Jayden Daniels vs Sam Darnold: Who Should You Start?
Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders) finished the 2025 season averaging 16.8 fantasy points per game in 7 games. Sam Darnold (Seattle Seahawks) came in at 14.7 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.
Jayden Daniels carries a 2.1-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.
Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Jayden Daniels threw for 1262 yards and 8 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: Jayden Daniels sits Week 14 while Sam Darnold is off Week 10. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
