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Fantasy Football QB Rankings and Analysis for 2026

Seahawks fantasy insider Scott Engel provides quarterback rankings and analysis heading into the 2026 season. 

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Quarterback is widely considered to be the most pivotal position on the field in the NFL, and finding the right player to guide the offense can significantly impact a team's outlook. We have seen such scenarios play out with the Seahawks in their two championship runs.

In 2012, the Seahawks drafted Russell Wilson to complement a legendary defense and a strong running game.  One season later, the team won its first-ever Super Bowl.

Fast forward 13 seasons, and Sam Darnold proved to be the ideal QB on the franchise's second Super Bowl winner. He played at his very best levels when it counted most, down the stretch in the regular season and in the playoffs.

When playing fantasy football in 2026, how important the QB is to your success depends on your league rules. If the league requires one starting QB, then it's fine to wait until the middle or later rounds for a starter. There are approximately 15 QBs who could be considered quality fantasy starters this season.

In superflex leagues, where you can start a second QB at one of two flex positions, the players at the position go off the board much quicker Also, many leagues award four points for a touchdown pass, but in leagues that assign six points for a TD pass, QBs may go off the board earlier than some Average Draft Position Reports might indicate.

We examine the fantasy football QB position for the 2026 campaign and include our top 25 players for seasonal league drafts.

Fantasy Football QB Rankings: The Top Tier

Josh Allen is annually the top pick at the position, and his ADP of 29 in one-QB starter leagues confirms that he will be taken by the third round in many drafts. The Buffalo superstar has finished as a top-2 fantasy QB in each of the last six seasons. No other player in fantasy football offers as much high-level fantasy consistency as Allen.

Still, the position is not quite as top-heavy as it was three or four years ago, and Lamar Jackson's ADP of 50.1 clearly indicates no other QBs are regularly being taken as soon as Allen in earlier drafts. Jackson was nagged by injuries last season, and if he can avoid any more issues in 2026, the two-time NFL MVP can easily challenge to be the No. 1 fantasy QB again, as he was in 2024.

Drake Maye (ADP of 58.9) finished as the fantasy QB2 in his second NFL season, and while the Seahawks held him down well in Super Bowl 60, the addition of veteran star WR A.J. Brown instills confidence for another good regular season. Injuries limited the exciting Jayden Daniels (63.4) to seven games last year, but like Jackson, a healthy season could mean a return to top-level form.

Jalen Hurts could be a value among the top 5 QBs at an ADP of 69.4. New Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion might be able to pump some life back into the passing game. A better air attack could open up more rushing room and create additional short-yardage TD opportunities for Hurts.

Joe Burrow (60) rounds out the top 6 at QB. He is another prime player at the position who dealt with injury problems last year. Still, just two years ago, Burrow passed for 4,918 yards and 43 TDs, and he retains the superb WR duo of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

In superflex drafts, you could see four of the top 6 QBs listed here drafted in the first round. Hurts and Burrow might be taken late in the first round or early in the second round.

Fantasy Football QB Rankings: More QB1 Draft Day Targets

I believe Trevor Lawrence (83.3) is headed for a career year in 2026. It will be the second season under Liam Coen, who helped elevate the Jacksonville QB to only one finish outside the top 7 after Week 11 of 2025. Lawrence has a deep pass-catching crew, too.

There is much hope that Justin Herbert (81.6) can reproduce the numbers of his first three seasons under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. Herbert passed for well over 4,000 yards with two 30-plus TD seasons from 2020 to 2022 and is still very capable of reaching those heights again.

In two of the last three seasons, Dak Prescott (83) has passed for 4,500-plus yards and 30-plus TDs. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are the best WR pairing in the NFC, and Prescott is a solid fantasy QB1 pick.

Jaxson Dart (94.7) showed a lot of promise as a rookie, and the Giants seem to believe they can build around him. Draft's rushing abilities give him extra fantasy appeal as he progresses in the pros. Matthew Stafford (99.6) is another example of how you can wait until round 9 or 10 for a viable starter.

Baker Mayfield was frequently banged up last season, and at an ADP of 125.6, he could be one of the best value plays at the position. Expect a bounce-back campaign**. Caleb Williams** has a top-7 QB ADP of 73.4, as many fantasy analysts believe he can deliver a true breakthrough season. Williams showed flashes of dynamic ability last year, and his backers cite the influence of Bears head coach Ben Johnson as a major factor in his potential improvement.

Many of the QBs in this particular tier will likely go off the board in the second and third rounds of superflex drafts in 2026.

Fantasy Football QB Rankings: Interesting Options Outside of the Top 12

Right now, Patrick Mahomes' ADP is at 101.6, as he aims to return from ACL and LCL tears in his left knee. He was cleared for training camp and is targeting a return for the beginning of the regular season. Even if Mahomes runs a bit less, he can still be a very effective passer.

Brock Purdy (97.4) should provide a QB1 statistical floor if the changes in his receiving group prove to be a minimal hurdle. Jared Goff (114.3) is a fine QB2 pick as a good streaming option. Daniel Jones (161.7) was looking like a new man in Indianapolis when he was healthy last season, and he is a tempting value play at his current ADP.

Tyler Shough (128.9) performed at a back-end fantasy QB1 level in the second half of his rookie season, and the Saints have provided more offensive support around him for year two**. Bo Nix** (105.1) gets a good upgrade at WR1 with the arrival of Jaylen Waddle, and he is a decent QB2 option for some steady fantasy play.

Kyler Murray (119.9) gets a new start in Minnesota, and the rushing upside still makes him a worthwhile pick as a streamer or fantasy QB2 with some value potential at his ADP.

The ADPs of the QBs in this tier illustrate that back-end QB1/higher-end QB2 types should be targeted from the eighth to 10th round. The QBs in this group can also function as quality starters at a second superflex position, for those who don't take their second QB in the earlier rounds.

Fantasy Football QB Rankings: Second starters to consider

Malik Willis (142.4) will get his first opportunity to open a season as an unrivaled QB1. Miami's new QB will pace an offense that highlights speed. Willis' rushing promise is significant, and he showed true signs of deserving a chance to be an NFL starter in his final season with Green Bay.  The Dolphins' receiving corps can help his outlook if a surprise guy or two steps forward.

Super Bowl champion Sam Darnold (170.1) proved to be a good option as a second QB in some superflex leagues last year. He has finished as a top 13 fantasy QB in each of the past two seasons, and with Rashid Shaheed ticketed for a bigger role this year and Tory Horton returning, Darnold is a recommended fantasy QB2 option for 2026.

Jordan Love (128.3) can be adequate as a QB2 streamer. C.J. Stroud (163) might fare better this season with a more reliable running game and better play from the offensive line. Jacoby Brissett (197.2) should open the season as Arizona's starter. Keep a watch on rookie Carson Beck eventually getting a chance to start, though.

These QBs from spots 20 through 25 should be considered as respectable later-round QB2 picks in one QB starter leagues, and as later options as QB2 starters in superflex formats. Willis and Darnold represent the end of the true QB2 run, as anyone ranked behind Darnold should be streamed in superflex leagues. Brissett can be a good superflex starter while he is at the top of Arizona's depth chart.

Scott Engel's extended QB rankings will soon be available *at RotoBaller.com*, where he is a Senior Fantasy Writer. Scott was a member of the inaugural class of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's (FSWA) Hall of Fame.  He has been a contributing writer at Seahawks.com since 2012, and Scott is also a host on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio. His fantasy content has been featured on The Athletic, ESPN.com and CBS SportsLine.

Check out photos of the Seahawks roster for the 2026 season.

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