Lamar Jackson or Sam Darnold: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 4 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Start Jackson — the projection and consensus rank edges are too wide to ignore.
Lamar Jackson projects 21.1 to Darnold's 16.1 and is the higher consensus play (QB2 to QB24). Darnold's edge is availability, a clean report to Jackson's Questionable. The gap is wide.
Lamar Jackson
21.121.121.1 Projected Points
Sam Darnold
16.116.116.1 Projected Points
Lamar Jackson’s market
Sam Darnold’s market
Why Lamar Jackson
StartFranchise starting QB and dual-threat superstar. Elite off-script creator with MVP-caliber efficiency and game-breaking rushing ability.
Start — every-week QB start at consensus QB2: 28.0 implied team total, 100% snap share.
- Carries a Questionable tag — usually plays, but monitor the final report.
- TEN ranks 7 of 32 against QBs (one of the tougher matchups, 3-game sample).
- Vegas implies 28.0 team points as 8.5-point favorites.
- Listed QB on the latest depth chart with a 100% snap share.
Latest on Jackson
Lamar Jackson was on the field at the start of Thursday’s practice.
Lamar Jackson Practicing Thursday After Being Limited on Wednesdaybaltimoreravens.com · Oct 1, 2026Once among the most dominant teams at home, the Ravens have lost four straight games in Baltimore.
Zay Flowers had an ‘outrageous’ September to remember. Rich Eisen believes Derrick Henry could have an epic performance against his former team. Rob Gronkowski doubles down on his Ravens Super Bowl prediction.
Here are the other three players who overcame adversity to help Jackson produce one of the wildest finishes in Ravens history.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Why Sam Darnold
StartStarting 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
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, 2026Sam 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.
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.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Lamar Jackson | Sam Darnold |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 21.121.121.1 | 16.116.116.1 |
| Consensus rank | QB2 | QB24 |
| Opponent vs position | TEN · 7 of 323-game sample | LAC · 13 of 323-game sample |
| Passing Yards | 8 of 32 | 22 of 32 |
| Passing TDs | 1 of 32 | 9 of 32 |
| Passing Completions | 9 of 32 | 18 of 32 |
| Passing Attempts | 5 of 32 | 10 of 32 |
| Interceptions | 14 of 32 | 6 of 32 |
| Implied total · spread | 28.0-8.5 | 24.3-3.0 |
| Depth chart | QB1 | QB1 |
| Snap share | 100% | 55% |
| Injury designation | Questionable | — |
| Start/Sit record | — | 0–1 |
Recent form
Lamar Jackson — last 3 weeks
| Week 3 | vs DAL | 20.420.420.4 |
| Week 2 | vs NO | 14.814.814.8 |
| Week 1 | vs IND | 25.025.025.0 |
Sam Darnold — last 3 weeks
| Week 3 | vs WSH | 27.727.727.7 |
| Week 2 | vs ARI | DNP |
| Week 1 | vs NE | 0.50.50.5 |
Signal breakdown
- 21.1 vs 16.1 projected PPR pointsLamar Jackson +
- Rank 2 vs 24Lamar Jackson +
- Opponent DvP rank 7 vs 13 (32 = softest)Sam Darnold +
- Implied 28.0 vs 24.3 team pointsLamar Jackson +
- Questionable vs no designationSam Darnold +
- 100% vs 55% snap shareLamar Jackson +
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