DraftCall
DraftCallFantasy Football

Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Anthony Richardson vs Justin Herbert

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Anthony Richardson is the better fantasy play this season.

Anthony Richardson is the better play on a neutral week. 19.5 PPG with 3,298 yards gives a reliable baseline. Justin Herbert at 17.9 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Anthony Richardson higher, but do not fade Justin Herbert entirely.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

The DraftCall app pushes alerts the moment Anthony Richardson or Justin Herbert's status changes. Free.

Get the App
QBIndianapolis Colts#99PPG LEADER
Anthony Richardson
PPG
19.5
Games
13
Pass Yds
2,718
Pass TDs
18
Rush Yds
580
Rush TDs
7
Bye
Week 14
QBLos Angeles Chargers#10
Justin Herbert
PPG
17.9
Games
16
Pass Yds
3,727
Pass TDs
26
Rush Yds
498
Rush TDs
2
Bye
Week 12

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Anthony Richardson
Justin Herbert

Head to Head

19.5 PPG17.9 PPG
13 GP16 GP
Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Anthony Richardson: 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, Anthony Richardson is producing at 89% 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.

Anthony Richardson vs Justin Herbert: Who Should You Start?

If you are choosing between Anthony Richardson and Justin Herbert for your lineup, you are not alone. Anthony Richardson finished the 2025 season at 19.5 PPG for the Indianapolis Colts (13 games), and Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 for the Los Angeles Chargers (16 games).

That 1.6-point weekly advantage for Anthony Richardson 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.

Both are dual-threat quarterbacks. Anthony Richardson added 580 rushing yards and Justin Herbert chipped in 498, which gives them a higher weekly floor than traditional pocket passers when defenses take away the deep ball. That rushing production is the biggest reason their ceilings look different from drop-back QBs, and it is the stat that typically separates them on tough passing matchups.

One scheduling note: Anthony Richardson is off Week 14 and Justin Herbert Week 12. 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.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Anthony Richardson (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?

  • Anthony Richardson outscored Justin Herbert by a projected 27 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Justin Herbert played 16 games in 2025 compared to Anthony Richardson's 13. 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.
  • Anthony Richardson added 580 rushing yards in 2025, which historically correlates with a higher fantasy floor in bad passing matchups.
Detailed Stat Breakdown
StatRichardsonHerbert
PPG (Half-PPR)19.517.9
Games Played1316
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)254286
Passing Yards2,7183,727
Passing TDs1826
Pass Yds/Game209.1232.9
Rushing Yards580498
Rushing TDs72
Total TDs2528
TDs/Game1.91.8
Age-28
Experience-5 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 14Week 12

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Anthony Richardson at 19.5 PPG, 1.6 points per game above Justin Herbert's 17.9. 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.

DraftCall app on iPhone

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Anthony Richardson vs Justin Herbert

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Anthony Richardson or Justin Herbert in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Anthony Richardson has the edge at 19.5 PPG compared to Justin Herbert's 17.9 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 Anthony Richardson and Justin Herbert average in 2025?

Anthony Richardson averaged 19.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Justin Herbert averaged 17.9 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 1.6 points per game.

When are Anthony Richardson and Justin Herbert's bye weeks in 2026?

Anthony Richardson (IND) has a bye in Week 14, and Justin Herbert (LAC) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Anthony Richardson or Justin Herbert a better fantasy quarterback in 2026?

Anthony Richardson outscored Justin Herbert by 1.6 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.