Quarterback is one of the deepest positions going into 2026 fantasy football drafts. It’s so deep, in fact, that I am entertaining just waiting until the very end of drafts (or at least quite some time) before selecting one.
Of course, your fantasy draft strategy may be different than mine, and so may your league. Due to that, you might want to know who the best fantasy quarterbacks are. I’ve got you covered from all angles, as I’ll rank the top passers for 2026, but also touch on some big movers, some sneaky sleepers, and the busts I’d be looking to avoid at the position.
With that, let’s dive into my 2026 fantasy quarterback rankings:
Fantasy Football QB Rankings for 2026 (With Notes)
Above is my full list of 2026 fantasy football quarterback rankings, along with a quick-hitting note for each one. It’s never enough just to drop rankings and run for the hills, though, so I thought I’d break things down a bit more to go over some key guys I’m particularly high on.
My QB1: Why Josh Allen Ranks #1 in 2026
Why wouldn’t Josh Allen be the top guy? Allen comes into 2026 with the best projection, the best ceiling, the highest ADP, and has literally been a top-2 fantasy passer for six years in a row.
Nothing has changed to suggest he’ll see a dip in production, either. He’s still a huge part of Buffalo’s rushing offense, he actually got a boost with the team trading for DJ Moore, and offensive coordinator Joe Brady is now calling the shots as head coach.
The only thing stopping Allen from the crown is a random injury or a wild run by another QB.
Biggest QB Risers Compared to Consensus Rankings
I don’t pretend to know everything, but if you want my advice, it might make sense to note where I zig when other fantasy touts zag.
Two guys stand out in this regard, as I am extremely high on both Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough. I have both inside my top-15, with Dart cracking my top-10. I wrote up full details in a Tyler Shough fantasy outlook breakdown, but the skinny is that these dudes are dual threat options with strong supporting casts and proven production.
I go into why I am high on Dart here:
Both of these guys were producing top-10 averages as full-time starters last year. There’s no guarantee they keep it up, but all we can do is project based on what we’ve seen, the player’s talent, and who they have around them.
On paper, both Dart and Shough look like fantastic options this year, and the best part is they both are values in redraft. You do need to target Dart a bit earlier now (round 6 usually), but Shough lasts until the very end of most fantasy drafts.
Naturally, these are two guys I am also looking to acquire in dynasty fantasy football leagues as well.
Sneaky QB Sleepers Who Could Beat ADP
- Cam Ward (Tennessee Titans)
- Kyler Murray (Minnesota Vikings)
- Malik Willis (Miami Dolphins)
If Shough and Dart aren’t enough – or you simply aren’t high on them – then try this trio of fantasy quarterback sleepers on for size.
Of the three I’m least excited about Ward, but he definitely woke up during the second half of his rookie campaign, operating as the QB19 from weeks 11-17. I removed his week 18 numbers since he didn’t play the entire game. I know QB19 isn’t amazing, but that was growth compared to where he and that Titans offense were earlier in 2025.
Tennessee got Ward some help, too. They drafted Carnell Tate early in round one, while they also brought in Brian Daboll to run their offense.
Ward could take flight in 2026 and he wouldn’t need to do much to blast past his current ADP.
I also am interested in Murray and Willis at cost, as they both can be had late in drafts. Murray is probably going to go before Willis or Shough, but he’s about as good if he wins the job and holds onto it.
It’s definitely worth wondering if Murray’s rushing production will be as good as it once was, but if it is he could be a top-10 threat given the talent he has around him in Minnesota. After all, Kirk Cousins was QB6 with this offense in 2022 and was QB8 in points per game before getting hurt in 2023.
Willis it the great unknown. The sample size is super small, but in limited action he’s played winning football, has displayed a lively arm with the ability to make throws into tight windows, and definitely offers immense upside with his legs.
Are we just enamored with his 31-point fantasy outing against Baltimore in week 17 last year? Perhaps, but Willis has the dual threat ability fantasy owners crave and he costs nothing to take a chance on.
Biggest QB Fantasy Bust for 2026
I think several big names are at risk of at least slightly disappointing. Age, natural regression, injury, and changing environment can contribute to this, but the big one right now is Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes was actually fantastic in fantasy circles last year, but he tore his ACL to close out the season and hasn’t looked right so far in OTAs.
That doesn’t mean he can’t get healthy, but a lot of his game is predicated on his mobility.
On top of his own health concerns, Mahomes may not have a healthy Rashee Rice at his disposal for a chunk of 2026. Rice is presently in jail rehabbing a knee issue, so it remains to be seen if that injury will be a problem, or if the league wants to hand him another suspension.
If Rice misses any time it hurts Kansas City’s short and intermediate passing game. The combination of injury recovery and Rice’s issues make Mahomes an easy fade for me in redraft leagues.
My QB Draft Strategy for 2026 Fantasy Leagues
I think in SF you can always draft quarterbacks early, and in the first two rounds getting one makes a lot of sense. But in all formats I do think waiting is plenty viable.
Josh Allen is the cream of the crop and it’s always fun to get a guy who has better odds of finishing inside the top 5, but I’d rather rack up premium plays elsewhere and hunt value via Dart, Shough, Willis, and others.
Playing DFS since the days of DraftStreet, Kevin knows the ins and outs of DFS, specifically for NFL and NBA. He’s also been helping people win in fantasy football leagues for 15+ years and is one of many experts featured at FantasyPros.
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