Michael Penix vs Sam Darnold: Who Should You Start?
The gap between Michael Penix and Sam Darnold is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 1.0 PPG in 2025, this is one of those quarterback decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. Michael Penix averaged 13.7 PPG with the Atlanta Falcons across 9 games, and Sam Darnold posted 14.7 with the Seattle Seahawks in 17.
When two quarterbacks are separated by less than two points per game, the decision shifts to weekly context. Who has the softer defense? Who is trending up over the last month? Which team is projected for more total points? Those are the tiebreakers that actually matter.
Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Michael Penix threw for 1982 yards and 9 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.
Michael Penix has his bye in Week 12, and Sam Darnold rests in Week 10. 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.
