Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Geno Smith vs Justin HerbertWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.9 PPG to Geno Smith's 11.6 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 Geno Smith by 6.3 PPG in 2025 with 28 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Justin Herbert is the clear pick. Geno Smith 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#34

Geno Smith

PPG

11.6

Games

Pass Yds

3,025

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

109

Bye

Week 13

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

Geno Smith

Justin Herbert

Head to Head

11.6 PPG17.9 PPG

15 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Geno Smith: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #34 at the position). Justin Herbert: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Geno Smith is producing at 53% 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.

Geno Smith vs Justin Herbert: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers) averaged 17.9 PPG over 16 games in 2025, outscoring Geno Smith (Las Vegas Raiders, 11.6 PPG) by 6.3 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

The per-game difference of 6.3 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 Geno Smith (3025 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: Geno Smith is off Week 13 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

Justin Herbert is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Geno Smith is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Geno Smith (age 35) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year. 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 Geno Smith by a projected 107 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Justin Herbert played 16 games in 2025 compared to Geno Smith's 15. 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.
•Justin Herbert is 7 years younger than Geno Smith (28 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Geno Smith vs Justin Herbert: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Geno Smith	Justin Herbert
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.6	17.9
Games Played	15	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	174	286
Passing Yards	3,025	3,727
Passing TDs	19	26
Pass Yds/Game	201.7	232.9
Rushing Yards	109	498
Rushing TDs	0	2
Total TDs	19	28
TDs/Game	1.3	1.8
Age	35	28
Experience	12 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 7

Summary

17.9 PPG for Justin Herbert versus 11.6 for Geno Smith 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 Geno Smith or Justin Herbert in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Herbert has the edge at 17.9 PPG compared to Geno Smith's 11.6 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 Geno Smith and Justin Herbert average in 2025?▾

Geno Smith averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 6.3 points per game.

When are Geno Smith and Justin Herbert's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Geno Smith (LV) 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 Geno Smith or Justin Herbert a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert outscored Geno Smith by 6.3 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.