Herbert avoided interceptions at an historic rate last season with three in 504 attempts (0.6%) -- the only 500-attempt QB in NFL history with a lower an INT percentage was Aaron Rodgers in 2018 (0.3). And then Herbert threw four picks in the Chargers' wild-card loss. Such was life in 2024. Herbert was fifth in on-target percentage (77.0), yet just 18th in completion percentage (65.9). He finished QB11 in fantasy but had less than 15 fantasy points in nine games. But Herbert improved his downfield throwing last year, and consequently his YPA (7.7, 11th) rebounded after consecutive sub-7.0 seasons. He threw deep often (12.3%, 10th) and completed 40.3 percent (8th), tying for the league lead in TDs, with his 9/2 TD/INT second to only Lamar Jackson (8/0). 2024 second-round pick Ladd McConkey paid off, but Herbert had little else to target. Much is the same this year. The team brought back WR Mike Williams, who hasn't played a full season since 2021, and drafted in the second round WR Tre Harris, who ran a disappointing 4.54 40 at the NFL Combine. The team is still waiting for Quentin Johnston to live up to his first-round status. The offense will run through the backfield anyway, with free-agent Najee Harris and first-round pick Omarion Hampton. With barely 500 attempts in Greg Roman's run-first offense and modest rushing production, Herbert will be hard-pressed to break through to the top 10 of fantasy QBs.
