Marcus Mariota vs Sam Darnold: Who Should You Start?
Deciding between Marcus Mariota and Sam Darnold is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Washington Commanders quarterback put up 12.0 PPG in 2025 over 11 games; Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks averaged 14.7 in 17. A 2.7-point margin that could shift on any given week.
The per-game difference of 2.7 points favors Sam Darnold, 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. Marcus Mariota threw for 1695 yards and 10 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.
One scheduling note: Marcus Mariota is off Week 14 and Sam Darnold Week 10. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in quarterback for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.
