Fantasy Football Week 2 Quarterback Start/Sit Decisions: Justin Herbert, Dak Prescott, and More

It's last-minute decision time! With Sunday morning gametime creeping closer, fantasy owners who waited until the last minute or are just laboring over tough decisions are still trying to get as much information as possible on calls that might decide winning and losing this week.

That's why we monitor the FantasySP start/sit tool on the weekends to find some of the players most often compared in lineup decisions. If many people have questions about it, it's worth talking about. One of the QBs coming up most is Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Let's look at Herbert and three of the quarterbacks he has been compared to most on the start/sit tool: Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield, and Dak Prescott.

Use the FantasySP Who Should I Start? tool every week to help make your toughest lineup decisions.

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers @ Las Vegas Raiders

We are probably forgetting how good Herbert was in Week 1 because his game happened Friday night and was followed by a lot more action on Sunday and Monday. He threw for 314 yards on 34 attempts (9.4 average) with three touchdowns and no interceptions against the Chiefs. His team won by six points and needed every little bit of his performance.

Kansas City had a very good defense the past few years, so we'll see soon if they've taken a step backward or if Herbert was just that good (I'm betting on the latter). Vegas was middling or worse against the pass last season, but they had a decent Week 1 performance: while Drake Maye threw for 287 yards, it took 46 attempts to get there, an average of just 6.2.

The Raiders have some decent defenders and a star pass rusher, but on paper, they lack high-level talent overall. The most likely outcome is that they settle in near the middle defensively, though head coach Pete Carroll could make a difference.

While his volume is down a little at times, Herbert is an effective fantasy player. This matchup isn't a bad one, and he has a chance to have another good day.

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears

Goff ran into a Green Bay defense in Week 1 that just dominated the Commanders on Thursday night, so it makes Detroit's struggles more understandable. Against an easier matchup this week, we might see that old Detroit offense return.

Last year, Chicago allowed the second-most yards per pass attempt. After initially making it tough for J.J. McCarthy in Week 1, Chicago let the Minnesota QB put together big drives late, including going 6/8 for 87 yards and two touchdowns passing in the fourth quarter with a 14-yard TD run. I was questioning the Bears' defense, and the first game didn't do anything to quell my concerns.

Goff won't do the running part, but he can put together a good passing game against a middling (or worse) defense. In two games against Chicago last season, Goff combined for 557 passing yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions. I like his outlook much more in Week 2.

Advice: Start Justin Herbert over Jared Goff only because Herbert will run the ball; I still like Goff

Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Houston Texans

Mayfield had a rough Week 1, gaining 167 yards on 32 pass attempts, just 5.2 yards per attempt. He threw three touchdowns and no interceptions and ran for 39 yards, though, helping his fantasy score. It was a bit of a slow start, but the touchdown volume matches 2024.

Houston presents a tougher matchup. They allowed the second-fewest yards per pass attempt last season, though Matthew Stafford had success in Week 1, gaining 245 yards on 8.4 per attempt against the Texans. Houston has high-level talent at all three levels of the defense and is likely to have one of the better units in the league.

Mayfield has a nice ceiling that we've seen in the past, like last year's 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns. He also runs the ball a decent amount, adding on some nice bonus points. This is a tough matchup, though, and I'm looking for Mayfield to again have a modest week.

Advice: Start Justin Herbert over Baker Mayfield

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

Prescott struggled through a tough Week 1 matchup against the Eagles, throwing 34 times for 188 yards, just 5.5 per attempt. Games like that will happen for Prescott, especially in tougher matchups, which makes him a better streamer in fantasy football.

The matchup this week against the Giants is easier, though the degree can be argued. Last year, New York allowed the sixth-most yards per pass attempt, looking far worse than average defensively. We thought they improved enough to have a good group this season, but Week 1 wasn't a great start, as Jayden Daniels averaged 7.8 yards per attempt and ran for 68 yards.

A lot of defenses will falter against Daniels, so this might be a better test for the new group in New York. There's a lot of unknown in this game as to what is real from Week 1, and it's enough to make me more comfortable looking elsewhere for fantasy purposes. Prescott is an OK option, but you can also probably do better.

Advice: Start Justin Herbert over Dak Prescott