Two players, one answer.
Justin Herbert vs Rico Dowdle
This week
Start Justin Herbert · 13.5 to 8.8 projected (Week 8, PPR)
Rest of season
Rico Dowdle by 43% (Redraft PPR)Dynasty
Justin Herbert by 45% (Dynasty Superflex)
Week 8 · PPR · 69% held up in 2025
Lean Justin Herbert
On Sleeper's projections, Justin Herbert is projected 4.7 points ahead of Rico Dowdle. In the 2025 season, a player projected that far ahead outscored the other 69% of the time. A lean, not a lock.
QB · LAC
Justin Herbert
13.5 projected
@ LAR · Sun 4:05 PM ET
11.7 a game this season · last 3: 11.6, 11.2, 9.8
RB · PIT
Rico Dowdle
8.8 projected
vs CLE · Sun 1:00 PM ET
8.3 a game this season · last 3: 6.4, 7.9, 14.6
What the call rests on
- Justin Herbert: Sleeper's projection, last changed Thu, Oct 29, 6:00 PM ET
- Rico Dowdle: Sleeper's projection, last changed Thu, Oct 29, 6:00 PM ET
- Sleeper's projections read Thu, Oct 29, 6:07 PM ET.
- Injury statuses read Thu, Oct 29, 6:07 PM ET, with the projections (hourly). A fresh projection time doesn't mean every status is: game-day inactives, about 90 minutes before kickoff, can come after it.
| Same projections, scored | Herbert | Dowdle |
|---|---|---|
| PPR | 13.5 | 8.8 |
| Half PPR | 13.5 | 7.9 |
| Standard | 13.5 | 7 |
What could change it before kickoff
- Rico Dowdle plays first (Sun 1:00 PM ET); once his game starts most platforms lock him in or out, before Justin Herbert's late news is known.
Open in Who should I start (your league, more players)
This week’s projections are Sleeper’s, scored with PPR settings. The percentage is how often a projected gap like this held up across the 2025 season; checked against 2026 games (not used to fit it), the stated chances so far run a few points high, so read a 60% call as nearer 55%.