Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Davis Mills vs Sam DarnoldWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Sam Darnold is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 13.8 PPG to Davis Mills's 11.4 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. Davis Mills at 11.4 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Sam Darnold higher, but do not fade Davis Mills entirely.

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

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QBHouston Texans#36

Davis Mills

PPG

11.4

Games

Pass Yds

915

Pass TDs

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 8

QBSeattle Seahawks#27PPG LEADER

Sam Darnold

PPG

13.8

Games

Pass Yds

4,048

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Davis Mills

Sam Darnold

Head to Head

11.4 PPG13.8 PPG

6 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Davis Mills: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #36 at the position). Sam Darnold: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #27 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Davis Mills is producing at 52% 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.

Davis Mills vs Sam Darnold: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Davis Mills and Sam Darnold is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Houston Texans quarterback put up 11.4 PPG in 2025 over 6 games; Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks averaged 13.8 in 17. A 2.4-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 2.4 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. Davis Mills threw for 915 yards and 5 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.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Davis Mills sits Week 8 while Sam Darnold is off Week 11. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

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: Davis Mills (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 Davis Mills by a projected 41 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Sam Darnold played 17 games in 2025 compared to Davis Mills's 6. 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

Davis Mills vs Sam Darnold: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Davis Mills	Sam Darnold
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.4	13.8
Games Played	6	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	68	235
Passing Yards	915	4,048
Passing TDs	5	25
Pass Yds/Game	152.5	238.1
Rushing Yards	60	95
Rushing TDs	1	0
Total TDs	6	25
TDs/Game	1.0	1.5
Age	27	28
Experience	4 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 11

Summary

13.8 PPG for Sam Darnold versus 11.4 for Davis Mills 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 Davis Mills or Sam Darnold in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Sam Darnold has the edge at 13.8 PPG compared to Davis Mills's 11.4 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 Davis Mills and Sam Darnold average in 2025?▾

Davis Mills averaged 11.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 6 games in 2025. Sam Darnold averaged 13.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.4 points per game.

When are Davis Mills and Sam Darnold's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Davis Mills (HOU) has a bye in Week 8, and Sam Darnold (SEA) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Davis Mills or Sam Darnold a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Sam Darnold outscored Davis Mills by 2.4 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.