Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jordan Love vs Sam DarnoldWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jordan Love is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.7 PPG to Sam Darnold's 13.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jordan Love is the better fantasy play this season.

Jordan Love is the better play on a neutral week. 15.7 PPG with 3,580 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 Jordan Love higher, but do not fade Sam Darnold entirely.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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QBGreen Bay Packers#21PPG LEADER

Jordan Love

PPG

15.7

Games

Pass Yds

3,381

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

199

Bye

Week 11

QBSeattle Seahawks#27

Sam Darnold

PPG

13.8

Games

Pass Yds

4,048

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Jordan Love

Sam Darnold

Head to Head

15.7 PPG13.8 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Jordan Love: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #21 at the position). Sam Darnold: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #27 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Jordan Love is producing at 71% of elite pace and Sam Darnold at 63%. That ranking gap means Jordan Love carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jordan Love vs Sam Darnold: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Jordan Love and Sam Darnold for your lineup, you are not alone. Jordan Love finished the 2025 season at 15.7 PPG for the Green Bay Packers (15 games), and Sam Darnold averaged 13.8 for the Seattle Seahawks (17 games).

That 1.9-point weekly advantage for Jordan Love 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. Jordan Love threw for 3381 yards and 23 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.

Both share a Week 11 bye, which matters for roster construction. If you are stacking quarterbacks this deep on your bench, plan your replacement quarterback early.

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: Jordan Love (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?

•Jordan Love outscored Sam Darnold by a projected 32 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Sam Darnold played 17 games in 2025 compared to Jordan Love'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.
•Both players share a Week 11 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jordan Love vs Sam Darnold: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jordan Love	Sam Darnold
PPG (Half-PPR)	15.7	13.8
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	236	235
Passing Yards	3,381	4,048
Passing TDs	23	25
Pass Yds/Game	225.4	238.1
Rushing Yards	199	95
Rushing TDs	0	0
Total TDs	23	25
TDs/Game	1.5	1.5
Age	27	28
Experience	5 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 11

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Jordan Love at 15.7 PPG, 1.9 points per game above Sam Darnold's 13.8. 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 Jordan Love or Sam Darnold in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jordan Love has the edge at 15.7 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 Jordan Love and Sam Darnold average in 2025?▾

Jordan Love averaged 15.7 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 1.9 points per game.

Do Jordan Love and Sam Darnold share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Jordan Love and Sam Darnold share a Week 11 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at quarterback for that week.

Is Jordan Love or Sam Darnold a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Jordan Love outscored Sam Darnold by 1.9 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.