Scoring Zone
Today
news 2 sources covering this

Top 100 Players of 2026, Nos. 40-39: Justin Herbert rises; Trent Williams makes 13th appearance | Latest NFL News, Analysis & Updates | NFL.com

Justin Herbert and Trent Williams are highlighted as top players for the upcoming season, with Herbert facing significant pressure last year but still leading the Chargers to back-to-back playoff appearances. Williams, a Pro Bowl left tackle, continues to be an integral part of San Francisco's offense at age 38.

First seen Aug 03, 2026 · 4:00 PM UTC · last updated Aug 03 5:30 PM

Scoring Zone's Take

This one's more informational than actionable, but it's worth logging for draft prep. Herbert's inclusion on the Top 100 with a note about facing "significant pressure" last season is a reminder that his QB1 ceiling is tied directly to Chargers offensive line health — he still delivered back-to-back playoff berths despite that pressure, which speaks well of his floor even in a suboptimal pass-pro environment. For fantasy purposes, treat Herbert as a solid QB1-caliber draft target with upside if the line in front of him improves, but keep expectations tempered slightly by the pressure concern rather than assuming a clean leap into elite volume-passing numbers.

Trent Williams' presence here isn't fantasy-relevant in the direct scoring sense — left tackles don't accumulate fantasy points — but it's a strong indirect signal. Williams making his 13th Top 100 appearance at age 38 and still being characterized as integral to San Francisco's offense suggests the 49ers' blocking, especially in pass protection, remains stable. That's a quiet positive for any Niners skill-position players you're evaluating in drafts (QB efficiency, RB pass-pro reliability, WR/TE target security), since offensive line continuity often correlates with sustained offensive scheme execution.

Net action: no add/drop/trade moves are warranted from this news alone — it's a credential/recognition story, not a status change. File Herbert as a QB1 draft consideration with the caveat about pressure, and note Williams' continued elite play as a soft tailwind for 49ers offensive skill players rather than a standalone fantasy asset. Confidence is high on the facts reported, but there's nothing here demanding immediate roster action.

Top 100 Players of 2026, Nos. 40-39: Justin Herbert rises; Trent Williams makes 13th appearance

Watch highlights of Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert during the 2025 NFL season.

The "NFL Top 100" -- voted on by the players themselves -- reveal is underway on X! Two players will be revealed at 10 a.m. ET and 11 a.m. daily Monday through Friday from June 22-Aug. 21, before one Top 10 player is unveiled each weekday beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 24 through Friday, Sept. 4.

2025 stats: 16 games | 996 snaps | 32 QBP allowed | 4 sacks allowed (per Pro Football Focus)

Death, taxes and Williams making the NFL Top 100 list. The 12-time Pro Bowl left tackle has now played 15 seasons and has 13 appearances in the Top 100. He remains one of the most important parts of San Francisco’s offense heading into his age-38 campaign, having just signed a two-year extension through 2027 he admitted will "probably" be his last. That means Williams, who has allowed a sack rate under 1% for five straight years, still has a couple shots left at an elusive Super Bowl ring to complete his Hall of Fame career.

NFL Pro Insight for Williams: Williams allowed a 0.6% sack rate in 2025, tied for fifth among left tackles with at least 200 pass block snaps.

2025 stats:16 games | 66.4 pct | 3,727 pass yds | 7.3 ypa | 26 pass TD | 13 INT | 498 rush yds | 2 rush TD

Herbert had the unenviable task of spending much of last season without his starting offensive tackles. The result? Facing 268 pressures and a 43.3% pressure rate, both league highs, and yet the Pro Bowler still guided the Chargers to their first back-to-back playoff berths since 2008-09. He also constantly made magic while avoiding the rush. Herbert threw 10 touchdowns on the run in 2025, most in the NFL, and his 1,192 passing yards under pressure ranked fourth. With better protection on the way this season, perhaps Herbert will achieve his first postseason win -- or even stack a few of them.

NFL Pro Insight for Herbert: Herbert threw deep (20-plus air yards) on 11.1% of his attempts last season, the second-highest rate of his career, completing a personal-best 40.4% of those attempts for eight deep passing TDs, third-most in the NFL.

Coverage from Nfl Dot Com News · by Bobby Kownack · Aug 03, 2026 · read original