Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jameis Winston vs Justin HerbertWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.9 PPG to Jameis Winston's 10.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy play this season.

Justin Herbert is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 17.9 PPG and 4,225 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Jameis Winston (10.9 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Justin Herbert as the starter and Jameis Winston as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Jameis Winston and Justin Herbert in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

QBCleveland Browns#99

Jameis Winston

PPG

10.9

Games

Pass Yds

2,125

Pass TDs

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

Jameis Winston

Justin Herbert

Head to Head

10.9 PPG17.9 PPG

10 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Jameis Winston: 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, Jameis Winston is producing at 50% 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.

Jameis Winston 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 Jameis Winston (Cleveland Browns, 10.9 PPG) by 7.0 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 7.0-PPG gap gives Justin Herbert the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Justin Herbert offers meaningful rushing upside with 498 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Jameis Winston (2125 passing yards, 13 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: Jameis Winston is off Week 10 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

If you can acquire Justin Herbert at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Jameis Winston is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Jameis Winston (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 Jameis Winston by a projected 119 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Justin Herbert played 16 games in 2025 compared to Jameis Winston's 10. 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

Jameis Winston vs Justin Herbert: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jameis Winston	Justin Herbert
PPG (Half-PPR)	10.9	17.9
Games Played	10	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	109	286
Passing Yards	2,125	3,727
Passing TDs	13	26
Pass Yds/Game	212.5	232.9
Rushing Yards	45	498
Rushing TDs	1	2
Total TDs	14	28
TDs/Game	1.4	1.8
Age	-	28
Experience	-	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 7

Summary

Justin Herbert outscored Jameis Winston by 7.0 PPG in 2025 (17.9 to 10.9). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Jameis Winston vs Justin Herbert

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Jameis Winston vs Justin Herbert

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jameis Winston or Justin Herbert in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Herbert has the edge at 17.9 PPG compared to Jameis Winston's 10.9 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 Jameis Winston and Justin Herbert average in 2025?▾

Jameis Winston averaged 10.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 7.0 points per game.

When are Jameis Winston and Justin Herbert's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jameis Winston (CLE) 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 Jameis Winston or Justin Herbert a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert outscored Jameis Winston by 7.0 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.