Who Should I Start? Sam Darnold or C.J. Stroud
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20.2 | 15.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Sam Darnold News
Monday, March 16, 10:19 AM
Even after finishing 10th in the 2024 MVP vote while leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-win season, veteran quarterback Sam Darnold had his doubters heading into 2025. The 28-year-old signed with the Seattle Seahawks and quieted the critics in his first season in Seattle, completing 67.7% of his pass attempts for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions while leading the Seahawks to victory in Super Bowl LX. Seattle's dominant defense kept the team in run-heavy game scripts, but Darnold averaged an incredibly efficient 8.5 yards per pass attempt when allowed to let it loose. Darnold has recorded double-digit interceptions in every season where he's started at least 11 games, so turnovers will likely always be a part of his profile. Still, he's proven himself to be a capable NFL starter who can thrive in the right environment. While Seattle lost offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak over the offseason, the team still has a strong infrastructure around Darnold that includes superstar wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Darnold profiles as a solid fantasy QB2 in dynasty formats heading into 2026 and beyond.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18.2 | 9.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
C.J. Stroud News
Tuesday, February 24, 7:36 AM
Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said that any talk about trading quarterback C.J. Stroud is "moronic," according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Caserio said that Stroud will be the team's starting QB in 2026. Stroud was a Pro Bowler in his rookie campaign in 2023, but he has regressed each of the last two seasons. The 24-year-old former second overall pick in 2023 out of Ohio State completed 64.5% of his passes for 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 14 regular-season games in 2025 to finish as the QB21 in overall fantasy points. He was much worse in two playoff games, going 41-for-79 passing for 462 yards, two touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also lost two fumbles. The one positive takeaway from 2025 is that Stroud had a career-high completion percentage. He's still young enough to bounce back, but fantasy managers shouldn't feel comfortable rolling with him as their QB1 in 2026.
Sam Darnold vs. C.J. Stroud
Still trying to decide between Darnold and Stroud? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Sam Darnold is projected to score 20.2 points this week while C.J. Stroud is projected to score 18.2 points.
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