fantasy lineups.

Panthers QB Sam Darnold (shoulder) has been designated to return from IR and will practice on Wednesday, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Darnold has been out since fracturing the scapula in his right shoulder back in Week 9. HC Matt Rhule said earlier this week that Darnold might get back into the mix down the stretch, so we'll see where this goes.

The Panthers are not expecting to get QB Sam Darnold (shoulder) back this season, a source tells ESPN's Adam Schefter. HC Matt Rhule said earlier this week that Darnold could be back in 4-6 weeks, but it sounds like that was optimistic. QB Cam Newton is expected to start Week 11 and will likely be under center the rest of the season.

The Panthers placed QB Sam Darnold (shoulder) on IR. He'll miss at least the next 3 games but is expected to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks. Carolina gave QB Cam Newton $4.5 million guaranteed for the rest of this season, so don't be surprised if Darnold doesn't get the starting job back.

The Panthers brass is set to meet with free-agent QB Cam Newton on Thursday, according to The Charlotte Observer's Jonathan Alexander. Carolina is expected to be without QB Sam Darnold (shoulder) for the next 4-6 weeks. Newton would be an upgrade over QB P.J. Walker -- and an upgrade over the Darnold we've gotten the past month. We'll see where this goes.

Panthers QB Sam Darnold (shoulder) will be placed on IR and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks, HC Matt Rhule said Wednesday. Darnold's injury is not believed to be season-ending, Rhule added, but he can be dropped in all 1-QB fantasy leagues. QB P.J. Walker is slated to start while Darnold is out, with QB Matt Barkley backing him up.

Tests have revealed a fractured scapula in the right shoulder of Panthers QB Sam Darnold, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Darnold is expected to miss "several weeks" with the injury, which Tom Pelissero reports is an "incomplete" fracture. P.J. Walker figures to step in, and Carolina also added Matt Barkley this week. A struggling Panthers offense isn't looking up.