Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Brock Purdy vs Sam Darnold

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Brock Purdy is the better fantasy play this season.

Brock Purdy is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 19.7 PPG and 2,314 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Sam Darnold (13.8 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Brock Purdy as the starter and Sam Darnold as depth.

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

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QBSan Francisco 49ers#6PPG LEADER

Brock Purdy

PPG

19.7

Games

Pass Yds

2,167

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

147

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

Brock Purdy

Sam Darnold

Head to Head

19.7 PPG13.8 PPG

9 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Brock Purdy: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #6 at the position). Sam Darnold: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #27 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Brock Purdy is producing at 90% of elite pace and Sam Darnold at 63%. That ranking gap means Brock Purdy carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Brock Purdy vs Sam Darnold: Who Should You Start?

Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold are both viable fantasy quarterbacks heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Brock Purdy averaged 19.7 PPG across 9 games with the San Francisco 49ers, while Sam Darnold posted 13.8 PPG in 17 appearances for the Seattle Seahawks.

A 5.9-PPG gap gives Brock Purdy 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. Brock Purdy threw for 2167 yards and 20 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.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Brock Purdy sits Week 14 while Sam Darnold is off Week 8. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Brock Purdy at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Sam Darnold is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Brock Purdy (age 26) 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?

•Brock Purdy outscored Sam Darnold by a projected 100 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Sam Darnold played 17 games in 2025 compared to Brock Purdy's 9. 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▾

StatPurdyDarnold

PPG (Half-PPR)19.713.8

Games Played917

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)177235

Passing Yards2,1674,048

Passing TDs2025

Pass Yds/Game240.8238.1

Rushing Yards14795

Rushing TDs30

Total TDs2325

TDs/Game2.61.5

Age2628

Experience3 yrs7 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 14Week 8

Summary

Brock Purdy outscored Sam Darnold by 5.9 PPG in 2025 (19.7 to 13.8). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Brock Purdy or Sam Darnold in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Brock Purdy has the edge at 19.7 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 Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold average in 2025?▾

Brock Purdy averaged 19.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 9 games in 2025. Sam Darnold averaged 13.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.9 points per game.

When are Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Brock Purdy (SF) 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 Brock Purdy or Sam Darnold a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Brock Purdy outscored Sam Darnold by 5.9 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.