Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Deshaun Watson vs Justin HerbertWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.9 PPG to Deshaun Watson's 12.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Justin Herbert outscored Deshaun Watson by 5.7 PPG in 2025 with 28 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Justin Herbert is the clear pick. Deshaun Watson profiles as a matchup-dependent quarterback who can spike but lacks the consistent floor.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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QBCleveland Browns#99

Deshaun Watson

PPG

12.2

Games

Pass Yds

2,105

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

185

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 10

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

Deshaun Watson

Justin Herbert

Head to Head

12.2 PPG17.9 PPG

11 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Deshaun Watson: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Justin Herbert: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Deshaun Watson is producing at 55% 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.

Deshaun Watson vs Justin Herbert: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Deshaun Watson and Justin Herbert is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Cleveland Browns quarterback put up 12.2 PPG in 2025 over 11 games; Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers averaged 17.9 in 16. A 5.7-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 5.7 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 Deshaun Watson (2105 passing yards, 12 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

Deshaun Watson has his bye in Week 10, and Justin Herbert rests in Week 7. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at quarterback for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Justin Herbert is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Deshaun Watson is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Deshaun Watson (age 27) 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 Deshaun Watson by a projected 97 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Justin Herbert played 16 games in 2025 compared to Deshaun Watson's 11. 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

Deshaun Watson vs Justin Herbert: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Deshaun Watson	Justin Herbert
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.2	17.9
Games Played	11	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	134	286
Passing Yards	2,105	3,727
Passing TDs	12	26
Pass Yds/Game	191.4	232.9
Rushing Yards	185	498
Rushing TDs	2	2
Total TDs	14	28
TDs/Game	1.3	1.8
Age	-	28
Experience	-	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 7

Summary

17.9 PPG for Justin Herbert versus 12.2 for Deshaun Watson 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 Deshaun Watson or Justin Herbert in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Herbert has the edge at 17.9 PPG compared to Deshaun Watson's 12.2 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 Deshaun Watson and Justin Herbert average in 2025?▾

Deshaun Watson averaged 12.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 11 games in 2025. Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 5.7 points per game.

When are Deshaun Watson and Justin Herbert's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Deshaun Watson (CLE) has a bye in Week 10, and Justin Herbert (LAC) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Deshaun Watson or Justin Herbert a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert outscored Deshaun Watson by 5.7 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.