Who Should I Start? Sam Darnold or C.J. Stroud
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Sam Darnold News
Thursday, June 4, 9:23 AM
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold lacks significant dynasty upside because of his limited mobility, but the presence of superstar wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba does give his outlook a boost. Throwing the ball to the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year last season, Darnold racked up 4,048 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, as well as six lost fumbles. He finished the year as the QB13, one year after ranking as the QB9 with the Vikings. Darnold has had the fortune of playing with elite receivers each of the last two seasons, and it has resulted in low-end QB1 or high-end QB2 results. Therefore, as long as he continues to have Smith-Njigba at his disposal, the 28-year-old ranks as a mid-to-high QB2 in fantasy football. Managers would like to see him cut down on turnovers next year, but we do expect to see his touchdown total increase slightly. Darnold currently ranks as the QB23 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
C.J. Stroud News
Wednesday, May 6, 10:18 AM
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has been locked in this offseason and is focused on ways to improve after a second straight disappointing campaign in 2025. ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime reports that Stroud made a noticeable change to his diet to slim down this offseason, avoiding sugars and carbs. The Texans picked up Stroud's fifth-year option for the 2027 season, but 2026 will be a prove-it year to convince the team that he deserves a long-term extension. Photographs on Instagram that Stroud has shared in the weight room show a more shredded and slimmed-down version of himself. The former second overall pick out of Ohio State was a Pro Bowler in his first NFL season in 2023, throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 15 regular-season starts, but he hasn't come close to those numbers the last two seasons, and he threw for a career-low 3,041 yards and 19 TDs in 2025. The 24-year-old hasn't always been helped by the offensive line in front of him, but he appears determined to turn things around, and a bounce-back campaign could be coming if second-year wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel can step up behind WR1 Nico Collins. Target Stroud as a QB2 with upside in fantasy drafts this fall.
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 0.0 points this week while C.J. Stroud is projected to score 0.0 points.
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