Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cooper Rush vs Sam DarnoldWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Sam Darnold is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 13.8 PPG to Cooper Rush's 11.1 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Sam Darnold is the better fantasy play this season.

Sam Darnold is the better play on a neutral week. 13.8 PPG with 4,143 yards gives a reliable baseline. Cooper Rush at 11.1 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Sam Darnold higher, but do not fade Cooper Rush entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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QBDallas Cowboys#99

Cooper Rush

PPG

11.1

Games

Pass Yds

1,985

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 7

QBSeattle Seahawks#27PPG LEADER

Sam Darnold

PPG

13.8

Games

Pass Yds

4,048

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Cooper Rush

Sam Darnold

Head to Head

11.1 PPG13.8 PPG

10 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Cooper Rush: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Sam Darnold: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #27 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Cooper Rush is producing at 50% of elite pace and Sam Darnold at 63%. That ranking gap means Sam Darnold carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Cooper Rush vs Sam Darnold: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Cooper Rush and Sam Darnold is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Dallas Cowboys quarterback put up 11.1 PPG in 2025 over 10 games; Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks averaged 13.8 in 17. A 2.7-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 2.7 points favors Sam Darnold, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one quarterback to the other.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Cooper Rush threw for 1985 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Sam Darnold posted 4048 yards and 25 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

Cooper Rush has his bye in Week 7, and Sam Darnold rests in Week 11. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at quarterback for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Cooper Rush (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Sam Darnold (age 28) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Sam Darnold outscored Cooper Rush by a projected 46 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Sam Darnold played 17 games in 2025 compared to Cooper Rush's 10. That durability gap means Sam Darnold contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Sam Darnold scored 25 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cooper Rush vs Sam Darnold: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cooper Rush	Sam Darnold
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.1	13.8
Games Played	10	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	111	235
Passing Yards	1,985	4,048
Passing TDs	12	25
Pass Yds/Game	198.5	238.1
Rushing Yards	28	95
Rushing TDs	0	0
Total TDs	12	25
TDs/Game	1.2	1.5
Age	-	28
Experience	-	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 11

Summary

13.8 PPG for Sam Darnold versus 11.1 for Cooper Rush in 2025. The baseline favors Sam Darnold, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Cooper Rush or Sam Darnold in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Sam Darnold has the edge at 13.8 PPG compared to Cooper Rush's 11.1 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Cooper Rush and Sam Darnold average in 2025?▾

Cooper Rush averaged 11.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Sam Darnold averaged 13.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.7 points per game.

When are Cooper Rush and Sam Darnold's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cooper Rush (DAL) has a bye in Week 7, and Sam Darnold (SEA) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cooper Rush or Sam Darnold a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Sam Darnold outscored Cooper Rush by 2.7 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.