Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert enters Week 16, more than two weeks removed from successful hand surgery, and was a full participant in practice all week. While the Chargers' offense has recently shifted to a low-ADOT, run-heavy approach due to a decimated offensive line that has surrendered 27 sacks in six games, the matchup against the Dallas Cowboys is a significant get-right opportunity. Dallas ranks 30th in EPA/Pass and has allowed the most passing yards and touchdowns in the league this season. With Trey Pipkins (ankle) questionable but potentially returning to stabilize the league's worst PFF-graded unit, Herbert should have more time against a Dallas defense that is just 25th in sack percentage. Despite the team's recent conservative nature, Herbert remains a high-upside play against a defense allowing elite production to opposing signal-callers. He is a low-end QB1 this week.
Dec 19, 2025 8:45 PM EST
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (hand) enters Week 15 facing a tough Kansas City Chiefs defense while still managing a fracture in his non-throwing hand. Last week's 22-19 overtime win over the Philadelphia Eagles saw Herbert complete just 12 of 26 passes for 139 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, along with losing one of his two fumbles and taking a record seven sacks. His passing volume is considerably limited, forcing him to rely on his legs, where he led the team with 66 rushing yards. The Chiefs are a top-10 defense, tied for third in allowed aDOT and third in passing touchdowns allowed, though they rank 24th in sack percentage. With offensive tackle Trey Pipkins doubtful with an ankle injury, the already-battered offensive line faces a significant challenge. Chiefs Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo should look to exploit the Chargers' weak offensive line, stack the box, and force Herbert to pass under pressure. RotoBaller ranks Herbert as QB22 this week. Given the injury, reduced passing volume, and tough road matchup, fantasy managers should temper expectations and consider Herbert a low-end QB2 for the week.
Dec 13, 2025 12:00 AM EST
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (hand) was cleared from the injury report Friday and is good to go for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Herbert broke his left hand during the Chargers' Week 13 win over the Raiders and played through the injury last week against the Eagles. The team will continue to manage his reps during practice, but he isn't expected to miss any game action. The 27-year-old signal-caller wasn't at his best in the overtime win over the Eagles, completing just 12 of 26 passes for 139 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while adding 10 carries for 66 yards. He took a career-high seven sacks as he continues to operate behind a makeshift offensive line. Herbert's fantasy upside is capped due to his injury while working with poor protection from his offensive line. He profiles more as a QB2 in the Week 15 divisional matchup against the Chiefs on the road.
Dec 12, 2025 4:18 PM EST
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (left hand) was limited for a second consecutive day on Thursday. This is the same left hand injury that required surgery prior to Week 14, so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Herbert continues to appear on the injury report. Given that he was able to play last Monday against the Eagles, he remains on track to play this upcoming Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. The injury clearly hindered Herbert last week as he completed just 14 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown. He also had one interception, one fumble lost, and seven sacks. On a more positive note, he did rush for 66 yards on 10 carries, perhaps because his passing ability was limited by the left hand injury. We should expect a similar performance from Herbert in Week 15. He has dropped to the QB22 spot in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings.
Dec 11, 2025 9:18 PM EST
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (hand) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice, but he informed the gathered media that he's further along than he was at this point last week, with his grip strength improving. In a gutsy Monday night win over the Eagles, he completed fewer than 50% of his passes for under 150 yards and one touchdown. He also threw an interception and fumbled twice, while taking a beating all night long. With injuries continuing to mount on the offensive line, he faced 26 pressures and was sacked seven times, with notable contact made to his injured non-throwing hand throughout the game. The Chargers face another swarming defense in Week 15 when they travel to Kansas City. Playing behind a battered offensive line that has been overmatched for most of the season, Herbert is RotoBaller's QB20 heading into the first week of the fantasy playoffs.
Dec 10, 2025 10:15 PM EST
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert battled through a broken left hand during Monday night's 22-19 overtime win over the Philadelphia Eagles. He completed 12 of 26 passes for 139 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and a lost fumble while adding 10 carries for a team-leading 66 yards on the ground. The star quarterback was under siege all night, finishing with a 68.3% pressure rate and a career-high seven sacks. It was the sixth-highest pressure rate in a game over the last 10 seasons, per Next Gen Stats. Herbert scrambled more than usual with the constant pressure and recorded his most rushing yards in a game this season. However, he struggled as a passer, and this game was just the third of his career with a completion percentage of 50% or below. Herbert will take some time this week to rest his hand and gear up for another tough matchup in a divisional clash with the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15.
Dec 9, 2025 1:11 AM EST
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (hand) is officially active for Monday night's contest against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles at SoFi Stadium, according to Eric Smith of Chargers.com. Herbert was listed as questionable after breaking his left (non-throwing) hand in last Sunday's win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The 27-year-old signal-caller had surgery last Monday and will wear a protective glove on his surgically repaired left hand while likely taking the majority of the snaps against Philly out of the shotgun formation. Herbert has been a top-10 QB in fantasy points per game (22.3) this year, but he has a porous offensive line in front of him that could get exposed in primetime against a stout Eagles defensive line. The Eagles have allowed the fewest passing touchdowns to opposing QBs this year, too, making this a pretty difficult matchup for Herbert in his first game following hand surgery.
