4 Quarterbacks to Avoid (2026 Fantasy Football)

The quarterback position in fantasy football often sparks debate. Some fantasy managers prefer to draft an early one to lock in a 20+ fantasy points per game player. Others, myself included, prefer to wait and shoot for upside. If you miss on an early QB, you can sink your entire roster build. With that in mind, I wanted to review the entire board using Underdog ADP. From your top-tier options down to Superflex considerations, I am avoiding these four QBs at cost for 2026.

Early Fantasy Football Quarterbacks to Avoid

Jalen Hurts (QB – PHI) | Underdog ADP: 69.5

With Kevin Patullo out, Hurts now gets Sean Mannion, making him the 11th offensive coordinator he has had since his college playing days.

Jalen Hurts has never been among the league’s highest-volume passers. In fact, he has finished inside the top 15 in pass attempts only once in his career. Even when the volume has spiked, the yardage hasn’t always followed.

In 2022, he averaged a career high of 246.7 passing yards per game. With that said, his totals have dropped significantly in back-to-back seasons, throwing under 202 yards passing per game.

You are paying up for a QB in the early rounds, heavily relying on his rushing. If the rushing dips, you’re suddenly holding an expensive pick at a position where you only need one starter.

You can get Bo Nix much later. He is an underrated rusher and threw 25 touchdown passes, tying Jalen Hurts.

Caleb Williams is going in the same range as Hurts, yet he threw for 718 more yards than Hurts and finished just 38 rushing yards shy of him. I know Jared Goff doesn’t offer anything on the ground, but he has four straight top-10 fantasy finishes at the position.

With these QBs going in the same round or later, I’m not paying for the QB with lower passing volume like Jalen Hurts.

Jayden Daniels (QB – WAS) | Underdog ADP: 61.5

Yes, I am avoiding Jayden Daniels. Not for the lack of talent or playing ability, but his ADP is too rich for me in redraft formats. He’s currently ranked in the top five on many major platforms, including FantasyPros’ Expert Consensus Ranking.

He had a phenomenal rookie campaign, but the amount of pressure he faced is concerning. He took 47 sacks that first year, and, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Jayden Daniels was tied for the 11th-most pressures charged to the quarterback.

He had already taken 18 sacks in seven games last year before the Commanders shut him down for the final four games after he re-aggravated an elbow injury he suffered earlier in the season. That brought his total to 65 sacks in just 24 games.

Being ranked as a top-five QB, you’re paying for everything to go right again.

The amount of contact he takes per play increases injury risk. I can’t justify paying this much for someone who may not be available.

I’m not fading Jayden Daniels, the player.

I’m fading the price.

Brock Purdy (QB – SF) | Underdog ADP: 97.6

Brock Purdy has posted just one top-10 fantasy quarterback finish in his career (QB6 in 2023).

Brandon Aiyuk‘s future is all but over. Jauan Jennings is looking to cash in on free agency, and George Kittle is recovering from a torn Achilles. On top of that, you also have left tackle Trent Williams, in a contract standoff, entering the final year of his deal.

These aren’t just little issues; they are real red flags.

With questions surrounding some of Purdy’s top offensive weapons and no real rushing upside, I would wait and pivot later in the draft.

Guys who come to mind are Baker Mayfield, reuniting with his former quarterbacks coach from the LA Rams in 2022. Zac Robinson, the new offensive coordinator, helped revive Mayfield’s career with Sean McVay in LA.

I would bet on Mayfield’s familiarity and bounce-back potential over the uncertainty of the offense in SF.

Malik Willis (QB – FA) | Underdog ADP: 129.8

This fade is strictly for Superflex only.

Malik Willis should go undrafted in most single QB leagues. Interest will increase as free agency begins. Still, even if he lands on a deal that makes him a starter, I’m out on Willis as a QB2.

He played well for Jordan Love, but only in four games last season. That sample size is too small to take that plunge.

I’m avoiding Willis because he has never attempted more than 23 passes in a single game. Do you really want to gamble on someone who has flashed potential but hasn’t shown any real consistency?

The teams reported to have shown interest include Arizona, Miami, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and the New York Jets. These options don’t move the needle for his fantasy outlook.

I would rather take a shot on Tyler Shough, who improved weekly throughout the season last year. He scored no fewer than 17 fantasy points per game over the final six games.

Sam Darnold is another late option who is often passed over but has finished no worse than QB14 in fantasy scoring over the last three seasons.

In Superflex, I’ll take the proven player as my QB2 over free-agent buzz and hype.