UPDATE: On Saturday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported there is optimism for Herbert to start Sunday at Pittsburgh, despite his ankle injury. However, he will have to test the injury ahead of the game.
Justin Herbert ($5,700) is currently dealing with an ankle injury. It wasn’t initially believed to be serious; however, on Friday, it was revealed to be a high ankle sprain. Herbert is officially listed as questionable for Week 3.
Through the first two weeks, the Chargers sit at 2-0, but the quarterback hasn’t been putting up notable numbers. Herbert has topped out at 13 FPTS and he is averaging a career-low 6.0 YPA. With the Chargers’ running game flourishing, ranking second in rush yards per game, Los Angeles has thrown the ball at the third-lowest rate in the league under Jim Harbaugh. Hebert does rank 11th in FPTS per drop back, so there is potential for him to put up strong numbers in plus matchups, but visiting the Steelers in the Pittsburgh this Sunday is not one of them.
Led by T.J. Watt — who currently carries the second-best odds to win DPOY at +450 on the DraftKings Sportsbook — the Steelers’ defense has been truly elite, allowing the second fewest PPG. The only defense that ranks better than Pittsburgh is the Chargers, so this is likely to be a defensive slugfest that produces low scoring. Hence this game’s O/U being set at a week-low 35.5 points on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
If he ends up playing, the Steelers’ pass rush should give Herbert fits all day long — and that’s not even factoring in that the pivot will surely be at less than 100% health. Seeking an alternative option for both season-long and DFS formats is the right call for Week 3.
Start or Sit Justin Herbert? Sit.
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