Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Justin Fields vs Sam DarnoldWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Fields is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.9 PPG to Sam Darnold's 13.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Justin Fields is the better fantasy play this season.

Justin Fields is the better play on a neutral week. 15.9 PPG with 1,642 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 Justin Fields 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 Jets#20PPG LEADER

Justin Fields

PPG

15.9

Games

Pass Yds

1,259

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

383

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 13

QBSeattle Seahawks#27

Sam Darnold

PPG

13.8

Games

Pass Yds

4,048

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Justin Fields

Sam Darnold

Head to Head

15.9 PPG13.8 PPG

9 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Justin Fields: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #20 at the position). Sam Darnold: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #27 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Justin Fields is producing at 72% of elite pace and Sam Darnold at 63%. That ranking gap means Justin Fields carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Justin Fields vs Sam Darnold: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Justin Fields and Sam Darnold is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The New York Jets quarterback put up 15.9 PPG in 2025 over 9 games; Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks averaged 13.8 in 17. A 2.1-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 2.1 points favors Justin Fields, 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.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Justin Fields threw for 1259 yards and 7 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.

Justin Fields 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: Justin Fields (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?

•Justin Fields outscored Sam Darnold by a projected 36 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Sam Darnold played 17 games in 2025 compared to Justin Fields's 9. 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.
•Justin Fields added 383 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Justin Fields vs Sam Darnold: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Justin Fields	Sam Darnold
PPG (Half-PPR)	15.9	13.8
Games Played	9	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	143	235
Passing Yards	1,259	4,048
Passing TDs	7	25
Pass Yds/Game	139.9	238.1
Rushing Yards	383	95
Rushing TDs	4	0
Total TDs	11	25
TDs/Game	1.2	1.5
Age	27	28
Experience	4 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 11

Summary

15.9 PPG for Justin Fields versus 13.8 for Sam Darnold in 2025. The baseline favors Justin Fields, 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 Justin Fields or Sam Darnold in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Fields has the edge at 15.9 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 Justin Fields and Sam Darnold average in 2025?▾

Justin Fields averaged 15.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 9 games in 2025. Sam Darnold averaged 13.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.1 points per game.

When are Justin Fields and Sam Darnold's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Justin Fields (NYJ) 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 Justin Fields or Sam Darnold a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Justin Fields outscored Sam Darnold by 2.1 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.