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Super Slump?

Darnold a cool prospect in Experts Poll

Sam Darnold didn’t generate much interest in our annual Experts Poll. Of the 20 analysts who were surveyed, only five even ranked Darnold, and those were votes in the 18th to 20th range.

Multiple contributing factors, I suppose. The Seahawks lost their offensive coordinator, and they also face the considerable pressure of trying to repeat – tending to get a better efforts from opponents. They’re now a huge game on everyone’s schedule. And Darnold didn’t run much at all last year, which works against him in typical fantasy formats.

I have tended to be on the low side myself with Darnold, but I thought he would appear higher. Particularly in this format, which favors those who can stay in the starting lineup for all 17 games. If you look more at basements rather than ceilings, I think he should have snuck into the top 20 on most boards.

And while Darnold may have limitations, his go-to receivers have certainly thrived the last two years. Justin Jefferson caught 103 passes for 1,533 yards and 10 TDs in 2024, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught 119 for 1,793 yards and 10 TDs last year.

In the last 40 years, 56 wide receivers have had seasons with 1,500-plus yards. Unless I’m missing something, I think Darnold is the first quarterback to put two different receivers over 1,500 yards in back-to-back seasons.

1,500-YARD RECEIVERS (last 40 years)
YearPlayerRecYdsAvgTD
1986Jerry Rice, S.F.861,57018.315
1990Jerry Rice, S.F.1001,50215.013
1991Michael Irvin, Dall.931,52316.48
1993Jerry Rice, S.F.981,50315.315
1995Jerry Rice, S.F.1221,84815.215
1995Isaac Bruce, St.L.1191,78115.013
1995Herman Moore, Det.1231,68613.714
1995Michael Irvin, Dall.1111,60314.410
1997Rob Moore, Ari.971,58416.38
1999Marvin Harrison, Ind.1151,66314.512
1999Jimmy Smith, Jac.1161,63614.16
2000Torry Holt, St.L.821,63519.96
2000Rod Smith, Den.1001,60216.08
2001David Boston, Ari.981,59816.38
2001Marvin Harrison, Ind.1091,52414.015
2002Marvin Harrison, Ind.1431,72212.011
2003Torry Holt, St.L.1171,69614.512
2003Randy Moss, Min.1111,63214.717
2005Steve Smith, Car.1031,56315.212
2007Reggie Wayne, Ind.1041,51014.510
2008Andre Johnson, Hou.1151,57513.78
2009Andre Johnson, Hou.1011,56915.59
2011Calvin Johnson, Det.961,68117.516
2011Wes Welker, N.E.1221,56912.99
2011Victor Cruz, NYG821,53618.79
2012Calvin Johnson, Det.1221,96416.15
2012Andre Johnson, Hou.1121,59814.34
2012Brandon Marshall, Chi.1181,50812.811
2013Josh Gordon, Cle.871,64618.99
2014Antonio Brown, Pitt.1291,69813.213
2014Demaryius Thomas, Den.1111,61914.611
2014Julio Jones, Atl.1041,59315.36
2014Jordy Nelson, G.B.981,51915.513
2015Julio Jones, Atl.1361,87113.88
2015Antonio Brown, Pitt.1361,83413.510
2015DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.1111,52113.711
2015Brandon Marshall, NYJ1091,50213.814
2017Antonio Brown, Pitt.1011,53315.29
2018Julio Jones, Atl.1131,67714.88
2018DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.1151,57213.711
2018Mike Evans, T.B.861,52417.78
2019Michael Thomas, N.O.1491,72511.69
2020Stefon Diggs, Buff.1271,53512.18
2021Cooper Kupp, LAR1451,94713.416
2021Justin Jefferson, Min.1081,61615.010
2021Davante Adams, G.B.1231,55312.611
2022Justin Jefferson, Min.1281,80914.18
2022Tyreek Hill, Mia.1191,71014.47
2022Davante Adams, L.V.1001,51615.214
2023Tyreek Hill, Mia.1191,79915.113
2023CeeDee Lamb, Dall.1351,74913.012
2023Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det.1191,51512.710
2024Ja'Marr Chase, Cin.1271,70813.517
2024• Justin Jefferson, Min.1031,53314.910
2025• Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sea.1191,79315.110
2025Puka Nacua, LAR1291,71513.310

—Ian Allan

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