Dec 8, 2025 7:23 PM EST
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (hand) is expected to start on Monday night against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles at SoFi Stadium, a source told Omar Ruiz of NFL Network. Herbert, who had been listed as questionable after breaking his left hand last Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, is wearing a padded glove on his surgically repaired non-throwing hand. The 27-year-old will be active on Monday night, but he might take most, if not all, of the snaps out of the shotgun formation to protect his hand. While his surgically repaired hand won't be a factor in Herbert throwing the football, this is a matchup for fantasy managers to shy away from this week in single-QB leagues. Philly's defense could get plenty of pressure on Herbert, even without star defensive tackle Jalen Carter (shoulder), and they've allowed the fewest passing TDs (12) to QBs this year.
Dec 8, 2025 6:36 PM EST
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey remains the most reliable target in the passing game heading into Week 14 against the Philadelphia Eagles, posting a 4-39-1 stat line on six targets last week. McConkey is quarterback Justin Herbert's go-to guy under pressure, commanding a team-high 20% target share and a 34% first-read rate. The Eagles have a top-10 secondary, and with Herbert (hand) questionable, the Bolts are expected to adopt a run-heavy game plan, likely decreasing overall passing volume. If Herbert is ruled out and Trey Lance starts, all receivers face a significant downgrade. RotoBaller ranks McConkey as WR17 this week. Given his reliable connection with Herbert in high-pressure situations, he can be considered a low-end WR2 even with the expected decrease in passing attempts. Temper expectations and production if Herbert is ruled out.
Dec 6, 2025 4:18 PM EST
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Trey Lance is ready to step in if the questionable Justin Herbert (hand) is ruled out for the Week 14 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Lance briefly filled in last week against the Las Vegas Raiders, completing one pass for nine yards and rushing four times for four yards. The Eagles have a middle-of-the-pack defense but rank in the top 10 for pressure rate. If the former first-round pick starts, his rushing ability will be his main route to fantasy value, as his career completion rate of 56.4% suggests he may struggle throwing the ball. If Herbert is out, Lance would be a low-end QB2 who would need to rely heavily on his legs against a vulnerable rush defense.
Dec 6, 2025 4:08 PM EST
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is listed as questionable for Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles after undergoing surgery to stabilize a fracture in his non-throwing (left) hand. Although he returned last week in the win over the Las Vegas Raiders, completing 15 of 20 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns, the offense has already adjusted to his protection issues, reducing his average depth of target (aDOT) from 7.5 to 6.3 over the past three games. The Eagles' defense is average but boasts a top-10 pressure rate, which is a concern for a quarterback playing through pain, even if Philadelphia defensive tackle Jalen Carter might be out. With Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman known for favoring a run-heavy approach, the Chargers will likely rely on the ground game to protect their signal-caller. RotoBaller ranks Herbert as QB16 this week, making him a risky mid-range QB2 who should only be started by managers in superflex leagues or those in desperate need of a plug-and-play option.
Dec 6, 2025 3:49 PM EST
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (hand) is officially listed as questionable for Monday night's matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Herbert is reportedly expected to play based on an earlier report from Dianna Russini of The Athletic, but he will be labeled as questionable heading into Monday night. The 27-year-old signal caller suffered a metacarpal fracture in his left hand during the Chargers' Week 13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders and underwent surgery this past Monday. Herbert has completed 66.9% of his passes for 2,842 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while adding 57 carries for a career high 353 rushing yards and one touchdown in 12 games this season. If Herbert suits up Monday night, he will rank as a mid-range QB2 in a tough matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Dec 6, 2025 3:14 PM EST
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that "people I spoke to on the Chargers are expecting" quarterback Justin Herbert (hand) to play in Week 14 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Herbert suffered a metacarpal fracture in his left hand during his team's Week 13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders and had surgery this past Monday. He's been limited in practice this week, but it sounds as though he will try to give it a go against Philadelphia on Monday night. The 27-year-old has completed 66.9% of his passes for 2,842 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across 12 starts so far this season. If Herbert suffers a setback and is unable to go, Trey Lance would take over under center for Los Angeles. If active, Herbert profiles as a mid-tier fantasy QB2 in Week 14.
Dec 6, 2025 12:13 PM EST
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (hand) was listed as a limited participant in practice again on Friday, according to the team. Herbert suffered a metacarpal fracture in his left (non-throwing) hand in the Week 13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders and had a plate and screws put into his hand on Monday to stabilize the fracture. The 27-year-old plans to play in Week 14 against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football, but he could carry a questionable designation into that contest if he cannot upgrade to a full practice on Saturday. Herbert should be active on Monday, even if he doesn't practice in full this week. Behind a porous offensive line in a matchup against a strong Philly defensive line, though, Herbert could find himself without much time to throw the football. Herbert should be considered more of a high-end QB2 in fantasy this week.
