Who Should I Start? Kirk Cousins or Sam Darnold

Saturday, February 7, 11:51 AM

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is expected to be released before the start of the new league year in March. Coming off a torn Achilles tendon that ended his six-year tenure in Minnesota, Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with Atlanta before the 2024 season, only to see the team select Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth pick in that year's draft. Across his 22 starts with the Falcons, Cousins has thrown 28 touchdowns to 21 interceptions, while going 12-10. By releasing him before the new league year, he will have the opportunity to sign with any team of his choosing in 2026, with some speculating that a reunion with the Vikings could be in the cards.

Monday, February 9, 12:37 PM

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold completed 19 of his 38 pass attempts for 202 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions during Sunday's Super Bowl LX victory over the New England Patriots. He also rushed for five yards and took just one sack. The veteran signal-caller didn't make a ton of breathtaking plays, but more importantly, he played turnover-free football while letting the defense and rushing attack win the big game. It was a storybook moment for Darnold, who started his career as a so-called first-round "bust" in New York. His NFL voyage took him through Carolina, San Francisco, and Minnesota before he signed with the Seahawks last offseason. During his first year in Seattle, he played all 17 regular-season games, completing 67.7% of his pass attempts for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. For the second year in a row, he eclipsed 4,000 passing yards and was named to the Pro Bowl. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba at his disposal and a fantastic offensive line in front of him, Darnold should be due for more success in the future. He'll rank as a fringe top-14 quarterback entering 2026 fantasy football drafts.