JustinHerbert

News: 1 day agoHerbert completed 21 of his 34 attempts for 237 yards and a touchdown in the 23-16 win over the Broncos on Sunday.

Spin: Herbert has had significantly better statistical days, but make no mistake, Sunday was one of the best outings of his career. Despite facing a Broncos secondary that had rightfully earned the reputation as one of the best in the league, the Pro Bowl signal caller was flinging it all around the field throughout the first half while dropping dimes against single coverage and throwing frozen ropes on 15-yard first-down darts. It was even more impressive given Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey both left at various points in the first half, although his top two targets did return during the contest. Herbert tallied a season-high 184 yards in the first half, and with the Chargers up three scores until the fourth quarter, the offense was content sitting on the ball over the course of the final 30 minutes. The 26-year-old could be poised to build off this performance against a Cardinals defense that allowed four passing touchdowns against the Packers in Week 6.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: While Herbert is one of the league's most talented quarterbacks, he is saddled with starting for a Jim Harbaugh rebuild that's precariously thin on receiving talent. In the past three seasons, Herbert is third in passing yards per game (274.1), fourth among qualifiers in Total QBR (65.3) and he has averaged 19.1 fantasy points per game. That latter number placed eighth at the position, in large part because Herbert couldn't get things done behind a sputtering running game and with Mike Williams and Keenan Allen missing time due to injury in 2023. Allen and Williams are now elsewhere, and Harbaugh appears committed to a run-oriented offense. Herbert might struggle to deliver the fantasy goods, making him more of a matchup play for 2024.