Who Should I Start? Geno Smith or Sam Darnold

Saturday, October 4, 5:42 AM

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith has endured a rough start to the 2025 campaign, throwing a league-high seven interceptions in just four games. Despite flashes from the Raiders' rushing attack, including Ashton Jeanty's breakout performance last week, Smith continues to force throws into tight coverage, resulting in costly turnovers. Head Coach Pete Carroll has maintained confidence in his veteran signal-caller, but with Kenny Pickett waiting on the bench, the leash may not be endless if the mistakes persist. A tough Week 5 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts looms, and fantasy managers should approach Smith with extreme caution. At this point, he should only be considered in superflex or very deep 16-plus team formats, as his turnover issues make him a risky play in standard leagues.

Sunday, October 5, 8:59 PM

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold completed 28 of 34 pass attempts for 341 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception during Sunday's Week 5 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was not sacked in the contest. Darnold essentially played mistake-free football for the first 59 minutes, keeping the underdog Seahawks in the game until the very end. Along the way, he turned in one of the week's best fantasy performances, which was a refreshing development since he hadn't exceeded 21 fantasy points in a single game through the first four weeks. Unfortunately for Darnold and the Seahawks, the veteran quarterback threw an interception with 58 seconds left, setting up a game-winning field goal for Tampa Bay. Seattle lost, but Darnold proved that he can perform against an above-average defense. He'll rank as a mid-range QB2 for Week 6 against Jacksonville.