Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Andy Dalton vs Justin HerbertWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Justin Herbert is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 17.9 PPG to Andy Dalton's 9.8 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 Andy Dalton by 8.1 PPG in 2025 with 28 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Justin Herbert is the clear pick. Andy Dalton 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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QBCarolina Panthers#99

Andy Dalton

PPG

9.8

Games

Pass Yds

1,925

Pass TDs

Bye

Week 11

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

The Edge Chart

Andy Dalton

Justin Herbert

Head to Head

9.8 PPG17.9 PPG

10 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Andy Dalton: Tier 5 (Deep League) QB (ranked #99 at the position). Justin Herbert: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) QB (ranked #10 at the position). Among the top 32 quarterbacks this season, Andy Dalton is producing at 45% of elite pace and Justin Herbert at 81%. That ranking gap means Justin Herbert carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Andy Dalton vs Justin Herbert: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Justin Herbert put up 17.9 fantasy points per game for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025, while Andy Dalton managed 9.8 across 10 games with the Carolina Panthers. A 8.1-point weekly edge is substantial at the quarterback position.

The per-game difference of 8.1 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 Andy Dalton (1925 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.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Andy Dalton sits Week 11 while Justin Herbert is off Week 7. 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

Justin Herbert is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Andy Dalton is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Andy Dalton (age 27) is in his prime window. Peak production now with steady value for the next 3-4 seasons. Justin Herbert (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 Andy Dalton by a projected 138 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Justin Herbert played 16 games in 2025 compared to Andy Dalton'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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Andy Dalton vs Justin Herbert: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Andy Dalton	Justin Herbert
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.8	17.9
Games Played	10	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	98	286
Passing Yards	1,925	3,727
Passing TDs	10	26
Pass Yds/Game	192.5	232.9
Rushing Yards	42	498
Rushing TDs	0	2
Total TDs	10	28
TDs/Game	1.0	1.8
Age	-	28
Experience	-	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 7

Summary

17.9 PPG for Justin Herbert versus 9.8 for Andy Dalton 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 Andy Dalton or Justin Herbert in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Justin Herbert has the edge at 17.9 PPG compared to Andy Dalton's 9.8 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 Andy Dalton and Justin Herbert average in 2025?▾

Andy Dalton averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 8.1 points per game.

When are Andy Dalton and Justin Herbert's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Andy Dalton or Justin Herbert a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?▾

Justin Herbert outscored Andy Dalton by 8.1 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.