Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Sam Darnold vs Tua TagovailoaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Sam Darnold is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 13.8 PPG to Tua Tagovailoa's 11.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Sam Darnold is the better fantasy play this season.

Sam Darnold has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.3-PPG advantage is real (13.8 to 11.5), and Sam Darnold's 25 touchdowns show scoring upside. Tua Tagovailoa is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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QBSeattle Seahawks#27PPG LEADER

Sam Darnold

PPG

13.8

Games

Pass Yds

4,048

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

QBMiami Dolphins#35

Tua Tagovailoa

PPG

11.5

Games

Pass Yds

2,660

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Sam Darnold

Tua Tagovailoa

Head to Head

13.8 PPG11.5 PPG

17 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Sam Darnold: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #27 at the position). Tua Tagovailoa: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #35 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Sam Darnold is producing at 63% of elite pace and Tua Tagovailoa at 52%. That ranking gap means Sam Darnold carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Sam Darnold vs Tua Tagovailoa: The Full Breakdown

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Sam Darnold (Seattle Seahawks) finished the 2025 season averaging 13.8 fantasy points per game in 17 games. Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) came in at 11.5 PPG over 14 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Sam Darnold carries a 2.3-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Sam Darnold threw for 4048 yards and 25 touchdowns, while Tua Tagovailoa posted 2660 yards and 20 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.

Sam Darnold has his bye in Week 11, and Tua Tagovailoa rests in Week 6. 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: Sam Darnold (age 28) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Tua Tagovailoa (age 28) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Sam Darnold outscored Tua Tagovailoa by a projected 39 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Sam Darnold played 17 games in 2025 compared to Tua Tagovailoa's 14. 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Sam Darnold vs Tua Tagovailoa: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Sam Darnold	Tua Tagovailoa
PPG (Half-PPR)	13.8	11.5
Games Played	17	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	235	161
Passing Yards	4,048	2,660
Passing TDs	25	20
Pass Yds/Game	238.1	190.0
Rushing Yards	95	43
Rushing TDs	0	0
Total TDs	25	20
TDs/Game	1.5	1.4
Age	28	28
Experience	7 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 6

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Sam Darnold holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 13.8 points per game. Tua Tagovailoa averaged 11.5 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Sam Darnold or Tua Tagovailoa in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Sam Darnold has the edge at 13.8 PPG compared to Tua Tagovailoa's 11.5 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 Sam Darnold and Tua Tagovailoa average in 2025?▾

Sam Darnold averaged 13.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Tua Tagovailoa averaged 11.5 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 2.3 points per game.

When are Sam Darnold and Tua Tagovailoa's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Sam Darnold (SEA) has a bye in Week 11, and Tua Tagovailoa (MIA) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Sam Darnold or Tua Tagovailoa a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Sam Darnold outscored Tua Tagovailoa by 2.3 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.