Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

C.J. Stroud vs Justin HerbertWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.9 PPG to C.J. Stroud's 14.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy play this season.

Justin Herbert is the better play on a neutral week. 17.9 PPG with 4,225 yards gives a reliable baseline. C.J. Stroud at 14.9 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Justin Herbert higher, but do not fade C.J. Stroud entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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QBHouston Texans#23

C.J. Stroud

PPG

14.9

Games

Pass Yds

3,041

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

209

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 8

QBLos Angeles Chargers#10PPG LEADER

Justin Herbert

PPG

17.9

Games

Pass Yds

3,727

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

498

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

C.J. Stroud

Justin Herbert

Head to Head

14.9 PPG17.9 PPG

14 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

C.J. Stroud: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #23 at the position). Justin Herbert: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, C.J. Stroud is producing at 68% of elite pace and Justin Herbert at 81%. That ranking gap means Justin Herbert carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

C.J. Stroud vs Justin Herbert: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between C.J. Stroud and Justin Herbert for your lineup, you are not alone. C.J. Stroud finished the 2025 season at 14.9 PPG for the Houston Texans (14 games), and Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 for the Los Angeles Chargers (16 games).

That 3.0-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 C.J. Stroud (3041 passing yards, 19 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

One scheduling note: C.J. Stroud is off Week 8 and Justin Herbert Week 7. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in quarterback for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: C.J. Stroud (age 24) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising. Justin Herbert (age 28) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Justin Herbert outscored C.J. Stroud by a projected 51 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Justin Herbert played 16 games in 2025 compared to C.J. Stroud's 14. That durability gap means Justin Herbert contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Justin Herbert scored 28 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at quarterback.
•Justin Herbert added 498 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.
•C.J. Stroud is 4 years younger than Justin Herbert (24 vs 28), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

C.J. Stroud vs Justin Herbert: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	C.J. Stroud	Justin Herbert
PPG (Half-PPR)	14.9	17.9
Games Played	14	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	209	286
Passing Yards	3,041	3,727
Passing TDs	19	26
Pass Yds/Game	217.2	232.9
Rushing Yards	209	498
Rushing TDs	1	2
Total TDs	20	28
TDs/Game	1.4	1.8
Age	24	28
Experience	2 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Justin Herbert at 17.9 PPG, 3.0 points per game above C.J. Stroud's 14.9. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start C.J. Stroud or Justin Herbert in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Herbert has the edge at 17.9 PPG compared to C.J. Stroud's 14.9 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did C.J. Stroud and Justin Herbert average in 2025?▾

C.J. Stroud averaged 14.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 3.0 points per game.

When are C.J. Stroud and Justin Herbert's bye weeks in 2026?▾

C.J. Stroud (HOU) has a bye in Week 8, and Justin Herbert (LAC) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is C.J. Stroud or Justin Herbert a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert outscored C.J. Stroud by 3.0 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.