Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Anthony Richardson vs Sam Darnold

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Anthony Richardson is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Anthony Richardson outscored Sam Darnold by 5.7 PPG in 2025 with 25 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Anthony Richardson is the clear pick. Sam Darnold profiles as a matchup-dependent quarterback who can spike but lacks the consistent floor.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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QBIndianapolis Colts#99PPG LEADER

Anthony Richardson

PPG

19.5

Games

Pass Yds

2,718

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

580

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 14

QBSeattle Seahawks#27

Sam Darnold

PPG

13.8

Games

Pass Yds

4,048

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Anthony Richardson

Sam Darnold

Head to Head

19.5 PPG13.8 PPG

13 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Anthony Richardson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Sam Darnold: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #27 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Anthony Richardson is producing at 89% of elite pace and Sam Darnold at 63%. That ranking gap means Sam Darnold carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Anthony Richardson vs Sam Darnold: Who Should You Start?

Deciding between Anthony Richardson and Sam Darnold is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Indianapolis Colts quarterback put up 19.5 PPG in 2025 over 13 games; Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks averaged 13.8 in 17. A 5.7-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 5.7 points favors Anthony Richardson, 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.

Anthony Richardson offers meaningful rushing upside with 580 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Sam Darnold (4048 passing yards, 25 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

One scheduling note: Anthony Richardson is off Week 14 and Sam Darnold Week 8. 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.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Anthony Richardson is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Sam Darnold is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Anthony Richardson (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?

•Anthony Richardson outscored Sam Darnold by a projected 97 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Sam Darnold played 17 games in 2025 compared to Anthony Richardson's 13. That durability gap means Sam Darnold contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Anthony Richardson scored 25 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.9 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Anthony Richardson added 580 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatRichardsonDarnold

PPG (Half-PPR)19.513.8

Games Played1317

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)254235

Passing Yards2,7184,048

Passing TDs1825

Pass Yds/Game209.1238.1

Rushing Yards58095

Rushing TDs70

Total TDs2525

TDs/Game1.91.5

Age-28

Experience-7 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 14Week 8

Summary

19.5 PPG for Anthony Richardson versus 13.8 for Sam Darnold in 2025. The baseline favors Anthony Richardson, 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 Anthony Richardson or Sam Darnold in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Anthony Richardson has the edge at 19.5 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 Anthony Richardson and Sam Darnold average in 2025?▾

Anthony Richardson averaged 19.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Sam Darnold averaged 13.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.7 points per game.

When are Anthony Richardson and Sam Darnold's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson (IND) has a bye in Week 14, and Sam Darnold (SEA) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Anthony Richardson or Sam Darnold a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Anthony Richardson outscored Sam Darnold by 5.7 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.