Jalen Hurts vs Justin Herbert: Who Should You Start?
The gap between Jalen Hurts and Justin Herbert is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 0.4 PPG in 2025, this is one of those quarterback decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. Jalen Hurts averaged 19.1 PPG with the Philadelphia Eagles across 16 games, and Justin Herbert posted 18.7 with the Los Angeles Chargers in 16.
When two quarterbacks are separated by less than two points per game, the decision shifts to weekly context. Who has the softer defense? Who is trending up over the last month? Which team is projected for more total points? Those are the tiebreakers that actually matter.
Both are dual-threat quarterbacks. Jalen Hurts added 421 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.
Both share a Week 5 bye, which matters for roster construction. If you are stacking quarterbacks this deep on your bench, plan your replacement quarterback early.
