Why Justin Herbert's Stock Is Rising In NFL Power Rankings

Former Oregon Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert and his Los Angeles Chargers are 1-0 this season after knocking off Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Week One. This performance has Herbert climbing the quarterback power rankings.

Aug 16, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws a pass before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images | Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

Former Oregon Ducks Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert got his sixth season in the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers off to a great start. The Chargers won their Week One game in Brazil against the three-time defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs by a final score of 27-21. 

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert made an early MVP case for himself in the win. 

Justin Herbert No. 4 in Updated Quarterback Power Rankings

Aug 10, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert watches during the game against the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Justin Herbert played a near perfect game against the Chiefs. He went 25/34 passing for 318 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. This was just the second time in his entire career that Herbert had beat Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in a head-to-head matchup. 

Mahomes has been widely considered the best quarterback in there NFL for a long time now, so this was a big win for Herbert and the Chargers. CBS Sports released their updated quarterback power rankings after Week One. Here is their top five.

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

3. Jalen Hurts. Philadelphia Eagles

4. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

5. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Sep 5, 2025; Sao Paulo, BRAZIL; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the warm up before a NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Corinthians Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amanda Perobelli/Reuters via Imagn Images | Amanda Perobelli/Reuters via Imagn Images

This is could be seen as a very questionable ranking with Mahomes dropping out off the top five after just one loss where he played well in, but Herbert made a case for himself to be in that elite group at the top of the sport along with the likes of Mahomes. The top two ranked quarterbacks in this list are the past two MVP winners; Josh Allen in 2024 and Lamar Jackson in 2023.

Regular season performances hasn’t been what has plagued Herbert so far in his early career, it has been the lack of playoff success. The Chargers have made the playoffs twice since selecting Herbert No. 6 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, but have lost in the wild card game both times. His record in the playoffs is 0-2.

2024 was Jim Harbaugh's first as Chargers coach and he guided them to 11 wins and a playoff spot. With another year at the helm, there is a great opportunity to take another step forward.

Is 2025 setting up for Herbert to be in the running for MVP and furthermore, the Chargers making a deep playoff run?

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Justin Herbert From College to the NFL

Oregon's Justin Herbert, right, rushes against Oregon State in the fourth quarter in 2019. | Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Justin Herbert has been the Chargers starting quarterback since Week Two of his rookie season back in 2020. The arm talent of Herbert is undeniable and is why the Chargers selected him so high in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Oregon.

Herbert played from 2016 through 2019 with the Ducks. His best was his final season, throwing for 3,471 yards and 32 touchdowns while leading Oregon to a Pac-12 title and Rose Bowl victory.