Who should I pick up: Matthew Stafford 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: Matthew Stafford

If both are available and you need Week 8 points, pick up Matthew Stafford 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

Matthew Stafford

QB · LAR · vs LAC

Stats & schedule ›

16.6FF projected FP

Nov 1, 4:05 PM ET

92.1%rostered on ESPN-0.09 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.

Matthew Stafford 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.

Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford projects for 16.6 Standard points against LAC this week. His recent scoring average is 20.6 FP. The defensive matchup reduces the FF estimate by 2.5%. He is rostered in 92.1% of ESPN leagues, with a reported decline of 0.09 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 16.6 FP
ESPN: 16.9 FP
Sleeper: 14.9 FP
FantasyPros: 17.6 FP
Boosted Trees: 17.0 FP
Workload: 16.2 FP
Monte Carlo: 16.1 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%: 6.8–26.0 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	Matthew Stafford	Sam Darnold
Next 3 weeks	56.6 FPHigher projection3/3 scheduled games projected	49.1 FP3/3 scheduled games projected
Remaining regular-season schedule	165.4 FPHigher projection10/10 scheduled games projected · 1 bye	144.7 FP10/10 scheduled games projected · 1 bye
Weeks 15–18	62.8 FPHigher projection4/4 scheduled games projected	52.0 FP4/4 scheduled games projected

Weekly pickup outlook

Week	Matthew Stafford	Sam Darnold
Week 8	16.6 FPvs LACHigher projection	15.2 FPvs CHI
Week 9	19.4 FPvs WASHigher projection	17.5 FPvs ARI
Week 10	20.6 FPvs ARIHigher projection	16.4 FPvs LV
Week 11	BYE	BYE
Week 12	15.5 FPvs GBHigher projection	13.0 FPvs SF
Week 13	14.7 FPvs KC	16.2 FPvs DALHigher projection
Week 14	15.9 FPvs SFHigher projection	14.5 FPvs NYG
Week 15	19.1 FPvs DALHigher projection	13.7 FPvs PHI
Week 16	14.0 FPvs SEAHigher projection	12.7 FPvs LAR
Week 17	15.6 FPvs TBHigher projection	13.2 FPvs CAR
Week 18	14.1 FPvs SEAHigher projection	12.3 FPvs LAR

Outlook updated Oct 30, 12:49 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 Matthew Stafford versus these pickups?

QB · Week 8

Jared Goff15.9projected FP

Matthew Stafford16.6projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗QB · Week 8

Matthew Stafford16.6projected FP

Trevor Lawrence21.0projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗QB · Week 8

Jayden Daniels21.2projected FP

Matthew Stafford16.6projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗QB · Week 8

Malik Willis16.6projected FP

Matthew Stafford16.6projected 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