Who Should I Start? Geno Smith or Sam Darnold


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
18.7 12.7 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0

Geno Smith News

Geno Smith Dealing with Foot/Ankle Soreness

Friday, August 14, 7:33 PM

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (ankle) did not play in the team's preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After the game, head coach Aaron Glenn said Smith was dealing with ankle soreness that developed after their joint practice and that he didn't want to risk his starting quarterback while injured. In his place, rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik looked good, completing five of seven passes for 56 yards on the team's opening drive, which ended in a field goal. While Smith is expected to start this season, if the team struggles with him under center, they could turn to the rookie to finish the year. With reassurance that Smith should be okay moving forward, he will look to change the trajectory of the Jets' franchise in 2026.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
22.1 8.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Sam Darnold News

Sam Darnold Won't Play in Preseason Opener Against Dallas

Friday, August 14, 1:31 PM

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said that quarterback Sam Darnold will not play in the team's preseason opener on Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys, according to FOX 13 Seattle's Curtis Crabtree. Backup QBs Drew Lok and Jalen Milroe will likely rotate series instead of handing off. Darnold surprised everyone by winning the Super Bowl over the New England Patriots in his first year in Seattle in 2025. The 29-year-old former third overall pick from USC in 2018 has been a Pro Bowler in back-to-back seasons now as a late-bloomer in the NFL, and he's thrown for over 4,000 yards with an even 60 touchdowns and 26 interceptions in 34 regular-season starts with the Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings. Darnold has arguably one of the top receivers in the game to work with in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but his strong season in 2025 with Seattle culminated in only a QB13 finish in fantasy. He's now learning a new offense and doesn't have star RB Kenneth Walker around in the backfield, which screams regression. Darnold might have a solid QB2 floor in fantasy, but he's merely a bench stash in single-QB, 12-team leagues.


Geno Smith vs. Sam Darnold

Still trying to decide between Smith and Darnold? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Geno Smith is projected to score 18.7 points this week while Sam Darnold is projected to score 22.1 points.