Sam Darnold vs Trevor Lawrence: Who Should You Start?
Sam Darnold and Trevor Lawrence are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Sam Darnold averaged 14.7 PPG across 17 games with the Seattle Seahawks, while Trevor Lawrence posted 20.6 PPG in 17 appearances for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
A 5.9-PPG gap gives Trevor Lawrence the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Sam Darnold threw for 4048 yards and 25 touchdowns, while Trevor Lawrence posted 4007 yards and 29 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.
One scheduling note: Sam Darnold is off Week 10 and Trevor Lawrence Week 12. 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.
