Bryce Young · Sam Darnold · 2026 week 1

Bryce Young or Sam Darnold?

Wondering who you should start this week — Bryce Young or Sam Darnold? The start/sit call and the numbers behind it are below, plus who wins a straight-up trade. Rebuilt nightly.

Start Sam DarnoldSam Darnold projects 1.7 PPR points clear of Bryce Young in week 1, drawing NE — the 22nd-ranked matchup for QBs. The numbers behind the call are below; overrule them with your eyes open.

Player	Wk 1	Proj (PPR)	Matchup	Form L3	Trade value	Status
Bryce Young	vs CHI	18.1	6th · soft	15	122	healthy
Sam Darnold START	vs NE	19.8	22nd	12.5	379	healthy

QBs vs CHI recently: Malik Willis 13.2 pts (W16) · Brock Purdy 37.9 pts (W17) · Jared Goff 16.2 pts (W18).

QBs vs NE recently: Lamar Jackson 4.7 pts (W16) · Brady Cook 5.2 pts (W17) · Quinn Ewers 9.4 pts (W18).

Who wins a straight-up trade?

Sam Darnold carries the higher trade value — 379 against 122 (a 68% gap). In a one-for-one, the side receiving Sam Darnold gets the most. Momentum: Bryce Young -142 and Sam Darnold +54 over the last 30 days.

Open in Start/Sit (any scoring) Open in the Trade Analyzer

More QB decisions

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Game logs, matchup ranks and form are the 2025 season — 2026 hasn’t kicked off. Projections, schedule and trade values are current 2026 numbers, refreshed nightly.