Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Geno Smith vs Sam DarnoldWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Sam Darnold is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 13.8 PPG to Geno Smith's 11.6 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. Geno Smith at 11.6 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Sam Darnold higher, but do not fade Geno Smith entirely.

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

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QBLas Vegas Raiders#34

Geno Smith

PPG

11.6

Games

Pass Yds

3,025

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

109

Bye

Week 13

QBSeattle Seahawks#27PPG LEADER

Sam Darnold

PPG

13.8

Games

Pass Yds

4,048

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Geno Smith

Sam Darnold

Head to Head

11.6 PPG13.8 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Geno Smith: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #34 at the position). Sam Darnold: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #27 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Geno Smith is producing at 53% 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.

Geno Smith vs Sam Darnold: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Geno Smith and Sam Darnold for your lineup, you are not alone. Geno Smith finished the 2025 season at 11.6 PPG for the Las Vegas Raiders (15 games), and Sam Darnold averaged 13.8 for the Seattle Seahawks (17 games).

That 2.2-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 13, 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: Geno Smith (age 35) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year. 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 Geno Smith by a projected 37 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Sam Darnold played 17 games in 2025 compared to Geno Smith's 15. 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.
•Sam Darnold is 7 years younger than Geno Smith (28 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Geno Smith vs Sam Darnold: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Geno Smith	Sam Darnold
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.6	13.8
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	174	235
Passing Yards	3,025	4,048
Passing TDs	19	25
Pass Yds/Game	201.7	238.1
Rushing Yards	109	95
Rushing TDs	0	0
Total TDs	19	25
TDs/Game	1.3	1.5
Age	35	28
Experience	12 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 11

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Sam Darnold at 13.8 PPG, 2.2 points per game above Geno Smith's 11.6. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Geno Smith or Sam Darnold in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Sam Darnold has the edge at 13.8 PPG compared to Geno Smith's 11.6 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 Geno Smith and Sam Darnold average in 2025?▾

Geno Smith averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Sam Darnold averaged 13.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.2 points per game.

When are Geno Smith and Sam Darnold's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Geno Smith (LV) has a bye in Week 13, and Sam Darnold (SEA) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Geno Smith or Sam Darnold a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Sam Darnold outscored Geno Smith by 2.2 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.