Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jaxson Dart vs Sam DarnoldWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jaxson Dart is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.3 PPG to Sam Darnold's 13.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jaxson Dart is the better fantasy play this season.

Jaxson Dart is the better play on a neutral week. 17.3 PPG with 2,759 yards gives a reliable baseline. Sam Darnold at 13.8 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Jaxson Dart higher, but do not fade Sam Darnold entirely.

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

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QBNew York Giants#14PPG LEADER

Jaxson Dart

PPG

17.3

Games

Pass Yds

2,272

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

487

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 8

QBSeattle Seahawks#27

Sam Darnold

PPG

13.8

Games

Pass Yds

4,048

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Jaxson Dart

Sam Darnold

Head to Head

17.3 PPG13.8 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Jaxson Dart: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #14 at the position). Sam Darnold: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #27 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Jaxson Dart is producing at 79% of elite pace and Sam Darnold at 63%. That ranking gap means Jaxson Dart carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jaxson Dart vs Sam Darnold: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Jaxson Dart and Sam Darnold is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The New York Giants quarterback put up 17.3 PPG in 2025 over 14 games; Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks averaged 13.8 in 17. A 3.5-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 3.5 points favors Jaxson Dart, 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.

Jaxson Dart offers meaningful rushing upside with 487 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Sam Darnold (4048 passing yards, 25 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Jaxson Dart 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

Jaxson Dart is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Sam Darnold is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Jaxson Dart (age 23) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising. Sam Darnold (age 28) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Jaxson Dart outscored Sam Darnold by a projected 60 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Sam Darnold played 17 games in 2025 compared to Jaxson Dart's 14. 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.
•Jaxson Dart added 487 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.
•Jaxson Dart is 5 years younger than Sam Darnold (23 vs 28), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jaxson Dart vs Sam Darnold: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jaxson Dart	Sam Darnold
PPG (Half-PPR)	17.3	13.8
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	242	235
Passing Yards	2,272	4,048
Passing TDs	15	25
Pass Yds/Game	162.3	238.1
Rushing Yards	487	95
Rushing TDs	9	0
Total TDs	24	25
TDs/Game	1.7	1.5
Age	23	28
Experience	-	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 11

Summary

17.3 PPG for Jaxson Dart versus 13.8 for Sam Darnold in 2025. The baseline favors Jaxson Dart, 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 Jaxson Dart or Sam Darnold in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jaxson Dart has the edge at 17.3 PPG compared to Sam Darnold's 13.8 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 Jaxson Dart and Sam Darnold average in 2025?▾

Jaxson Dart averaged 17.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Sam Darnold averaged 13.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.5 points per game.

When are Jaxson Dart and Sam Darnold's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jaxson Dart (NYG) 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 Jaxson Dart or Sam Darnold a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jaxson Dart outscored Sam Darnold by 3.5 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.