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Daniel Jones vs Justin HerbertWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.9 PPG to Daniel Jones's 17.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Justin Herbert and Daniel Jones are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 0.5-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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QBIndianapolis Colts#13
Daniel Jones
PPG
17.4
Games
13
Pass Yds
3,101
Pass TDs
19
Rush Yds
164
Rush TDs
5
Bye
Week 13
QBLos Angeles Chargers#10PPG LEADER
Justin Herbert
PPG
17.9
Games
16
Pass Yds
3,727
Pass TDs
26
Rush Yds
498
Rush TDs
2
Bye
Week 7

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Daniel Jones
Justin Herbert

Head to Head

17.4 PPG17.9 PPG
13 GP16 GP
Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Daniel Jones: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #13 at the position). Justin Herbert: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Daniel Jones is producing at 79% of elite pace and Justin Herbert at 81%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Daniel Jones vs Justin Herbert: The Full Breakdown

Daniel Jones (17.4 PPG) and Justin Herbert (17.9 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two quarterbacks are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Daniel Jones played 13 games for the Indianapolis Colts; Justin Herbert suited up 16 times for the Los Angeles Chargers.

A 0.5-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Justin Herbert offers meaningful rushing upside with 498 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Daniel Jones (3101 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.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Daniel Jones sits Week 13 while Justin Herbert is off Week 7. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

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: Daniel Jones (age 29) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. 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 Daniel Jones by a projected 9 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Justin Herbert played 16 games in 2025 compared to Daniel Jones's 13. 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Daniel Jones vs Justin Herbert: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatDaniel JonesJustin Herbert
PPG (Half-PPR)17.417.9
Games Played1316
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)226286
Passing Yards3,1013,727
Passing TDs1926
Pass Yds/Game238.5232.9
Rushing Yards164498
Rushing TDs52
Total TDs2428
TDs/Game1.81.8
Age2928
Experience6 yrs5 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 13Week 7

Summary

17.9 PPG for Justin Herbert versus 17.4 for Daniel Jones in 2025. The baseline favors Justin Herbert, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Daniel Jones or Justin Herbert in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Herbert has the edge at 17.9 PPG compared to Daniel Jones's 17.4 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 Daniel Jones and Justin Herbert average in 2025?

Daniel Jones averaged 17.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 0.5 points per game.

When are Daniel Jones and Justin Herbert's bye weeks in 2026?

Daniel Jones (IND) has a bye in Week 13, and Justin Herbert (LAC) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Daniel Jones or Justin Herbert a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?

Justin Herbert outscored Daniel Jones by 0.5 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.

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