Justin Herbert vs Marcus Mariota: Who Should You Start?
There is a real production gap between these two quarterbacks. Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers) averaged 18.7 PPG over 16 games in 2025, outscoring Marcus Mariota (Washington Commanders, 12.0 PPG) by 6.7 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.
That 6.7-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 Marcus Mariota (1695 passing yards, 10 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: Justin Herbert is off Week 5 and Marcus Mariota Week 14. 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.
