Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Justin Herbert vs Kirk CousinsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.9 PPG to Kirk Cousins's 15.4 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 2.5-PPG advantage is real (17.9 to 15.4), and Justin Herbert's 28 touchdowns show scoring upside. Kirk Cousins is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Justin Herbert and Kirk Cousins in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

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

QBAtlanta Falcons#99

Kirk Cousins

PPG

15.4

Games

Pass Yds

3,588

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Justin Herbert

Kirk Cousins

Head to Head

17.9 PPG15.4 PPG

16 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Justin Herbert: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #10 at the position). Kirk Cousins: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Justin Herbert is producing at 81% of elite pace and Kirk Cousins at 70%. That ranking gap means Justin Herbert carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Justin Herbert vs Kirk Cousins: The Full Breakdown

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers) finished the 2025 season averaging 17.9 fantasy points per game in 16 games. Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons) came in at 15.4 PPG over 16 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Justin Herbert carries a 2.5-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 Kirk Cousins (3588 passing yards, 23 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: Justin Herbert sits Week 7 while Kirk Cousins is off Week 12. 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: Justin Herbert (age 28) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Kirk Cousins (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Justin Herbert outscored Kirk Cousins by a projected 42 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•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

Justin Herbert vs Kirk Cousins: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Justin Herbert	Kirk Cousins
PPG (Half-PPR)	17.9	15.4
Games Played	16	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	286	246
Passing Yards	3,727	3,588
Passing TDs	26	23
Pass Yds/Game	232.9	224.3
Rushing Yards	498	78
Rushing TDs	2	0
Total TDs	28	23
TDs/Game	1.8	1.4
Age	28	-
Experience	5 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 12

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Justin Herbert holds the PPG edge with solid output at 17.9 points per game. Kirk Cousins averaged 15.4 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Justin Herbert vs Kirk Cousins

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 Justin Herbert vs Kirk Cousins

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 Justin Herbert or Kirk Cousins in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Herbert has the edge at 17.9 PPG compared to Kirk Cousins's 15.4 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 Justin Herbert and Kirk Cousins average in 2025?▾

Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Kirk Cousins averaged 15.4 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 2.5 points per game.

When are Justin Herbert and Kirk Cousins's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert (LAC) has a bye in Week 7, and Kirk Cousins (ATL) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Justin Herbert or Kirk Cousins a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert outscored Kirk Cousins by 2.5 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.