Who Should I Start? Jimmy Garoppolo or Sam Darnold

Saturday, September 6, 9:56 PM

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay views quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo as a "starting-caliber" option. Matthew Stafford is in line to start on Sunday versus the Houston Texans. However, with the veteran signal-caller battling a lingering back injury, the Rams are confident Garoppolo can fill in admirably if necessary. From a fantasy standpoint, Stafford has had a better career. Still, with concerns about his health, Garoppolo may get a chance to start at some point moving ahead. The 33-year-old played for the Patriots, 49ers, and Raiders before arriving in Los Angeles in 2024 to suit up for the Rams. In 82 regular-season contests, he's thrown for 15,828 yards, 96 touchdowns, and 52 interceptions off 67.4% passing while also leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2019. All things considered, Garoppolo doesn't have much fantasy value at the moment. If Stafford goes down this season due to the nagging back issue, Garoppolo could prove useful for those participating in deeper SuperFlex formats, especially with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams at his disposal.

Monday, September 15, 3:29 PM

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold looks like a potential streamer candidate moving forward. Darnold endured a tough first half in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he rallied to throw for 295 yards and two touchdowns. Darnold finished the week with 17.8 fantasy points, which is enough to hold down the quarterback spot on your roster for a week. Most importantly, Darnold looked comfortable in his new offense. He was spreading the wealth around as well. Five Seahawks earned multiple targets in this game. Darnold's chemistry with wide receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp was also apparent. He was efficient throwing to both players, and they combined for 193 receiving yards. If Darnold keeps up this level of play and cuts down on the interceptions, he is going to be a player worth rostering in fantasy. Darnold will face New Orleans, Arizona, and Tampa Bay over the next three weeks. He should be on the streaming radar in each of those games.