Who Should I Start? Matthew Stafford or Sam Darnold


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
24.4 3.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Matthew Stafford News

Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams Gaining More Chemistry

Monday, August 10, 7:52 PM

The Los Angeles Rams duo of Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams is building a better rapport after failing to fully connect during last season's training camp. After Matthew Stafford (back) sat out all of training camp, he and Adams were sometimes out of sync. Adams said about their connection during this year's camp, "We're getting a whole different start than we did last year. I think we put together a pretty good product last season, but any time you can have these grinding days when you come out here, it'll help you be in a much better position when it's time to really go." Adams had 789 yards and a league-high 14 touchdowns, but he caught just 52.6% of his passes (the lowest of his career). If he and Stafford can connect more often and sustain their strong goal-line presence, Adams could easily contend for a Top-10 fantasy receiver season 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.


Matthew Stafford vs. Sam Darnold

Still trying to decide between Stafford and Darnold? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Matthew Stafford is projected to score 24.4 points this week while Sam Darnold is projected to score 22.1 points.