Just some housekeeping before we dive into the QB fantasy football rankings for 2026.
What matters when it comes to fantasy QBs? Here’s what I try to consider the most.
- 20 PPG ceiling (have they achieved an actual advantage in points per game scoring).
- Rushing matters. Looking to hit at least 30 rushing yards per game as an elite threshold.
Justin Fields, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Daniel Jones, Josh Allen, Marcus Mariota, and Kyler Murray – only Murray failed to crack the top 10 in fantasy points per dropback in 2024. Five finished inside the top-5 fantasy scoring QBs on a per-dropback basis.
Among the eight QBs in 2023 that hit 30-plus rushing yards – Jackson, Fields, Hurts, Jones, Richardson, Joshua Dobbs, Allen, Murray – again, Murray failed to crack the top 10 in fantasy points per dropback along with Jones/Dobbs. Five finished inside the top-6 fantasy scoring QBs on a per-dropback basis.
Even in 2024, the mobile QBs reigned supreme.
Among the seven QBs in 2024 that hit 30-plus rushing yards – Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels, Jalen Hurts, Josh Allen, Kyler Murray, Anthony Richardson, and Drake Maye – yet again, Murray failed to crack the top 10 in fantasy points per dropback, along with Maye. But five finished inside the top-6 fantasy scoring QBs on a per-dropback basis.
In 2025, nine QBs rushed for at least 30 yards/game. Patrick Mahomes, Daniels, Murray (yet again), Herbert, and Tyler Huntley were those who ranked outside the top-10 in fantasy points per dropback.
Malik Willis led all QBs in fantasy points per dropback (1.13). Small sample size of 47 dropbacks. However, it was also very high (0.76) in 2024 (top-3).
| QBs (Weeks 1-17) | Rush yards/game |
| Justin Fields (NYJ) | 42.6 |
| Jayden Daniels (WAS) | 39.7 |
| Jaxson Dart (NYG) | 34.8 |
| Kyler Murray (ARI) | 34.6 |
| Josh Allen (BUF) | 34.1 |
| Justin Herbert (LAC) | 31.1 |
| Malik Willis (GB) | 30.8 |
| Tyler Huntley (BAL) | 30.2 |
| Patrick Mahomes II (KC) | 30.1 |
| Lamar Jackson (BAL) | 26.8 |
| Drake Maye (NE) | 26.5 |
| Jalen Hurts (PHI) | 26.3 |
| Marcus Mariota (WAS) | 24.8 |
| Tyrod Taylor (NYJ) | 23.8 |
| Caleb Williams (CHI) | 22.5 |
| Baker Mayfield (TB) | 22.5 |
| Trey Lance (LAC) | 21.3 |
| Shedeur Sanders (CLE) | 21.1 |
| Trevor Lawrence (JAC) | 21.1 |
| Bo Nix (DEN) | 20.9 |
Conversely, the biggest mistake that fantasy gamers continue to make is over-evaluating non-elite rushing QBs. If you aggressively draft a fantasy QB (draft them highly), there should be a case for their upside regarding rushing.
Among the top-10 quarterbacks last season in total points scored in 2022, eight rushed for at least 250 yards. In 2023, six of the top eight rushed for at least 240 yards. In 2024, 10 of the 13 highest-scoring fantasy quarterbacks rushed for at least 300 yards while attempting 500+ passes.
In 2025, 10 of the top-14 scoring QBs rushed for at least 350 yards. 3 of the ones who didn’t attempt at least 575 pass attempts (all drafted outside the top-10 QBs in ADP).
Call it the 50-30 rule. Can quarterback “X” throw 500+ times and/or rush for 300 yards? Those are your top targets.
QBs who hit both 300 rushing yards and 500 passes in 2025 included: Trevor Lawrence, Justin Herbert, Caleb Williams, Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes. Maye was eight passes short of 500 (492).
Brock Purdy, Shedeur Sanders, and Tyler Shough would also come close to qualifying if they played more games.
Hitting that 300 yards rushing total (17.6 yards per game) is a sweet spot for QBs. Adds just enough to their bottom line.
And don’t chase last year’s passing TD efficiency unless we have a large sample size of a player’s career TD rate. If last year was an outlier, it probably isn’t sustainable, and you are buying the quarterback at a peak price.
| Player | Team | TD% |
| Malik Willis | GNB | 8.6 |
| Matthew Stafford | LAR | 7.7 (career-high) |
| Lamar Jackson | BAL | 7 |
| Brock Purdy | SFO | 7 |
| Joe Burrow | CIN | 6.6 |
| Drake Maye | NWE | 6.3 |
| Jared Goff | DET | 5.9 |
| Jalen Hurts | PHI | 5.5 (career-high) |
| Josh Allen | BUF | 5.4 |
| Sam Darnold | SEA | 5.2 |
| Trevor Lawrence | JAX | 5.2 (career-high) |
| Jordan Love | GNB | 5.2 |
| Tua Tagovailoa | MIA | 5.2 |
| Justin Herbert | LAC | 5.1 |
| Joe Flacco | CIN | 5.1 |
| Dak Prescott | DAL | 5 |
| Daniel Jones | IND | 4.9 |
| Caleb Williams | CHI | 4.8 |
| Baker Mayfield | TAM | 4.8 |
| Aaron Rodgers | PIT | 4.8 |
| Bryce Young | CAR | 4.8 (career-high) |
| Jake Browning | CIN | 4.8 |
| Jacoby Brissett | ARI | 4.7 |
| League Average | 4.7 |
That brings me to the last point. Price sensitivity. Paying up to draft the QBs right after the elite tier does not work. Stay out of the middle. These middle-range QBs are more likely to finish closer to the guys behind them than in front of them.
The QB8 to QB13 range bombed for a second straight season in 2023. In 2024, the QB5-QB14 range was filled with landmines (7 out of 10 QBs were busts).
In 2025, we had three elite QB busts (Jayden Daniels/Lamar Jackson/Joe Burrow) with injuries taking a toll. More of the middle-round QBs also weren’t great picks – Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray – even if they weren’t all total busts.
Bo Nix and Jared Goff finished where they were drafted, but hardly provided the massive ROI that several QBs going outside the top-12 did. Herbert, Williams, Maye, Dart, Lawrence and Stafford. Late-round QB DOMINATED in 2025. Again, injuries played a part – but it’s a reminder that when you swing for the fences on an elite signal caller, it needs to hit (Josh Allen).
And that these late-round dual-threat QBs are just the best picks you can make in fantasy football (see anything I wrote about Drake Maye heading into 2025).
With that “quick recap,” let’s highlight a few polarizing QBs for 2026.
- Fantasy Football Research & Advice
- Dynasty Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Dynasty Rookie Draft Simulator
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
2026 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks
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