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Week8 · 2026
Starting1
Scoring
Pass TD
New comparison
Toss-up

Herbert

QB · LAC @ LA

Kickoff Sun 4:05 PM ET

Projected points15.7pts

First out

Cousins

QB · LV @ NYJ

Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET

Projected points14.9pts

Toss-up

Bench

Justin Herbert or Kirk Cousins: Who Should I Start in Week 8?

Toss-up. Justin Herbert gets the nod over Kirk Cousins.

Ahead by
+0.8pts
over Cousins
Confidence
Lower
Toss-up

Case for Cousins

The case for Cousins is more chances to throw (39.1 a game to 36.5) and an offense expected to score more (22.0 points to 19.3).

Flips if

Start Kirk Cousins instead if you want fewer sacks (4% of his pass plays to 10%).

Risk

The risk: Herbert has been held under 12 points in 3 straight games.

Highlights

Injuries as of Fri 2:00 PM ET
HerbertToss-upQB · LAC @ LAUsually 10.4+5.3pts this week

Helps him

  1. +2.7ptspass TDsHis lines put him at 1.50 passing TDs, above his usual 0.83.
  2. +1.0ptsrush TDsHis lines put him at 0.17 rushing TDs, above his usual 0.00.
  3. +0.7ptspass yardsHis lines put him at 206.5 passing yards, above his usual 190.2.
  4. 25.2ceilingHis best weeks reach about 25.2 points.

Hurts him

  1. −0.5ptsrush yardsHis lines put him at 23.5 rushing yards, below his usual 28.0.
  2. 19.3team totalEdgeHis team is expected to score only 19.3 points.
  3. 11.3floorA quiet week could drop to about 11.3 points.
CousinsFirst outQB · LV @ NYJUsually 18.8−3.9pts this week

Helps him

  1. 39.1dropbacksHe drops back 39.1 times a game.
  2. steadyHis weekly scores stay close to his average.

Hurts him

  1. −3.1ptspass TDsHis lines put him at 1.50 passing TDs, below his usual 2.29.
  2. −1.1ptspass yardsHis lines put him at 239.5 passing yards, below his usual 268.1.
  3. 12.5floorA quiet week could drop to about 12.5 points.

Points are what each line adds to or takes off his usual week. EdgeFrom the game around him.

Stat comparison

Every player you picked, stat by stat, most important first.

Stat
Scoring
ProjectionHerbert: 15.7 (best)Cousins: 14.9
Rush TD pointsof the projectionHerbert: 1.0 (best)Cousins: 0.2
Rush TDs expectedthis weekHerbert: 0.17 (best)Cousins: 0.04
Projected team pointsHerbert: 19.3Cousins: 22.0 (best)
Goal line carriesper gameHerbert: 0.3 (best)Cousins: 0.0
Red zone carriesper gameHerbert: 0.8 (best)Cousins: 0.0
Pass attempts / gameHerbert: 30.0Cousins: 36.7 (best)
Role
Snap shareHerbert: 100% (best)Cousins: 98%
Touch shareHerbert: 11% (best)Cousins: 4%
Touches / gameHerbert: 4.8 (best)Cousins: 2.1
Yards per attemptHerbert: 6.3Cousins: 7.3 (best)
Pass TD rateHerbert: 3%Cousins: 6% (best)
Rush yards / gameHerbert: 28.0 (best)Cousins: 0.6
Points from rushingHerbert: 27%Cousins: 0.3%
Rushing points / gameHerbert: 2.8 pts / game (best)Cousins: 0.1 pts / game
Rushing floorHerbert: 2.7 pts / game (best)Cousins: 0.1 pts / game
Designed runs / gameHerbert: 1.7 (best)Cousins: 0.3
Scrambles / gameHerbert: 3.2 (best)Cousins: 0.7
Dropbacks / gameHerbert: 36.5Cousins: 39.1 (best)
Designed runs inside the 10 / gameHerbert: 0.3 (best)Cousins: 0.0
Sacks per dropbackHerbert: 10%Cousins: 4% (best)
INT rateHerbert: 4.4%Cousins: 1.9% (best)
Pass aDOTHerbert: 7.8Cousins: 8.1
High value touches / gameHerbert: 0.7 (best)Cousins: 0.0
Goal line carry shareHerbert: 33% (best)Cousins: 0%
Red zone touches / gameHerbert: 1.0 (best)Cousins: 0.0
Rush success rateHerbert: 45% (best)Cousins: 14%
Breakaway rate (20+ yd runs)Herbert: 6.9% (best)Cousins: 0%
Range
FloorHerbert: 11.3Cousins: 12.5 (best)
CeilingHerbert: 25.2 (best)Cousins: 19.0
Points from TDssteadier when lowerHerbert: 0%Cousins: 0%
Big weeks (25+ pts)Herbert: 16% (best)Cousins: 0%
Dud weeks (under 12 pts)lower is betterHerbert: 48%Cousins: 0% (best)
SteadinessHerbert: Steady±7.4 ptsCousins: Very steady (best)±3.7 pts · 7 games
Matchup
Matchup gradevs his position · 2026, 7 gmHerbert: CCousins: B- (best)
Game scriptHerbert: Expected to trailCousins: Expected to trail (best)
Opp takeaways / gamelower is betterHerbert: 0.9 (best)Cousins: 1.1
Defense funnelHerbert: NeutralCousins: Neutral
Opp pass yds allowedHerbert: 4th (tough)Cousins: 5th (tough) (best)
Opp sacks / gameHerbert: 1.4 (best)Cousins: 2.7
Roof / surfaceturfHerbert: DomeCousins: Open
Rest / scheduleHerbert: Off a byeCousins: Normal
Opp paceHerbert: 3rd (fast) (best)Cousins: 28th (slow)
Opp pressure rateHerbert: 17% (best)29th (soft)Cousins: 21%14th (average)
Pressure facedHerbert: 25%Cousins: 25%
Opp rush yds allowedHerbert: 18th (average)Cousins: 24th (soft) (best)
Opp stuff rateHerbert: 18%12th (average)Cousins: 14% (best)26th (soft)
Opp yards per carry allowedHerbert: 4.213th (average)Cousins: 4.3 (best)17th (average)
Opp deep targets allowed / gameHerbert: 2.9 (best)7th (tough)Cousins: 2.64th (tough)
Opp catch rate allowedHerbert: 60%2nd (tough)Cousins: 65% (best)9th (tough)
Form
Last 3 avgHerbert: 9.5Cousins: 17.5 (best)
Last 5 avgHerbert: 9.8Cousins: 19.5 (best)
vs seasonHerbert: −0.9 (Cooling) (best)Cousins: −1.2 (Steady)
Yards per carryHerbert: 5.8 (best)Cousins: 0.3
Carries / gameHerbert: 4.8 (best)Cousins: 2.1
Pass volume trendHerbert: SteadyCousins: Rising
Crowd
Started in leaguesHerbert: Not widely startedCousins: 50%
Nuvela position ranklower is betterHerbert: QB17 (best)Cousins: QB20
Yards linepassingHerbert: 206.5Cousins: 239.5 (best)

Deciding on someone else?

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