Who should I pick up: Joe Burrow or Sam Darnold?

The claim now. The weeks ahead. Make room for the right player.

Reception scoring does not change these projections. One comparison covers PPR, Half-PPR and Standard.

THE PICKUP CALL

For this week: Joe Burrow

If both are available and you need Week 8 points, pick up Joe Burrow over Sam Darnold: 22.9 versus 15.2 projected FP. A longer-term hold can be a different decision; compare the outlook below before choosing who to drop.

Forecast updated Oct 30, 1:04 PM ET · Common scoring preset

THIS-WEEK PICKUP

Joe Burrow

QB · CIN · vs TEN

Stats & schedule ›

22.9FF projected FP

Nov 1, 1:00 PM ET

98.7%rostered on ESPN+0.14 pp recent change

THE ALTERNATIVE

Sam Darnold

QB · SEA · vs CHI

Stats & schedule ›

15.2FF projected FP

Nov 2, 8:15 PM ET

30.4%rostered on ESPN-0.17 pp recent change

WHY THIS PICKUP?

Fit the move to the job.

Joe Burrow is the stronger immediate points option. Sam Darnold is more widely available across ESPN leagues, but league-wide ownership cannot tell us who is available in yours. For a QB vacancy, compare the immediate matchup with the weeks you actually need covered. A rising roster percentage can explain interest in a player; it does not increase his projected score. If you must drop someone, check the full roster in GamePlan before making the claim.

Joe Burrow

Joe Burrow projects for 22.9 Standard points against TEN this week. His recent scoring average is 26.7 FP. He is rostered in 98.7% of ESPN leagues, with a reported gain of 0.14 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 22.9 FP
ESPN: 22.9 FP
Sleeper: 21.9 FP
FantasyPros: 22.6 FP
Boosted Trees: 21.3 FP
Workload: 21.8 FP
Monte Carlo: 21.7 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Workload: Experimental · includes FantasyPros stat inputs · saved Oct 28, 9:08 PM ET
Monte Carlo: Experimental · conditional on availability · central 80%: 9.1–35.0 FP · saved Oct 28, 9:16 PM ET

Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold projects for 15.2 Standard points against CHI this week. His recent scoring average is 11.1 FP. The defensive matchup raises the FF estimate by 1.25%. He is rostered in 30.4% of ESPN leagues, with a reported decline of 0.17 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 15.2 FP
ESPN: 14.5 FP
Sleeper: 14.9 FP
FantasyPros: 16.5 FP
Boosted Trees: 16.4 FP
Workload: 14.2 FP
Monte Carlo: 14.8 FP

Boosted Trees: Experimental · saved Oct 27, 12:03 AM ET
Workload: Experimental · includes FantasyPros stat inputs · saved Oct 28, 9:08 PM ET
Monte Carlo: Experimental · central 80%: 6.2–23.7 FP · saved Oct 28, 9:16 PM ET

Roster data as of Oct 30, 12:30 PM ET / Oct 30, 12:30 PM ET. Recent change uses ESPN’s reported field; its lookback window is not specified. Saved model estimates are supporting evidence, not independent votes.

THE HOLD, NOT JUST THE CLAIM

What comes after this week?

Future FF estimates are separate from the current-week pickup call. Totals describe the player, not extra points for your roster. Weeks 15–18 are a calendar view; your league’s playoff weeks may differ. Green highlights the higher displayed projection when both outlooks are known; ties and incomplete comparisons stay neutral.

Window	Joe Burrow	Sam Darnold
Next 3 weeks	63.1 FPHigher projection3/3 scheduled games projected	49.1 FP3/3 scheduled games projected
Remaining regular-season schedule	229.6 FPHigher projection11/11 scheduled games projected	144.7 FP10/10 scheduled games projected · 1 bye
Weeks 15–18	82.4 FPHigher projection4/4 scheduled games projected	52.0 FP4/4 scheduled games projected

Weekly pickup outlook

Week	Joe Burrow	Sam Darnold
Week 8	22.9 FPvs TENHigher projection	15.2 FPvs CHI
Week 9	20.8 FPvs ATLHigher projection	17.5 FPvs ARI
Week 10	19.4 FPvs PITHigher projection	16.4 FPvs LV
Week 11	23.9 FPvs WASHigher projection	BYE
Week 12	21.6 FPvs NOHigher projection	13.0 FPvs SF
Week 13	19.9 FPvs CLEHigher projection	16.2 FPvs DAL
Week 14	18.6 FPvs KCHigher projection	14.5 FPvs NYG
Week 15	20.4 FPvs CARHigher projection	13.7 FPvs PHI
Week 16	20.9 FPvs INDHigher projection	12.7 FPvs LAR
Week 17	21.0 FPvs BALHigher projection	13.2 FPvs CAR
Week 18	20.1 FPvs CLEHigher projection	12.3 FPvs LAR

Outlook updated Oct 30, 1:08 PM ET. Health and roles can change.

PICKUP RANKINGS · QB

More options. The same scale.

FF–Monte Carlo midpoint order within this pickup pool. The window connects two estimates; it is not a confidence interval. Rankings may differ from the FF points-only call above.

20.5 FP24.6 FP

Drake MayeQB · 98.9% rostered
23.2
Josh AllenQB · 99.9% rostered
23.0
Joe BurrowQB · 98.7% rostered
22.3
Jayden DanielsQB · 95.0% rostered
21.7
Lamar JacksonQB · 98.7% rostered
21.5

What about Joe Burrow versus these pickups?

QB · Week 8

Joe Burrow22.9projected FP

Trevor Lawrence20.9projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗QB · Week 8

Dak Prescott23.2projected FP

Joe Burrow22.9projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗QB · Week 8

Drake Maye24.0projected FP

Joe Burrow22.9projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗QB · Week 8

Jayden Daniels21.2projected FP

Joe Burrow22.9projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗

More QB pickup decisions

Recorded comparison interest informs the order where available, followed by nearby projected options. These are not claims that both players are free agents in your league.

QB · Week 8