Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Justin Herbert vs Sam DarnoldWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.9 PPG to Sam Darnold's 13.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy play this season.

Justin Herbert has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.1-PPG advantage is real (17.9 to 13.8), and Justin Herbert's 28 touchdowns show scoring upside. Sam Darnold is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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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

QBSeattle Seahawks#27

Sam Darnold

PPG

13.8

Games

Pass Yds

4,048

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Justin Herbert

Sam Darnold

Head to Head

17.9 PPG13.8 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Justin Herbert: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #10 at the position). Sam Darnold: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) QB (ranked #27 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Justin Herbert is producing at 81% of elite pace and Sam Darnold at 63%. That ranking gap means Justin Herbert carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Justin Herbert vs Sam Darnold: The Full Breakdown

Two quarterbacks who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers) finished the 2025 season averaging 17.9 fantasy points per game in 16 games. Sam Darnold (Seattle Seahawks) came in at 13.8 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Justin Herbert carries a 4.1-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Justin Herbert offers meaningful rushing upside with 498 yards on the ground in 2025, which separates his floor from a pocket passer like Sam Darnold (4048 passing yards, 25 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 Sam Darnold is off Week 11. 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

If you can acquire Justin Herbert at a discount because your league-mates undervalue quarterback production, do it. Sam Darnold is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Justin Herbert (age 28) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Sam Darnold (age 28) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons.

Did You Know?

•Justin Herbert outscored Sam Darnold by a projected 70 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Sam Darnold played 17 games in 2025 compared to Justin Herbert's 16. That durability gap means Sam Darnold 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 Sam Darnold: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Justin Herbert	Sam Darnold
PPG (Half-PPR)	17.9	13.8
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	286	235
Passing Yards	3,727	4,048
Passing TDs	26	25
Pass Yds/Game	232.9	238.1
Rushing Yards	498	95
Rushing TDs	2	0
Total TDs	28	25
TDs/Game	1.8	1.5
Age	28	28
Experience	5 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Justin Herbert holds the PPG edge with solid output at 17.9 points per game. Sam Darnold averaged 13.8 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Justin Herbert or Sam Darnold in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Herbert has the edge at 17.9 PPG compared to Sam Darnold's 13.8 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 Sam Darnold average in 2025?▾

Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Sam Darnold averaged 13.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 4.1 points per game.

When are Justin Herbert and Sam Darnold's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert (LAC) has a bye in Week 7, and Sam Darnold (SEA) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Justin Herbert or Sam Darnold a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert outscored Sam Darnold by 4.1 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.