Dec 5, 2025 5:34 PM EST
NFL Insider Tom Pelissero reported that Justin Herbert (hand) was not only limited in practice on Thursday, but mentioned Herbert's goal is to play on Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles and that he is trending in the right direction to do so after undergoing surgery to stabilize a fracture in his left hand on Monday. For now, it appears he needs the swelling to go down and a few more obstacles to overcome, but fantasy managers who were worried about Herbert's availability for Monday night after seeing the injury in Week 13 should view Pelissero's report as encouraging news. The Eagles rank middle-of-the-pack against opposing quarterbacks, but one thing Herbert has done a lot this season is use his legs. With the injury to his hand and his efforts to prevent re-injury or take additional hits, it's possible Herbert does not run as much, limiting some of his upside for Week 14. Combined with the tough matchup, fantasy managers may want to consider other options if available. Regardless, Herbert still provides low-end QB1 fantasy value leading up to Week 14.
Dec 5, 2025 9:19 AM EST
In the first official practice of Week 14, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (hand) was listed as limited on Thursday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Herbert had surgery on Monday to fix a metacarpal fracture in his left (non-throwing) hand and had a plate and screws inserted to stabilize the fracture. The 27-year-old plans to play on Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 14, and the Chargers' coaching staff is very optimistic he'll be ready. Herbert should be active in Week 14, but he'll be more of a QB2 option for fantasy managers while playing behind a shaky offensive line against a strong Eagles defensive front. If Herbert is active on Monday night, as expected, he's likely to take most, if not all, of the offensive snaps out of the shotgun formation to limit the strain on his injured left hand. That could be an issue near the goal line, and it was announced that backup Trey Lance would be taking the goal-line reps under center this week.
Dec 4, 2025 6:33 PM EST
The Los Angeles Chargers remain optimistic that quarterback Justin Herbert (hand) will be able to play on Monday night in Week 14 against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles despite having surgery to fix a metacarpal fracture in his left (non-throwing) hand on Monday, according to ESPN's Kris Rhim. "We're really optimistic Justin's going to play," offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. Herbert told reporters after having surgery earlier this week that he plans to play in Week 14, and all signs point to the 27-year-old signal-caller being active. Herbert is as tough as they come in the NFL. After a strong start to the 2025 season that featured five touchdown passes in the first two games, Herbert has thrown only two TD passes with two picks and just 232 passing yards in the last two contests. Going against a strong Eagles defense in Week 14 with a suspect offensive line in front of him, fantasy managers should downgrade Herbert to high-end QB2 status.
Dec 4, 2025 3:30 PM EST
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (hand) had surgery on Monday for a metacarpal fracture in his left (non-throwing) hand, in which a plate and screws were put in to stabilize the fracture. Herbert did not practice on Wednesday, but he's expected to be on the field either Thursday or Friday, and he told reporters that he plans to play in Week 14 against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said he's optimistic that Herbert will be available this week. Ultimately, the 27-year-old's status will depend on how much swelling there is in his surgically repaired hand. If Herbert does play, he might not take any snaps under center at all, and he's likely to play with a protective glove on. Fantasy managers will have a better idea of Herbert's status by Saturday. If he plays, Herbert will be more of a high-end QB2 in fantasy against an Eagles defense that has allowed only 12 passing TDs this year, which is tied for second-fewest in the NFL.
Dec 4, 2025 12:13 PM EST
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (left hand) had a plate and multiple screws put in his hand in surgery. Herbert suffered a broken left hand in Week 13's win over the Las Vegas Raiders and underwent surgery on Monday, and reports say that it was successful. Herbert reiterated on Wednesday that the plan is to play in Week 14 when the Chargers host the Philadelphia Eagles. The star quarterback has been excellent in 2025, currently averaging 19.1 fantasy points per game, which ranks as the QB8. The Chargers are fighting for a playoff spot and will need to finish strong to fend off the likes of the Chiefs, Bills, and other teams. Fantasy managers should prepare as if Herbert will be able to play in Week 14.
Dec 3, 2025 8:29 PM EST
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters that quarterback Justin Herbert (hand) will not practice on Wednesday during the team's walkthrough, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Herbert had surgery to fix a broken bone in his left (non-throwing) hand on Monday, and the Chargers are not ready to say whether he will be able to play on Monday Night Football in Week 14 versus the visiting Philadelphia Eagles. The Bolts won't hold their first official practice of the week until Thursday. Herbert said he plans on playing through his broken hand, although he's probably not going to see much practice time this week. With a tough matchup looming against Philly and the injury to boot, Herbert is trending as more of a QB2 for fantasy managers this week if he's active. Backup Trey Lance, who will see first-team goal-line reps this week in practice, would make his first start of the year if Herbert isn't cleared.
Dec 3, 2025 3:21 PM EST