J.J. McCarthy or Sam Darnold?
Who to start in Week 9, who is better for the rest of the season, and who carries more trade value — from the FantasyPros expert consensus and the LeagueLogs Market Index.
Week 9 · 2026 season · Consensus updated November 6 at 11:11 AM EST
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The lean
- This week: Weekly comparison unavailable
- Rest of season: J.J. McCarthy — 5 of 7 experts
- Trade value: close to even
Some comparison data is unavailable. Read each available measure separately and check player status before deciding.
| J.J. McCarthy | Sam Darnold | |
|---|---|---|
| Rest of season 2 of 7 experts rank J.J. McCarthy ahead · 5 rank Sam Darnold ahead | QB25#22–#28edge | QB133#125–#139 |
| Week 9 | QB20#18–#23 | — |
| Week 9 projection (PPR) | 15.6 | — |
| Market Index value (redraft PPR) | 5 #169 overall | 7 #131 overall |
| Last 30 days (Market Index) | +174 ranks · +261 val | -11 ranks · -59 val |
| Rostered | 22% | 39% |
| Bye | 8 | 11 |
| Status | No injury designation | OUT (Quad) · DNP → DNP · 0.07167% to play |
Expert consensus and ownership data via FantasyPros · Market Index values by LeagueLogs
Comparing a trade rather than a lineup choice? Check both sides of the offer with the AI Trade Analyzer, or review your Sleeper roster’s strengths and weaknesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Who should I start in Week 9, J.J. McCarthy or Sam Darnold?
- Weekly consensus is not available for both J.J. McCarthy and Sam Darnold on the same board. That is not a tie or a recommendation to sit either player. Check their player pages for current status and revisit when both are ranked.
- Who is better for the rest of the season, J.J. McCarthy or Sam Darnold?
- J.J. McCarthy. Rest-of-season consensus: J.J. McCarthy QB25 (range #22–#28) vs Sam Darnold QB133 (range #125–#139). 5 of 7 FantasyPros experts who rank both have Sam Darnold ahead for the rest of the season.
- Should I trade J.J. McCarthy for Sam Darnold?
- On the LeagueLogs Market Index (redraft PPR) J.J. McCarthy is ranked #169 overall and Sam Darnold #131, so a one-for-one is close to even. Run the exact deal through the free AI Trade Analyzer for a verdict on your league's scoring.