Deshaun Watson · Sam Darnold · 2026 week 5

Deshaun Watson or Sam Darnold?

Wondering who you should start this week — Deshaun Watson 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 1.9 PPR points clear of Deshaun Watson in week 5, drawing SF — the 26th-ranked matchup for QBs. The numbers behind the call are below; overrule them with your eyes open.

Player	Wk 5	Proj (PPR)	Matchup	Form L3	Trade value	Status
Deshaun Watson	@ NYJ	14.5	28th · tough	18	214	healthy
Sam Darnold START	vs SF	16.4	26th · tough	14.8	351	healthy

QBs vs NYJ recently: Jordan Love 13.8 pts (W2) · Jared Goff 19.4 pts (W3) · Tyson Bagent 9.8 pts (W4).

QBs vs SF recently: Malik Willis 12.5 pts (W2) · Jacoby Brissett 25.6 pts (W3) · Bo Nix 13.6 pts (W4).

🎓 The coach's read

Sam Darnold projects 1.9 points higher in PPR.
Deshaun Watson faces NYJ, 28th most generous to QBs.
Sam Darnold faces SF, 26th most generous to QBs.

Who wins a straight-up trade?

Sam Darnold carries the higher trade value — 351 against 214 (a 39% gap). In a one-for-one, the side receiving Sam Darnold gets the most. Momentum: Deshaun Watson +164 and Sam Darnold -35 over the last 30 days.

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

More QB decisions

Deshaun Watson or Jacoby Brissett?Deshaun Watson or Kyler Murray?Sam Darnold or Jordan Love?Sam Darnold or Kirk Cousins?Sam Darnold or C.J. Stroud?

All numbers are the 2026 season, refreshed nightly.