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Head to Head

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Drake Maye vs Justin HerbertWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Drake Maye is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.7 PPG to Justin Herbert's 17.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Drake Maye is the better fantasy play this season.

Drake Maye has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.8-PPG advantage is real (20.7 to 17.9), and Drake Maye's 35 touchdowns show scoring upside. Justin Herbert is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

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QBNew England Patriots#2PPG LEADER
Drake Maye
PPG
20.7
Games
17
Pass Yds
4,394
Pass TDs
31
Rush Yds
450
Rush TDs
4
Bye
Week 11
QBLos Angeles Chargers#10
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
Drake Maye
Justin Herbert

Head to Head

20.7 PPG17.9 PPG
17 GP16 GP
Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Drake Maye: Tier 1 (Elite) QB (ranked #2 at the position). Justin Herbert: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Drake Maye is producing at 94% of elite pace and Justin Herbert at 81%. That ranking gap means Drake Maye carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Drake Maye vs Justin Herbert: The Full Breakdown

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Drake Maye (New England Patriots) finished the 2025 season averaging 20.7 fantasy points per game in 17 games. Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers) came in at 17.9 PPG over 16 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Drake Maye carries a 2.8-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both are dual-threat quarterbacks. Drake Maye added 450 rushing yards and Justin Herbert chipped in 498, which gives them a higher weekly floor than traditional pocket passers when defenses take away the deep ball. That rushing production is the biggest reason their ceilings look different from drop-back QBs, and it is the stat that typically separates them on tough passing matchups.

Drake Maye has his bye in Week 11, 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

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: Drake Maye (age 23) 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?

  • Drake Maye outscored Justin Herbert by a projected 48 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Drake Maye played 17 games in 2025 compared to Justin Herbert's 16. That durability gap means Drake Maye contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Drake Maye scored 35 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.1 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.
  • Drake Maye is 5 years younger than Justin Herbert (23 vs 28), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Drake Maye vs Justin Herbert: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatDrake MayeJustin Herbert
PPG (Half-PPR)20.717.9
Games Played1716
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)352286
Passing Yards4,3943,727
Passing TDs3126
Pass Yds/Game258.5232.9
Rushing Yards450498
Rushing TDs42
Total TDs3528
TDs/Game2.11.8
Age2328
Experience1 yrs5 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 11Week 7

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Drake Maye holds the PPG edge with strong output at 20.7 points per game. Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Drake Maye or Justin Herbert in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Drake Maye has the edge at 20.7 PPG compared to Justin Herbert's 17.9 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 Drake Maye and Justin Herbert average in 2025?

Drake Maye averaged 20.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 2.8 points per game.

When are Drake Maye and Justin Herbert's bye weeks in 2026?

Drake Maye (NE) has a bye in Week 11, and Justin Herbert (LAC) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Drake Maye or Justin Herbert a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?

Drake Maye outscored Justin Herbert by 2.8 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.