Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Justin Herbert vs Lamar JacksonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.9 PPG to Lamar Jackson's 16.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Justin Herbert and Lamar Jackson are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 1.4-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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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

QBBaltimore Ravens#16

Lamar Jackson

PPG

16.5

Games

Pass Yds

2,549

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

349

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Justin Herbert

Lamar Jackson

Head to Head

17.9 PPG16.5 PPG

16 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Justin Herbert: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #10 at the position). Lamar Jackson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) QB (ranked #16 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Justin Herbert is producing at 81% of elite pace and Lamar Jackson at 75%. That ranking gap means Justin Herbert carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Justin Herbert vs Lamar Jackson: The Full Breakdown

Justin Herbert (17.9 PPG) and Lamar Jackson (16.5 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. Justin Herbert played 16 games for the Los Angeles Chargers; Lamar Jackson suited up 13 times for the Baltimore Ravens.

A 1.4-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 Lamar Jackson (2549 passing yards, 21 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 Lamar Jackson is off Week 13. 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. Lamar Jackson (age 29) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Justin Herbert outscored Lamar Jackson by a projected 24 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Justin Herbert played 16 games in 2025 compared to Lamar Jackson'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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Justin Herbert vs Lamar Jackson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Justin Herbert	Lamar Jackson
PPG (Half-PPR)	17.9	16.5
Games Played	16	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	286	215
Passing Yards	3,727	2,549
Passing TDs	26	21
Pass Yds/Game	232.9	196.1
Rushing Yards	498	349
Rushing TDs	2	2
Total TDs	28	23
TDs/Game	1.8	1.8
Age	28	29
Experience	5 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 13

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Justin Herbert at 17.9 PPG, 1.4 points per game above Lamar Jackson's 16.5. 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 Justin Herbert or Lamar Jackson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Herbert has the edge at 17.9 PPG compared to Lamar Jackson's 16.5 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 Justin Herbert and Lamar Jackson average in 2025?▾

Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Lamar Jackson averaged 16.5 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 1.4 points per game.

When are Justin Herbert and Lamar Jackson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert (LAC) has a bye in Week 7, and Lamar Jackson (BAL) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Justin Herbert or Lamar Jackson a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert outscored Lamar Jackson by 1.4 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.