Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Gardner Minshew vs Justin HerbertWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.9 PPG to Gardner Minshew's 12.4 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 Gardner Minshew by 5.5 PPG in 2025 with 28 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Justin Herbert is the clear pick. Gardner Minshew 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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QBLas Vegas Raiders#99

Gardner Minshew

PPG

12.4

Games

Pass Yds

2,420

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

125

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

Gardner Minshew

Justin Herbert

Head to Head

12.4 PPG17.9 PPG

12 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Gardner Minshew: 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, Gardner Minshew is producing at 56% 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.

Gardner Minshew vs Justin Herbert: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Gardner Minshew and Justin Herbert is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback put up 12.4 PPG in 2025 over 12 games; Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers averaged 17.9 in 16. A 5.5-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 5.5 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 Gardner Minshew (2420 passing yards, 14 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: Gardner Minshew sits Week 10 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

Justin Herbert is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Gardner Minshew is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Gardner Minshew (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 Gardner Minshew by a projected 93 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Justin Herbert played 16 games in 2025 compared to Gardner Minshew's 12. 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

Gardner Minshew vs Justin Herbert: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Gardner Minshew	Justin Herbert
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.4	17.9
Games Played	12	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	149	286
Passing Yards	2,420	3,727
Passing TDs	14	26
Pass Yds/Game	201.7	232.9
Rushing Yards	125	498
Rushing TDs	1	2
Total TDs	15	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 12.4 for Gardner Minshew 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 Gardner Minshew or Justin Herbert in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Herbert has the edge at 17.9 PPG compared to Gardner Minshew's 12.4 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 Gardner Minshew and Justin Herbert average in 2025?▾

Gardner Minshew averaged 12.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 5.5 points per game.

When are Gardner Minshew and Justin Herbert's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Gardner Minshew (LV) 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 Gardner Minshew or Justin Herbert a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert outscored Gardner Minshew by 5.5 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.