The Facts: Herbert's greatest strength -- his intelligence -- was well-known by the time the NFL neared the 2020 draft, but it was the rest of the package that was still an uncertainty. Did he have the physical capability to run an NFL offense after operating in a spread-style attack at Oregon? Did he have the right footwork necessary? The moxie needed to earn the trust and support of his teammates amid the fire that is an NFL game? Turns out, the answer to all of that was a resounding yes, and it all came down to one key element for Herbert -- authenticity. "Do you elevate their performance and can you connect with a lot of different types of people? That's another thing that I think is a defining characteristic of leadership and I think the way that Justin goes about it is so exciting because none of it's manufactured," HC Brandon Staley said of Herbert.
Diehards Line:Herbert's physical skills shined as a rookie when he was thrown into action in Week 2 and never relinquished the job, finishing sixth in passing yards, 10th in passing touchdowns and 12th in passer rating in the entire league. That made him an easy choice for Offensive Rookie of the Year, answering all of his critics not with his words, but his actions. "With any type of player in the NFL, confidence is so important," Staley said. "For him to have been able to play like that, I think you know that he belongs and at the same time all the good players know that there's so much work to be done because there's a lot that each guy can improve on, and that's kind of how Justin's wired and that's why he's been so much fun to work with so far. ..." Fantasy managers with Herbert on their rosters this fall will be looking for improvement -- even with a new coaching staff and offense.