Who Should I Start? Sam Darnold or Dillon Gabriel

Sunday, October 5, 8:59 PM

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold completed 28 of 34 pass attempts for 341 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception during Sunday's Week 5 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was not sacked in the contest. Darnold essentially played mistake-free football for the first 59 minutes, keeping the underdog Seahawks in the game until the very end. Along the way, he turned in one of the week's best fantasy performances, which was a refreshing development since he hadn't exceeded 21 fantasy points in a single game through the first four weeks. Unfortunately for Darnold and the Seahawks, the veteran quarterback threw an interception with 58 seconds left, setting up a game-winning field goal for Tampa Bay. Seattle lost, but Darnold proved that he can perform against an above-average defense. He'll rank as a mid-range QB2 for Week 6 against Jacksonville.

Monday, October 6, 11:35 AM

Despite taking a loss, Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel did not look overmatched in his NFL debut against a tough Brian Flores defense. The Vikings' coordinator is notorious for giving even veteran QBs trouble with his unit's exotic looks and pressures. Gabriel did an excellent job of protecting the ball and, for the most part, played smart, mistake-free football. Cleveland leaned on their ground game until late in the contest, understandably, as they'll aim to win many of their games with a strong rushing attack and solid defense. While the 24-year-old still has a way to go before becoming a suggested option in single quarterback leagues, he's an intriguing pickup in superflex formats and a decent stash in dynasty. Gabriel will get another tough matchup in Week 6 when his team takes on the hosting Pittsburgh Steelers.