Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Josh Allen vs Sam Darnold

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Josh Allen is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Josh Allen outscored Sam Darnold by 9.0 PPG in 2025 with 39 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Josh Allen 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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QBBuffalo Bills#1PPG LEADER

Josh Allen

PPG

22.8

Games

Pass Yds

3,668

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

579

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 7

QBSeattle Seahawks#27

Sam Darnold

PPG

13.8

Games

Pass Yds

4,048

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Josh Allen

Sam Darnold

Head to Head

22.8 PPG13.8 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Josh Allen: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #1 at the position). Sam Darnold: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #27 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Josh Allen is producing at 104% of elite pace and Sam Darnold at 63%. That ranking gap means Josh Allen carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Josh Allen vs Sam Darnold: Who Should You Start?

There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills) averaged 22.8 PPG over 16 games in 2025, outscoring Sam Darnold (Seattle Seahawks, 13.8 PPG) by 9.0 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

That 9.0-point weekly advantage for Josh Allen is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Josh Allen offers meaningful rushing upside with 579 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: Josh Allen is off Week 7 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

Josh Allen 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: Josh Allen (age 29) 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?

•Josh Allen outscored Sam Darnold by a projected 153 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Sam Darnold played 17 games in 2025 compared to Josh Allen's 16. That durability gap means Sam Darnold contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Josh Allen scored 39 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Josh Allen added 579 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatAllenDarnold

PPG (Half-PPR)22.813.8

Games Played1617

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)365235

Passing Yards3,6684,048

Passing TDs2525

Pass Yds/Game229.3238.1

Rushing Yards57995

Rushing TDs140

Total TDs3925

TDs/Game2.41.5

Age2928

Experience7 yrs7 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 7Week 8

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Josh Allen at 22.8 PPG, 9.0 points per game above Sam Darnold's 13.8. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Josh Allen or Sam Darnold in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Josh Allen has the edge at 22.8 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 Josh Allen and Sam Darnold average in 2025?▾

Josh Allen averaged 22.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Sam Darnold averaged 13.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 9.0 points per game.

When are Josh Allen and Sam Darnold's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Josh Allen (BUF) has a bye in Week 7, and Sam Darnold (SEA) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Josh Allen or Sam Darnold a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Josh Allen outscored Sam Darnold by 9.0 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.