Who Should I Start? Justin Herbert or Michael Penix Jr.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
23.8 23.6 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0

Justin Herbert News

Justin Herbert Has the Tools Around Him to Outperform His Current Redraft ADP

Friday, June 26, 12:58 PM

Across 16 games in 2025, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert completed 66.4% of his pass attempts for 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. The 28-year-old also rushed for a career-high 498 yards and two scores, which helped him finish as the fantasy QB10 on a per-game basis. Entering 2026, Herbert could be in a position to put together his best fantasy season to date. The Chargers have a new play-caller in place in Mike McDaniel, who should help open up the offense. Los Angeles will also have its star tackle duo of Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt back in action after the two combined to play just six games in 2025. Finally, Herbert has a strong core of young playmakers around him in wide receivers Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston, tight end Oronde Gadsden II, and running back Omarion Hampton. If the Chargers offense takes a step forward in its first season under McDaniel and Herbert maintains his increased rushing aggression from a season ago, he could be undervalued by current redraft ADP as the ninth quarterback off the board.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
8.3 3.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Michael Penix Jr. News

Michael Penix Jr. a Dynasty Hold Until Camp Brings Clarity

Wednesday, July 15, 12:12 PM

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is still difficult to price before training camp. He threw for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions in nine starts last season, then a partially torn left ACL ended his year in Week 11. This was his third ACL surgery. Penix made it back for individual and seven-on-seven work in the spring, but Atlanta kept him out of full-team periods while Tua Tagovailoa ran the offense. The expectation was that Penix would be ready for 11-on-11 work in camp, pending medical clearance. Until that happens, there is not much of a competition to judge. The fantasy profile has its own problem. Penix completed 60.1% of his passes and added only 70 rushing yards, so he needs the arm to carry the value. Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts Sr. give him enough help if he wins the job. RotoBaller has Penix at QB29 in dynasty, which is low enough to hold through camp but not cheap enough to ignore the knee and Tua. Superflex buyers should wait for clarity rather than paying for his previous upside.


Justin Herbert vs. Michael Penix Jr.

Still trying to decide between Herbert and Penix Jr.? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Justin Herbert is projected to score 23.8 points this week while Michael Penix Jr. is projected to score 8.3 points.