Who Should I Start? Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield

Tuesday, October 14, 4:59 PM

Fantasy managers were understandably skeptical as to whether quarterback Sam Darnold could follow up his outstanding 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings this year after heading to the NFC West to play for the Seattle Seahawks. Through six weeks with his new team, it's clear that the former third overall pick out of USC is picking up where he left off. The 28-year-old continued to play well in Week 6 against a ball-hawking Jacksonville Jaguars defense and finished just shy of 300 yards passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Darnold has latched onto star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba as his go-to target, and it's working. Since a mediocre 150-yard, no-touchdown performance in Week 1, Darnold has thrown for multiple touchdowns in five games and has gone 98-for-138 for 1,391 yards, 11 TDs, and three picks. He continues to be aggressive downfield and should at least be rostered in every fantasy league as a high-end QB2 going forward. He'll really be tested in Week 7 against a Houston Texans defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing QBs through five games.

Sunday, October 12, 9:52 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield led his team to its fifth win of the season in Week 6, beating the San Francisco 49ers 30-19. Mayfield completed 17 of his 23 pass attempts for 256 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception and added 14 rushing yards on three carries. The 30-year-old has now thrown for 1,309 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first six games of 2025. Tampa Bay entered Week 6 without wide receivers Mike Evans (hamstring), Chris Godwin (leg), and Jalen McMillan (neck), and then lost star rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) to a hamstring injury during the game. It's currently unclear how long the Buccaneers will be without their top four wide receivers. Regardless, Mayfield has proven himself to be a worthy fantasy QB1 on a week-to-week basis.