Start Sam Darnold or Cam Ward? Week 3

Our Week 3 call

Start Sam Darnold over Cam Ward in Week 3.

De-vigged player props project Sam Darnold at 15.2 points and Cam Ward at 13.3, a gap of 1.8. Both numbers are scaled up from a partial market: the books have not posted every stat the position needs, so the rest is estimated from what they have.

What the books imply

Player prop markets imply 15.2 fantasy points for Sam Darnold, with 80 percent of the markets a QB needs posted.

The books have Sam Darnold at 222.5 passing yards, with a 11% chance to score a touchdown (8 and 10 books).

Player prop markets imply 13.3 fantasy points for Cam Ward, with 100 percent of the markets a QB needs posted.

The books have Cam Ward at 189.5 passing yards and 11.5 rushing yards, with a 18% chance to score a touchdown (12, 12 and 15 books).

That puts Sam Darnold 1.8 points ahead of Cam Ward on the books.

Injury status

Sam Darnold is listed as questionable.

Cam Ward is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 3

Through Week 1, Sam Darnold played 10 percent of SEA snaps, dropped back 3 times and threw an average of 7.5 air yards per attempt.

Sam Darnold, Week 1 against NE: 5 of 50 snaps, 1 of 2 passes for 13 yards, 0 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.

Through Week 2, Cam Ward played 100 percent of TEN snaps, dropped back 63 times and threw an average of 6.3 air yards per attempt.

Cam Ward, Week 1 against NYJ: 50 of 50 snaps, 19 of 32 passes for 140 yards, 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions, 4 carries for 21 yards.

Cam Ward, Week 2 against PHI: 53 of 53 snaps, 13 of 20 passes for 183 yards, 0 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, 4 carries for 7 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Sam Darnold played 17 games for SEA and scored 249.4 PPR points, 14.7 a game, finishing QB13.

He completed 323 of 477 passes for 4048 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, and ran 35 times for 95 yards and 0 touchdowns.

He was on the field for 96 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Sam Darnold, Week 18 of 2025 against SF: 69 of 69 snaps, 20 of 26 passes for 198 yards, 0 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, 6 carries for 9 yards, 8.8 PPR points.

Sam Darnold, Week 17 of 2025 against CAR: 66 of 66 snaps, 18 of 27 passes for 147 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception, 3 carries for 2 yards, 7.1 PPR points.

In 2025, Cam Ward played 17 games for TEN and scored 193.7 PPR points, 11.4 a game, finishing QB22.

He completed 323 of 540 passes for 3169 yards, 15 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, and ran 39 times for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns.

He was on the field for 100 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Cam Ward, Week 18 of 2025 against JAX: 3 of 3 passes for 52 yards, 0 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, 2 carries for 11 yards, 9.2 PPR points.

Their other Week 3 calls

• Start Sam Darnold over Aaron Rodgers.
• Start Sam Darnold over Bryce Young.
• Start Dak Prescott over Sam Darnold.
• Start Aaron Rodgers over Cam Ward.
• Start Baker Mayfield over Cam Ward.
• Start Daniel Jones over Cam Ward.