Justin Herbert vs Mac Jones: Who Should You Start?
Justin Herbert and Mac Jones are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Los Angeles Chargers quarterback averaged 18.7 PPG in 2025, a full 6.3 points per game ahead of Mac Jones's 12.4 with the San Francisco 49ers. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.
The per-game difference of 6.3 points favors Justin Herbert, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one quarterback to the other.
Justin Herbert offers meaningful rushing upside with 498 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Mac Jones (2151 passing yards, 13 touchdowns). In games where the passing matchup looks ugly, that rushing production can be the entire difference on a start/sit call.
Justin Herbert has his bye in Week 5, and Mac Jones rests in Week 9. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at quarterback for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.
