4 Must-Have Quarterbacks (2026 Fantasy Football)

Every fantasy football season offers only a handful of reliable quarterbacks, including Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow. The deeper the league, the more managers must scout the position rather than rely on familiar names.

Some quarterbacks are underrated, some are overpriced and some carry hidden upside that goes unnoticed. This article focuses on four passers who have been questioned throughout the offseason and why they should be priority targets in 2026 drafts.

Must-Have Fantasy Football Quarterbacks

Jalen Hurts (QB – PHI)

Jalen Hurts enters 2026 under heavy scrutiny. With A.J. Brown now in New England, many question whether Hurts can maintain elite production. The Eagles drafted Makai Lemon to help replace Brown’s volume, yet the narrative still centers on regression. Last season, Hurts finished as the QB8 with 299.1 fantasy points, a strong output that contradicts the offseason doubt.

Hurts remains a dual-threat quarterback with weekly spike potential, and his rushing ability continues to drive his fantasy value. He scored eight rushing touchdowns last season and retains one of the highest rushing floors at the position. Philadelphia drafted Makai Lemon and Eli Stowers, two pass-catchers who bring needed explosiveness to the offense.

The Eagles hired Sean Mannion as offensive coordinator, whose background traces to Matt LaFleur’s system in Green Bay. That scheme should fit Hurts well and create cleaner passing windows while preserving his designed-run usage. He is being drafted in the early middle rounds, an ideal range for his profile. Expect Hurts to land around the QB6 spot by the end of the season.

Jared Goff (QB – DET)

Jared Goff slipped from his QB6 finish in 2024 (324.5 fantasy points) to a QB9 finish in 2025 (297.1 fantasy points). Detroit was hit hard by injuries across the offense, losing Frank Ragnow, Taylor Decker and Sam LaPorta for stretches of the season. Even with a depleted supporting cast, Goff still produced a top‑10 fantasy finish, which speaks to how stable his floor remains.

Goff enters 2026 flying under the radar. With the offense healthy, Goff retains his pass protection and the full group of weapons he carried into last season. A return to the 320‑point range is realistic. Detroit also made significant coaching changes, hiring Drew Petzing as offensive coordinator and Mike Kafka as pass‑game coordinator, while quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell is pushing for increased consistency from Goff.

The Lions signal-caller has an elite wide receiver group at his disposal, including Amon‑Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Isaac TeSlaa, who is poised for a sophomore leap. With stability restored and the scheme upgraded, Goff is one of the cleanest mid‑round quarterback values in 2026 drafts.

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Jaxson Dart (QB – NYG)

Jaxson Dart’s rookie season was defined by injuries across the offense. Malik Nabers tore his ACL and meniscus early and still has not returned. Cam Skattebo broke his ankle midseason. Dart dealt with multiple concussions that forced him to miss games. Even with the instability, he finished as the QB13 with 241.6 fantasy points, a strong baseline for a first‑year quarterback operating in a depleted system.

The Giants enter 2026 with a rebuilt structure. John Harbaugh takes over as head coach, and the front office added meaningful receiving help by drafting Malachi Fields and acquiring Calvin Austin, Darnell Mooney, JuJu Smith‑Schuster and Isaiah Likely. Skattebo returns healthy, giving Dart a reliable backfield partner. With Nabers’ return approaching, Dart will regain his top weapon and the offense will finally operate at full strength.

This setup positions Dart for a late‑season surge and a clear path to becoming a reliable fantasy starter. His draft value in the middle rounds is strong, and he will likely slip a bit further due to his injury history and Nabers’ delayed return. That discount creates a clean buying window for managers willing to bet on the Giants’ rebuilt offense.

Matthew Stafford (QB – LAR)

The reigning MVP returns to the Los Angeles Rams after signing a one‑year, $55 million fully guaranteed extension that can reach $60 million with incentives. Matthew Stafford is locked in for one more run at a Super Bowl before retirement becomes a real conversation. He finished as the QB3 last season with 350 fantasy points, coming within two points of overtaking Drake Maye for the QB2 spot.

Stafford enters 2026 with the same core weapons that fueled his MVP campaign. Davante Adams and Puka Nacua remain the focal points of the passing game, and the Rams quietly drafted two under‑the‑radar playmakers in CJ Daniels and Max Klare. The offense is built for continuity, timing, and high‑volume passing, all strengths of Stafford’s game.

The veteran quarterback has the ability and toughness to deliver another elite season. Stafford is being drafted in the middle rounds, giving managers a QB1 at the price of a QB2. Expect Stafford to finish in the QB5 range while leading the Rams on a final Super Bowl push before retirement.