Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Justin Herbert vs Marcus MariotaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.9 PPG to Marcus Mariota's 12.6 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 Marcus Mariota by 5.3 PPG in 2025 with 28 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Justin Herbert is the clear pick. Marcus Mariota 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

QBWashington Commanders#31

Marcus Mariota

PPG

12.6

Games

Pass Yds

1,695

Pass TDs

Rush Yds

297

Rush TDs

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Justin Herbert

Marcus Mariota

Head to Head

17.9 PPG12.6 PPG

16 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Justin Herbert: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #10 at the position). Marcus Mariota: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #31 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Justin Herbert is producing at 81% of elite pace and Marcus Mariota at 57%. That ranking gap means Justin Herbert carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Justin Herbert vs Marcus Mariota: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Justin Herbert and Marcus Mariota for your lineup, you are not alone. Justin Herbert finished the 2025 season at 17.9 PPG for the Los Angeles Chargers (16 games), and Marcus Mariota averaged 12.6 for the Washington Commanders (10 games).

That 5.3-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.

Both share a Week 7 bye, which matters for roster construction. If you are stacking quarterbacks this deep on your bench, plan your replacement quarterback early.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Justin Herbert is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Marcus Mariota 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. Marcus Mariota (age 32) is on the back end of his prime. Strong now, but dynasty value declines year over year.

Did You Know?

•Justin Herbert outscored Marcus Mariota by a projected 90 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Justin Herbert played 16 games in 2025 compared to Marcus Mariota's 10. 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.
•Justin Herbert is 4 years younger than Marcus Mariota (28 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Justin Herbert vs Marcus Mariota: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Justin Herbert	Marcus Mariota
PPG (Half-PPR)	17.9	12.6
Games Played	16	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	286	126
Passing Yards	3,727	1,695
Passing TDs	26	10
Pass Yds/Game	232.9	169.5
Rushing Yards	498	297
Rushing TDs	2	1
Total TDs	28	11
TDs/Game	1.8	1.1
Age	28	32
Experience	5 yrs	10 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Justin Herbert at 17.9 PPG, 5.3 points per game above Marcus Mariota's 12.6. 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 Marcus Mariota in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Herbert has the edge at 17.9 PPG compared to Marcus Mariota's 12.6 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 Marcus Mariota average in 2025?▾

Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Marcus Mariota averaged 12.6 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 5.3 points per game.

Do Justin Herbert and Marcus Mariota share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Justin Herbert and Marcus Mariota share a Week 7 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at quarterback for that week.

Is Justin Herbert or Marcus Mariota a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert outscored Marcus Mariota by 5.3 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.