Geno Smith vs Justin Herbert: Who Should You Start?
There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers) averaged 18.7 PPG over 16 games in 2025, outscoring Geno Smith (New York Jets, 12.7 PPG) by 6.0 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.
The per-game difference of 6.0 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 12 and Justin Herbert Week 5. 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.
