Carson Wentz vs Justin Herbert: Who Should You Start?
Deciding between Carson Wentz and Justin Herbert is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Minnesota Vikings quarterback put up 15.1 PPG in 2025 over 5 games; Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers averaged 18.7 in 16. A 3.6-point margin that could shift on any given week.
The per-game difference of 3.6 points favors Justin Herbert, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one quarterback to the other.
Justin Herbert offers meaningful rushing upside with 498 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Carson Wentz (1216 passing yards, 6 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: Carson Wentz sits Week 6 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.