Jalen Hurts or Sam Darnold: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 4 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start Hurts — the consensus rank and snap share edges are too wide to ignore.

Jalen Hurts is the higher consensus play (QB6 to QB24) and plays a 97% snap share to Darnold's 55%. Darnold's edge is the game script, 24.3 implied points to 23.0. The gap is wide.

Jalen Hurts

Jalen Hurts

QB6PHIvs LAR

Projected Points

Start
Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold

QB24SEAvs LAC

Projected Points

Start

Jalen Hurts’s market

PASS YDS
O/U 187.5
-114 / -114
Passing Yards Props →
PASS TD
O/U 0.5
-254 / +195
Passing Touchdowns Props →
INT
O/U 0.5
-112 / -114
Interceptions Thrown Props →
RUSH YDS
O/U 25.5
-108 / -116
Rushing Yards Props →

Sam Darnold’s market

PASS YDS
O/U 233.5
-114 / -114
Passing Yards Props →
PASS TD
O/U 1.5
-133 / +104
Passing Touchdowns Props →
INT
O/U 0.5
+118 / -151
Interceptions Thrown Props →
RUSH YDS
O/U 4.5
-112 / -112
Rushing Yards Props →
LAR@
PHISun, Oct 4, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
LAC@
SEASun, Oct 4, 4:25 PM ETView the game →

Why Jalen Hurts

Start

Starting QB and franchise cornerstone. Dual-threat with elite short-yardage rushing and Super Bowl pedigree.

Start — every-week QB start at consensus QB6: 97% snap share, 17.6 PPR projected vs LAR.

  • LAR ranks 10 of 32 against QBs (one of the tougher matchups, 3-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 23.0 team points as 1.5-point underdogs.
  • Listed QB on the latest depth chart with a 97% snap share.

Latest on Hurts

Spadaro: Jalen Hurts, Eagles do what it takes to win

New scheme, injuries to key personnel, adversity – the offense has overcome it all in this 2-0 start with room for growth.

philadelphiaeagles.com · Sep 23, 2026
Hurts taunts Titans after Eagles win: Finished what you started

Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons approached Jalen Hurts for a postgame dap-up following Philadelphia's 24-20 come-from-behind win Sunday and the Eagles' quarterback was ready for him.

ESPN · Sep 20, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Sam Darnold

Start

Starting QB with prototypical size and arm strength. Full 17-game workload, 4,000-yard passer whose turnover volume caps efficiency.

Start — QB24 consensus, projects QB17 this week: 24.3 implied team total, 55% snap share.

  • LAC ranks 13 of 32 against QBs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 3-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 24.3 team points as 3.0-point favorites.
  • Listed QB on the latest depth chart with a 55% snap share.

Latest on Darnold

Status

Sam Darnold practiced with the Seahawks for the first time in two weeks on Wednesday, Sept. 23 as a limited participant in practice four days before the Seahawks play at the Washington Commanders.

Yahoo Sports · Sep 24, 2026
Sam Darnold laments 'bad decision' in return for Seahawks

Sam Darnold's return from the glute injury that sidelined him for most of the Seahawks' first two games was shaping up to be memorable until a "bad decision" late proved costly against the Commanders.

ESPN · Sep 27, 2026
Sam Darnold Throws For Career-High 379 Yards In Return, Laments Turnovers In Loss To Commanders

Sam Darnold put up career-high numbers in his first full game of the 2026 season, but a pair of second-half turnovers ultimately led to the Seahawks' first loss of the 2026 season.

seahawks.com · Sep 27, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricJalen HurtsSam Darnold
Projected points
Consensus rankQB6QB24
Opponent vs positionLAR · 10 of 323-game sampleLAC · 13 of 323-game sample
Passing Yards2 of 3222 of 32
Passing TDs16 of 329 of 32
Passing Completions6 of 3218 of 32
Passing Attempts20 of 3210 of 32
Interceptions6 of 326 of 32
Implied total · spread23.0+1.524.3-3.0
Depth chartQB1QB1
Snap share97%55%
Start/Sit record1–00–1

Recent form

Jalen Hurts — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs CHI
Week 2vs TEN
Week 1vs WSH

Sam Darnold — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs WSH
Week 2vs ARIDNP
Week 1vs NE

Signal breakdown

  • 17.6 vs 16.1 projected PPR pointsJalen Hurts +
  • Rank 6 vs 24Jalen Hurts +
  • Opponent DvP rank 10 vs 13 (32 = softest)Sam Darnold +
  • Implied 23.0 vs 24.3 team pointsSam Darnold +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 97% vs 55% snap shareJalen Hurts +

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