Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jared Goff vs Justin HerbertWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.9 PPG to Jared Goff's 17.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Justin Herbert and Jared Goff are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 0.4-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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QBDetroit Lions#12

Jared Goff

PPG

17.5

Games

Pass Yds

4,564

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 6

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

Jared Goff

Justin Herbert

Head to Head

17.5 PPG17.9 PPG

17 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Jared Goff: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #12 at the position). Justin Herbert: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Jared Goff is producing at 80% of elite pace and Justin Herbert at 81%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Jared Goff vs Justin Herbert: The Full Breakdown

Jared Goff (17.5 PPG) and Justin Herbert (17.9 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two quarterbacks are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Jared Goff played 17 games for the Detroit Lions; Justin Herbert suited up 16 times for the Los Angeles Chargers.

A 0.4-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Justin Herbert offers meaningful rushing upside with 498 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Jared Goff (4564 passing yards, 34 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: Jared Goff sits Week 6 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Jared Goff (age 31) 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 Jared Goff by a projected 7 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jared Goff played 17 games in 2025 compared to Justin Herbert's 16. That durability gap means Jared Goff contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jared Goff scored 34 total touchdowns in 2025 (2.0 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

Jared Goff vs Justin Herbert: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jared Goff	Justin Herbert
PPG (Half-PPR)	17.5	17.9
Games Played	17	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	298	286
Passing Yards	4,564	3,727
Passing TDs	34	26
Pass Yds/Game	268.5	232.9
Rushing Yards	45	498
Rushing TDs	0	2
Total TDs	34	28
TDs/Game	2.0	1.8
Age	31	28
Experience	9 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Justin Herbert at 17.9 PPG, 0.4 points per game above Jared Goff's 17.5. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jared Goff or Justin Herbert in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Herbert has the edge at 17.9 PPG compared to Jared Goff's 17.5 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 Jared Goff and Justin Herbert average in 2025?▾

Jared Goff averaged 17.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 0.4 points per game.

When are Jared Goff and Justin Herbert's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jared Goff (DET) has a bye in Week 6, and Justin Herbert (LAC) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jared Goff or Justin Herbert a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert outscored Jared Goff by 0.4 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.