Baker Mayfield vs Justin Herbert: Who Should You Start?
If you are choosing between Baker Mayfield and Justin Herbert for your lineup, you are not alone. Baker Mayfield finished the 2025 season at 16.6 PPG for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (17 games), and Justin Herbert averaged 18.7 for the Los Angeles Chargers (16 games).
That 2.1-point weekly advantage for Justin Herbert is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.
Justin Herbert offers meaningful rushing upside with 498 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Baker Mayfield (3693 passing yards, 26 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Baker Mayfield sits Week 11 while Justin Herbert is off Week 5. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
