Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Joe Flacco vs Justin HerbertWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.9 PPG to Joe Flacco's 11.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Justin Herbert outscored Joe Flacco by 6.6 PPG in 2025 with 28 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Justin Herbert is the clear pick. Joe Flacco profiles as a matchup-dependent quarterback who can spike but lacks the consistent floor.

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

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QBCincinnati Bengals#37

Joe Flacco

PPG

11.3

Games

Pass Yds

2,479

Pass TDs

Rush 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

Joe Flacco

Justin Herbert

Head to Head

11.3 PPG17.9 PPG

13 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Joe Flacco: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #37 at the position). Justin Herbert: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Joe Flacco is producing at 51% 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.

Joe Flacco 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 Joe Flacco (Cincinnati Bengals, 11.3 PPG) by 6.6 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

That 6.6-point weekly advantage for Justin Herbert is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Justin Herbert offers meaningful rushing upside with 498 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Joe Flacco (2479 passing yards, 15 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: Joe Flacco is off Week 6 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

Justin Herbert is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Joe Flacco is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Joe Flacco (age 41) 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 Joe Flacco by a projected 112 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Justin Herbert played 16 games in 2025 compared to Joe Flacco's 13. 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.
•Justin Herbert is 13 years younger than Joe Flacco (28 vs 41), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Joe Flacco vs Justin Herbert: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Joe Flacco	Justin Herbert
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.3	17.9
Games Played	13	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	147	286
Passing Yards	2,479	3,727
Passing TDs	15	26
Pass Yds/Game	190.7	232.9
Rushing Yards	35	498
Rushing TDs	1	2
Total TDs	16	28
TDs/Game	1.2	1.8
Age	41	28
Experience	17 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Justin Herbert at 17.9 PPG, 6.6 points per game above Joe Flacco's 11.3. 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 Joe Flacco or Justin Herbert in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Herbert has the edge at 17.9 PPG compared to Joe Flacco's 11.3 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 Joe Flacco and Justin Herbert average in 2025?▾

Joe Flacco averaged 11.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 6.6 points per game.

When are Joe Flacco and Justin Herbert's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Joe Flacco (CIN) 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 Joe Flacco or Justin Herbert a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert outscored Joe Flacco by 6.6 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.