Geno Smith vs Sam Darnold: Who Should You Start?
If you are choosing between Geno Smith and Sam Darnold for your lineup, you are not alone. Geno Smith finished the 2025 season at 12.7 PPG for the New York Jets (15 games), and Sam Darnold averaged 14.7 for the Seattle Seahawks (17 games).
That 2.0-point weekly advantage for Sam Darnold is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.
Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Geno Smith threw for 3025 yards and 19 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.
Geno Smith has his bye in Week 12, and Sam Darnold rests in Week 10. 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.
