Who should I pick up: Sam Darnold or Tanner McKee?

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: Sam Darnold

If both are available and you need Week 8 points, pick up Sam Darnold over Tanner McKee: 15.2 versus 13.8 projected FP. A longer-term hold can be a different decision; compare the outlook below before choosing who to drop.

Forecast updated Oct 30, 12:49 PM ET · Common scoring preset

THIS-WEEK PICKUP

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

THE ALTERNATIVE

Tanner McKee

QB · PHI · vs WAS

Stats & schedule ›

13.8FF projected FP

Nov 1, 8:20 PM ET

4.5%rostered on ESPN-0.21 pp recent change

WHY THIS PICKUP?

Fit the move to the job.

Sam Darnold is the stronger immediate points option. Tanner McKee 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.

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

Tanner McKee

Tanner McKee projects for 13.8 Standard points against WAS this week. His recent scoring average is 11.6 FP. The defensive matchup raises the FF estimate by 7.5%. He is rostered in 4.5% of ESPN leagues, with a reported decline of 0.21 percentage points. Roster trends measure manager activity, not a guarantee of playing time or availability in your league.

Fortified Fantasy: 13.8 FP
ESPN: 12.4 FP
Sleeper: 13.3 FP
FantasyPros: 12.9 FP
Boosted Trees: 13.3 FP
Workload: 12.2 FP
Monte Carlo: 14.1 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 · central 80%: 5.9–23.1 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	Sam Darnold	Tanner McKee
Next 3 weeks	49.1 FPHigher projection3/3 scheduled games projected	25.6 FP2/2 scheduled games projected · 1 bye
Remaining regular-season schedule	144.7 FPHigher projection10/10 scheduled games projected · 1 bye	123.3 FP10/10 scheduled games projected · 1 bye
Weeks 15–18	52.0 FPHigher projection4/4 scheduled games projected	44.9 FP4/4 scheduled games projected

Weekly pickup outlook

Week	Sam Darnold	Tanner McKee
Week 8	15.2 FPvs CHIHigher projection	13.8 FPvs WAS
Week 9	17.5 FPvs ARIHigher projection	11.9 FPvs NYG
Week 10	16.4 FPvs LVHigher projection	BYE
Week 11	BYE	10.8 FPvs PITHigher projection
Week 12	13.0 FPvs SF	14.0 FPvs DALHigher projection
Week 13	16.2 FPvs DALHigher projection	15.5 FPvs ARI
Week 14	14.5 FPvs NYGHigher projection	12.5 FPvs IND
Week 15	13.7 FPvs PHIHigher projection	9.3 FPvs SEA
Week 16	12.7 FPvs LARHigher projection	12.5 FPvs HOU
Week 17	13.2 FPvs CARHigher projection	11.0 FPvs SF
Week 18	12.3 FPvs LARHigher projection	12.1 FPvs NYG

Outlook updated Oct 30, 12:54 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 Sam Darnold versus these pickups?

QB · Week 8

Michael Penix Jr.14.6projected FP

Sam Darnold15.2projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗QB · Week 8

Josh Allen24.6projected FP

Sam Darnold15.2projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗QB · Week 8

Jacoby Brissett18.5projected FP

Sam Darnold15.2projected FP

Compare the pickups ↗QB · Week 8

Jared Goff15.9projected FP

Sam Darnold15.2projected 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