Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Justin Herbert vs Mac JonesWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.9 PPG to Mac Jones's 11.8 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 Mac Jones by 6.1 PPG in 2025 with 28 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Justin Herbert is the clear pick. Mac Jones 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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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

QBSan Francisco 49ers#33

Mac Jones

PPG

11.8

Games

Pass Yds

2,151

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Justin Herbert

Mac Jones

Head to Head

17.9 PPG11.8 PPG

16 GP11 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Justin Herbert: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #10 at the position). Mac Jones: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #33 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Justin Herbert is producing at 81% of elite pace and Mac Jones at 54%. That ranking gap means Justin Herbert carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Justin Herbert vs Mac Jones: The Full Breakdown

Justin Herbert and Mac Jones are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Los Angeles Chargers quarterback averaged 17.9 PPG in 2025, a full 6.1 points per game ahead of Mac Jones's 11.8 with the San Francisco 49ers. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

The per-game difference of 6.1 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 7, and Mac Jones rests in Week 8. 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.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Justin Herbert is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Mac Jones is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Justin Herbert (age 28) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Mac Jones (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 Mac Jones by a projected 104 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Justin Herbert played 16 games in 2025 compared to Mac Jones's 11. 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 Mac Jones: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Justin Herbert	Mac Jones
PPG (Half-PPR)	17.9	11.8
Games Played	16	11
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	286	130
Passing Yards	3,727	2,151
Passing TDs	26	13
Pass Yds/Game	232.9	195.5
Rushing Yards	498	60
Rushing TDs	2	0
Total TDs	28	13
TDs/Game	1.8	1.2
Age	28	27
Experience	5 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 8

Summary

17.9 PPG for Justin Herbert versus 11.8 for Mac Jones in 2025. The baseline favors Justin Herbert, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Justin Herbert or Mac Jones in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Herbert has the edge at 17.9 PPG compared to Mac Jones's 11.8 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 Mac Jones average in 2025?▾

Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Mac Jones averaged 11.8 PPG over 11 games. That is a difference of 6.1 points per game.

When are Justin Herbert and Mac Jones's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert (LAC) has a bye in Week 7, and Mac Jones (SF) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Justin Herbert or Mac Jones a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert outscored Mac Jones by 6.1 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.