Fantasy Football Values to Draft: Quarterbacks (2026)

Let’s talk fantasy football sleepers. Sleeper means different things to different people, but at their core, sleepers are players who could significantly outperform their average draft position (ADP).

Below are 10 fantasy football sleepers to target at their current expert consensus ranking (ECR) on FantasyPros. Let’s dive into some of our favorite fantasy football values and sleepers to draft.

Fantasy Football Sleepers & Values: Quarterbacks

Quarterbacks

Patrick Mahomes (QB – KC) | ECR: QB13

It’s really, really weird writing Patrick Mahomes’ name in a “sleepers” piece. Yet, his inclusion is fairly self-explanatory. Mahomes finished as the QB13 in fantasy points per game in 2023 and 2024. Before that, he never finished lower than QB6. If Mahomes starts Week 1, or at least avoids the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to start the season, QB13 is his floor.

Tyler Shough (QB – NO) | ECR: QB22

Tyler Shough had 10 rushing attempts inside the 10-yard line last season in nine starts. That was more than Bo Nix, Caleb Williams, Justin Herbert, Cam Ward and Dak Prescott. In many fantasy scoring formats, a rushing baseline for quarterbacks is gold.

Travis Etienne Jr. joined the Saints this offseason, which should help the offense as a whole. But, arguably of more importance, there’s an improved offensive line with David Edwards coming to town. Shough was hurried 28 times in nine starts in 2025. That was more than Aaron Rodgers, Jaxson Dart and Daniel Jones.

Lastly, in his rookie season, Shough had a higher on-target throw percentage than Matthew Stafford, Trevor Lawrence and Baker Mayfield. With Chris Olave and now Etienne, Shough has the rushing baseline and foundational weapons to outperform his QB21 ranking.

Cam Ward (QB – CAR) | ECR: QB24

I am ecstatic to see what a Brian Daboll and Cam Ward partnership looks like. Jaxson Dart was a viable fantasy starter when he was active last season under Daboll. Daniel Jones, when he wasn’t fumbling twice a game, was productive for fantasy purposes under Daboll as well.

I’m not letting a middling rookie year distract from the 2025 pre-draft excitement surrounding Ward, who will only be 24 next season. At QB24, Ward is basically undrafted in most standard formats.