Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jayden Daniels vs Justin HerbertWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.9 PPG to Jayden Daniels's 16.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy play this season.

Justin Herbert has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.6-PPG advantage is real (17.9 to 16.3), and Justin Herbert's 28 touchdowns show scoring upside. Jayden Daniels is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

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QBWashington Commanders#17

Jayden Daniels

PPG

16.3

Games

Pass Yds

1,262

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

278

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 7

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

Jayden Daniels

Justin Herbert

Head to Head

16.3 PPG17.9 PPG

7 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Jayden Daniels: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #17 at the position). Justin Herbert: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Jayden Daniels is producing at 74% 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.

Jayden Daniels vs Justin Herbert: The Full Breakdown

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders) finished the 2025 season averaging 16.3 fantasy points per game in 7 games. Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers) came in at 17.9 PPG over 16 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Justin Herbert carries a 1.6-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Justin Herbert offers meaningful rushing upside with 498 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Jayden Daniels (1262 passing yards, 8 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 7 bye. That means you need a backup plan at quarterback for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

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: Jayden Daniels (age 25) is in the early stages of his career with 5+ years of starter-caliber upside. His dynasty value is rising. 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 Jayden Daniels by a projected 27 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Justin Herbert played 16 games in 2025 compared to Jayden Daniels's 7. 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.
•Both players share a Week 7 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jayden Daniels vs Justin Herbert: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jayden Daniels	Justin Herbert
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.3	17.9
Games Played	7	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	114	286
Passing Yards	1,262	3,727
Passing TDs	8	26
Pass Yds/Game	180.3	232.9
Rushing Yards	278	498
Rushing TDs	2	2
Total TDs	10	28
TDs/Game	1.4	1.8
Age	25	28
Experience	1 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 7

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Justin Herbert holds the PPG edge with solid output at 17.9 points per game. Jayden Daniels averaged 16.3 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jayden Daniels or Justin Herbert in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Herbert has the edge at 17.9 PPG compared to Jayden Daniels's 16.3 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 Jayden Daniels and Justin Herbert average in 2025?▾

Jayden Daniels averaged 16.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 7 games in 2025. Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 1.6 points per game.

Do Jayden Daniels and Justin Herbert share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Jayden Daniels and Justin Herbert share a Week 7 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at quarterback for that week.

Is Jayden Daniels or Justin Herbert a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert outscored Jayden Daniels by 1.6 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.