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The Athletic Football Show fantasy football takes on Justin Herbert
Every source-backed podcast insight STACKED has extracted from The Athletic Football Show about Justin Herbert.
19
Insights
3
Positive
11
Negative
Insight ledger
All The Athletic Football Show insights about Justin Herbert
NegativeProjectionOct 8, 2026
Herbert has not forgotten how to be a good quarterback who can make every throw—he can still throw absolute piss missiles when needed—but the Chargers offense is experiencing a breakdown in philosophy and execution on a week-to-week basis that is limiting his performance; the source attributes this to coaching and organizational issues rather than quarterback decline.NegativeProjectionOct 8, 2026
Justin Herbert's performance in Los Angeles has been disappointing; the source suggests the Chargers' offensive struggles are evenly attributable to Herbert's on-field decision-making, Mike McDaniel's play-calling, and Jim Harbaugh's overall direction, indicating systemic issues rather than a single fixable problem.NegativeProjectionOct 6, 2026
Brad Idzik characterizes the Chargers offense as an "absolute disaster" where "every single idea, fanciful idea that people had about how good this could be" and "the idea of pairing Justin Herbert with Mike McDaniel" and "the excitement around this group" has proven unwarranted. "Every single thing that could have gone wrong about this thing has gone wrong." The offense remains a full-blown failure despite the defense finally performing adequately in Week 4.NegativeProjectionOct 6, 2026
Justin Herbert threw two of the worst interceptions of his NFL career in Week 4 against the Seahawks, both on inexplicable decisions to throw directly at linebackers who were never going to be anywhere else. Brad Idzik called them "inexcusable" and noted Herbert "deserves plenty of culpability in the way that this thing has looked over the first month of the season," adding these were similar to his dumbest interception from the prior week where he threw at a post safety.NegativeProjectionOct 1, 2026
The source argues that Herbert is not playing great, but the offensive circumstances around him are significantly worse than expected; none of the promise of the offense is materializing. The source emphasizes that Herbert is likely not a notably worse player than in 2022, but the environment has deteriorated materially, making his performance look worse than his actual quarterback ability.PositiveProjectionOct 1, 2026
The source includes Herbert among the 13 quarterbacks making $55 million annually and affirms that despite occasional frustration and volatility, 'the answer is definitively yes' that he could reach MVP-caliber seasons; the source cites his second-year 5,000-yard passing season as evidence of his capability.NegativeProjectionOct 1, 2026
Justin Herbert is receiving similar criticism to Trevor Lawrence from NFL coaches and executives—quotes suggesting he hasn't proved he can take the team up a level or make the team play better than they are, indicating concerns about his ability to elevate his offense.NegativeBustSep 28, 2026
Justin Herbert is making multiple big-time mistakes every game, including a horrendous, inexcusable interception against the Bills that occurred when the game was still in the balance.NegativeProjectionSep 25, 2026
The source highlights that the Chargers' offense is struggling with operational issues, including penalties and poor execution, which is negatively impacting the team's outlook despite Herbert's presence.NegativeProjectionSep 24, 2026
Bill Barnwell notes that while Herbert is making mistakes and getting sped up, he is not the sole problem in a broken Chargers offense; he lacks the elite ability to elevate a mediocre situation, but it is too early to make this a referendum on his career.NegativeProjectionSep 24, 2026
Bill Barnwell notes that the Chargers' offense, centered around Justin Herbert, has failed to produce the expected fireworks, leading to a disappointing start to the season.NegativeUsageSep 17, 2026
Herbert is facing scrutiny regarding his processing speed, with coaches noting he is 'a little slow' among the elite quarterbacks. While he may improve as he adjusts to a new system with more motion and intricacies, his performance in Week 1 was concerning, and he could be exposed if he fails to adapt.NegativeProjectionSep 14, 2026
Justin Herbert faced significant pressure due to a struggling interior offensive line, with the source noting that the Chargers' offense failed to generate explosive runs or chunk plays, leading to a frustrating performance.PositiveProjectionSep 9, 2026
The source suggests Justin Herbert could have a much better statistical season than his recent years, potentially adding six rushing touchdowns to his total, though he needs the team to perform as a top-three offense to reach his ceiling.NegativeBustSep 9, 2026
The source expresses skepticism about Justin Herbert as an MVP bet, despite his high odds. While the offense may be productive, the source believes it would require a 'truly special' season, including potential rushing touchdown contributions, for him to overcome the narrative hurdles and team success requirements.NegativeProjectionSep 7, 2026
The source notes that Justin Herbert's 65-yard throw in the offseason creates a narrative where past Chargers struggles cease to matter for players like Quinton Johnston. The speaker drafted Herbert in every fantasy league somewhat accidentally and is trying to keep the Chargers at arm's length, believing the team will win at least 10 games with Jim Harbaugh but not reach elite contender status.NegativeUsageAug 26, 2026
The source notes that Justin Herbert is undergoing a process this offseason to adjust his play style, specifically learning to release the ball with more anticipation rather than waiting to see receivers come open, a hallmark of McDaniel's previous systems.PositiveProjectionAug 26, 2026
The source is optimistic about Justin Herbert's potential in Mike McDaniel's offense, suggesting that McDaniel's ability to design effective passing games could help Herbert reach a new level of production.NegativeRoleAug 25, 2026
The source views this as a critical 'crossroads' year for Justin Herbert, noting that with Mike McDaniel as his play-caller, there are no more excuses for underperformance. While acknowledging Herbert's immense talent, the source points out that he has struggled to calibrate his play style—balancing scrambling with traditional pocket passing—and that this season will determine if he can be the 'fourth most productive quarterback in the league.'