Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Sam Darnold vs Trevor Lawrence

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Trevor Lawrence is the better fantasy play this season.

Trevor Lawrence is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 19.9 PPG and 4,366 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 Trevor Lawrence 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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QBSeattle Seahawks#27

Sam Darnold

PPG

13.8

Games

Pass Yds

4,048

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 8

QBJacksonville Jaguars#5PPG LEADER

Trevor Lawrence

PPG

19.9

Games

Pass Yds

4,007

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

359

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Sam Darnold

Trevor Lawrence

Head to Head

13.8 PPG19.9 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Sam Darnold: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #27 at the position). Trevor Lawrence: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #5 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Sam Darnold is producing at 63% of elite pace and Trevor Lawrence at 90%. That ranking gap means Trevor Lawrence carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Sam Darnold vs Trevor Lawrence: Who Should You Start?

There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars) averaged 19.9 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Sam Darnold (Seattle Seahawks, 13.8 PPG) by 6.1 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 6.1-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 thing to note: both players share a Week 8 bye. That means you need a backup plan at quarterback for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Trevor Lawrence 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: Sam Darnold (age 28) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Trevor Lawrence (age 26) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Trevor Lawrence outscored Sam Darnold by a projected 104 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Trevor Lawrence scored 38 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Trevor Lawrence added 359 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.
•Both players share a Week 8 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatDarnoldLawrence

PPG (Half-PPR)13.819.9

Games Played1717

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)235338

Passing Yards4,0484,007

Passing TDs2529

Pass Yds/Game238.1235.7

Rushing Yards95359

Rushing TDs09

Total TDs2538

TDs/Game1.52.2

Age2826

Experience7 yrs4 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 8Week 8

Summary

Trevor Lawrence outscored Sam Darnold by 6.1 PPG in 2025 (19.9 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 Sam Darnold or Trevor Lawrence in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Trevor Lawrence has the edge at 19.9 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 Sam Darnold and Trevor Lawrence average in 2025?▾

Sam Darnold averaged 13.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Trevor Lawrence averaged 19.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 6.1 points per game.

Do Sam Darnold and Trevor Lawrence share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Sam Darnold and Trevor Lawrence share a Week 8 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at quarterback for that week.

Is Sam Darnold or Trevor Lawrence a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Trevor Lawrence outscored Sam Darnold by 6.1 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.