Russell Wilson vs Sam Darnold: The Full Breakdown
The gap between Russell Wilson and Sam Darnold is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 0.4 PPG in 2025, this is one of those quarterback decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. Russell Wilson averaged 14.2 PPG with the Pittsburgh Steelers across 14 games, and Sam Darnold posted 13.8 with the Seattle Seahawks in 17.
When two quarterbacks are separated by less than two points per game, the decision shifts to weekly context. Who has the softer defense? Who is trending up over the last month? Which team is projected for more total points? Those are the tiebreakers that actually matter.
Both lean on arm talent and offensive scheme as traditional pocket passers. Russell Wilson threw for 2890 yards and 18 touchdowns, while Sam Darnold posted 4048 yards and 25 scores. Volume, red zone efficiency, and game script are the key week-to-week differentiators when neither carries rushing upside.
Russell Wilson has his bye in Week 9, and Sam Darnold rests in Week 11. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at quarterback for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.
