Who should I pick up: Kirk Cousins 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: Kirk Cousins

If both are available and you need Week 8 points, pick up Kirk Cousins over Sam Darnold: 16.6 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, 12:34 PM ET · Common scoring preset

THIS-WEEK PICKUP

Kirk Cousins

QB · LV · vs NYJ

Stats & schedule ›

16.6FF projected FP

Nov 1, 1:00 PM ET

60.2%rostered on ESPN+0.84 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.

Kirk Cousins 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.

Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins projects for 16.6 Standard points against NYJ this week. His recent scoring average is 17.6 FP. He is rostered in 60.2% of ESPN leagues, with a reported gain of 0.84 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 16.6 FP
ESPN: 16.6 FP
Sleeper: 16.6 FP
FantasyPros: 16.1 FP
Boosted Trees: 15.1 FP
Workload: 16.7 FP
Monte Carlo: 16.6 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%: 6.9–26.7 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	Kirk Cousins	Sam Darnold
Next 3 weeks	44.9 FP3/3 scheduled games projected	49.1 FPHigher projection3/3 scheduled games projected
Remaining regular-season schedule	162.3 FPHigher projection10/10 scheduled games projected · 1 bye	144.7 FP10/10 scheduled games projected · 1 bye
Weeks 15–18	70.0 FPHigher projection4/4 scheduled games projected	52.0 FP4/4 scheduled games projected

Weekly pickup outlook

Week	Kirk Cousins	Sam Darnold
Week 8	16.6 FPvs NYJHigher projection	15.2 FPvs CHI
Week 9	15.0 FPvs SF	17.5 FPvs ARIHigher projection
Week 10	13.3 FPvs SEA	16.4 FPvs LVHigher projection
Week 11	15.4 FPvs DENHigher projection	BYE
Week 12	15.9 FPvs CLEHigher projection	13.0 FPvs SF
Week 13	BYE	16.2 FPvs DALHigher projection
Week 14	16.1 FPvs LACHigher projection	14.5 FPvs NYG
Week 15	15.3 FPvs DENHigher projection	13.7 FPvs PHI
Week 16	17.6 FPvs TENHigher projection	12.7 FPvs LAR
Week 17	22.5 FPvs ARIHigher projection	13.2 FPvs CAR
Week 18	14.5 FPvs KCHigher projection	12.3 FPvs LAR

Outlook updated Oct 30, 12:45 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
23.3
Josh AllenQB · 99.9% rostered
23.0
Joe BurrowQB · 98.7% rostered
22.3
Jayden DanielsQB · 95.0% rostered
21.6
Lamar JacksonQB · 98.7% rostered
21.5

What about Kirk Cousins versus these pickups?

QB · Week 8

Kirk Cousins16.6projected FP

Malik Willis16.6projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗QB · Week 8

Jacoby Brissett18.5projected FP

Kirk Cousins16.6projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗QB · Week 8

Kirk Cousins16.6projected FP

Lamar Jackson22.4projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗QB · Week 8

Matthew Stafford16.6projected FP

Kirk Cousins16.6projected 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

Jacoby Brissett18.5projected FP