Should I start Aaron Rodgers or Sam Darnold this week? Week 8 Standard (2026)

THE FF CALL

Slight lean: Aaron Rodgers

+0.5 projected edge · Standard

Start Aaron Rodgers over Sam Darnold for Week 8 Standard: 15.2 projected points versus 14.6.

Aaron Rodgers: 17.0 FP recent scoring average; 1.25% matchup reduction against CLE.
Sam Darnold: 11.1 FP recent scoring average; 1.25% matchup lift against CHI.

Forecast updated Oct 28, 2026, 2:14 AM ET · Standard

FF PICK

Aaron Rodgers

QB · PITStats & schedule

15.2FF projected

↑ +0.1 vs ESPN

vs CLE

Sun 1:00 PM ET

THE ALTERNATIVE

Sam Darnold

QB · SEAStats & schedule

14.6FF projected

↓ -0.1 vs ESPN

vs CHI

Mon 8:15 PM ET

Why this pick?

Aaron Rodgers

Fortified15.2

ESPN15.1

Sleeper15.6

Aaron Rodgers faces CLE in Week 8. Recent scoring average: 17.0 fantasy points. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast down 1.25%.

Sam Darnold

Fortified14.6

ESPN14.8

Sleeper14.9

Sam Darnold faces CHI in Week 8. Recent scoring average: 11.1 fantasy points. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast up 1.25%.

Aaron Rodgers projects for 15.2 points in standard scoring, 0.5 more than Sam Darnold. The gap is small; late injury news or your league’s scoring can change the choice. FantasyPros projections are temporarily unavailable; they are excluded from this comparison.

Updated Oct 28, 2026, 2:14 AM ET. Projections can change before kickoff.

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Scoring & lineup notes

PPR awards one point per reception; half-PPR awards 0.5; standard awards none. Custom league rules can change the result. Confirm active status, kickoff and lineup locks. Projections are estimates; completed-week scores are actuals.