Sam Howell

Sam Howell

24-Year-Old QuarterbackQB
Minnesota Vikings
2025 Fantasy Outlook
At 6-foot-1, 225 pounds with an above-average arm and NFL starting experience, Howell looks the part as a competent backup to new Vikings starter J.J. McCarthy. In 2023 with the Commanders, Howell started all 17 regular-season games, logging a 21:21 TD:INT while winning just four games. He was then dealt to Seattle, where he backed up Geno Smith until the Seahawks revamped the QB room by signing Sam Darnold and drafting Jalen Milroe this offseason, leading to him being traded to Minnesota. He seems like the favorite over Brett Rypien for the No. 2 gig. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#1225.39
ADP
Signed a four-year, $4.02 million contract with the Commanders in May of 2022.
Poor showing in Saturday's start
QBMinnesota Vikings
August 16, 2025
Howell completed one of five passes for 13 yards and an interception in Saturday's 20-12 preseason loss to the Patriots. He added 14 rushing yards on three carries.
ANALYSIS
The fourth-year QB isn't exactly known for his mobility, but he gained more yards on the ground than through the air in two drives as part of an overall poor performance from the Vikings' offense. Howell is set as the top backup to J.J. McCarthy this season, but the 2024 first-round pick would have to be a significant flop, or suffer another serious injury, for the former Commander and Seahawk to see more than mop-up duty this season.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Sam Howell's 2024 advanced stats compare to other quarterbacks?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Bad Pass %
    The percentage of passes that were considered to be poorly thrown.
  • Avg Target Depth
    The average number of yards thrown per pass by the quarterback – including incomplete passes.
  • Sack Rate
    The percentage of dropbacks where the quartback was sacked. The longer the bar below, the more often they are sacked relative to other QBs.
  • Avg Receiver YAC
    The average number of yards after the catch that receivers gained on passes thrown by this quarterback.
  • Receiver Drop %
    The percentage of passes dropped by receivers on passes thrown by this quarterback. The longer the bar, the more sure-handed his receivers have been.
Bad Pass %
35.7%
 
Avg Target Depth
4.4 Yds
 
Sack Rate
22.2%
 
Avg Receiver YAC
1.6 Yds
 
Receiver Drop %
7.1%
 
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2024 NFL Game Log
2024
2023
2022
2024 NFL Game Log
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2023 NFL Game Log
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2022 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Minnesota VikingsVikings 2024 QB Snap Distribution
#% of Team Snaps

111899%
71%
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2024 Sam Howell Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Sam Howell's measurables compare to other quarterbacks?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 1"
 
Weight
225 lbs
 
Hand Length
9.13 in
 
Arm Length
30.75 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Sam Howell See More
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Sam Howell See More
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
Howell ended up starting 17 games for Washington last year only because backup Jacoby Brissett injured his hamstring the week Howell was to be benched late in the season. Howell was actually a competent No. 2 fantasy QB the first half of the season, and even in Weeks 11-13 when he had 1:5 TD:INT he stayed afloat with four rushing touchdowns. But the last four games were especially dreadful -- three TDs, seven INTs, 4.7 YPA -- and sealed his fate with the Commanders. He was the only QB in the league with at least 14 starts who failed to throw more touchdowns than interceptions (21:21). The Seahawks traded for Howell in March to back up Geno Smith, which seems like an appropriate spot for the 2022 fifth-round pick. At 6-1, 220, with an above-average arm, Howell could again be useful in two-QB leagues should Smith go down, as the Seahawks have a nice group of playmakers in DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Kenneth Walker.
A 2022 fifth-round pick, Howell started one game last season for Washington -- Week 18 -- but is expected to be the Week 1 starter this year. Only free-agent acquisition Jacoby Brissett is around to challenge him for the job after the team parted ways with Taylor Heinicke and Carson Wentz. A three-year starter at North Carolina, Howell showed a quick release and above-average arm strength, with good accuracy on deep throws. At 6-1, 220, Howell is strong for a QB and capable as a runner, but he’s not especially fast and isn't likely to get many designed runs (27 of his 35 rushing yards in his lone start last year came on scrambles). Washington has a good group of wideouts for Howell to target in Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel, and former Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy promises to get them the ball in space with a quick-passing game as the new OC. Howell should at least be useful in two-QB leagues if he can hold the job.
Howell had first-round buzz after putting up 38 touchdown passes as a freshman and 10.3 yards per attempt as a sophomore, but he dropped all the way to the fifth round after a disappointing junior year at UNC. He'll begin his career as the third quarterback in Washington behind new No. 1 Carson Wentz and 2021 starter Taylor Heinicke. Howell did run for 828 yards and 11 TDs last year, suggesting he might offer more mobility than the veterans ahead of him, if nothing else.
More Fantasy News
Will start Saturday's game
QBMinnesota Vikings
August 14, 2025
Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said Thursday that Howell will start Saturday's preseason game against the Patriots.
ANALYSIS
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Runs for TD against Texans
QBMinnesota Vikings
August 9, 2025
Howell completed 11 of 13 passes for 105 yards and added two yards and a touchdown on four carries in Saturday's 20-10 preseason win over Houston.
ANALYSIS
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On the move to Minnesota
QBMinnesota Vikings
April 26, 2025
Howell was traded from the Seahawks to the Vikings on Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
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Receiving trade interest
QBSeattle Seahawks
April 18, 2025
The Seahawks have received trade inquiries about Howell and are open to trading him, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Competing for backup job
QBSeattle Seahawks
April 17, 2025
Howell will compete for the No. 2 job behind Sam Darnold after the Seahawks signed Drew Lock on Friday, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
No lock for QB2 spot?
QBMinnesota Vikings
August 21, 2025
Alec Lewis of The Athletic believes undrafted rookie Max Brosmer is in contention for Minnesota's backup quarterback spot alongside Howell.
ANALYSIS
J.J. McCarthy is locked in atop the depth chart, but Brosmer has impressed Minnesota's coaching staff. In two preseason games, Brosmer has thrown for 203 yards, one touchdown and one interception compared to Howell's 118 passing yards and one interception. Both contenders for the top backup spot are 24 years old, but Howell has a significant edge in NFL experience, having started 18 games for the Commanders in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
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