Having a top-end quarterback is a huge advantage in any fantasy football league format. Much like elite tight ends, there are only a few quarterbacks who can truly be difference-makers.
Last year, we saw Caleb Williams (QB15), Drake Maye (QB16) and Trevor Lawrence (QB20) finish inside the top five at the position despite having an average draft position (ADP) outside of the top 14. Finding a late-round quarterback who can deliver top-five production is huge.
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Fantasy Football QB2s With Top-5 Potential
Below are four quarterbacks being drafted outside of the top 12 who could finish inside the top five in 2026.
Jaxson Dart (QB – NYG) | ADP: QB13
We start with the player who took the fantasy community by storm in Week 4. The emergence of the Smash Brothers — Cam Skattebo and Jaxson Dart — burned bright in their rookie seasons. Getting his first NFL start in Week 4, Dart averaged the eighth-most fantasy points per game at the position from that point on.
Even after losing Malik Nabers, Dart maintained his fantasy production thanks to incredible rushing efficiency. In his first seven starts, he scored seven rushing touchdowns. Across all 11 starts, he only had two games with fewer than five rushing attempts.
As a passer, Dart left a little to be desired, failing to crack 140 passing yards in three of his 11 starts. That said, the additions of Isaiah Likely, Darnell Mooney and Malachi Fields should help provide more stable passing production. That also excludes superstar Nabers, who should be available at the start of the season, though it is unclear how healthy he will be.
If Dart continues rushing the ball at the same rate as last season, his passing numbers only need to be average to crack into the top five for fantasy.
Bo Nix (QB – DEN) | ADP: QB15
There have been two signal-callers who have scored over 300 fantasy points in each of the last two seasons — Josh Allen and Bo Nix. Despite finishing as the QB7 in each of his first two seasons, Nix is currently going as the QB15 in drafts.
As someone who didn’t like Nix as a prospect and continues to wipe eggs from my face, I don’t understand why he isn’t being drafted higher.
Not only have we now seen two great fantasy seasons from him, but the team also traded for Jaylen Waddle this offseason. With a receiving room led by Courtland Sutton, Waddle and a plethora of young receivers such as Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant, Nix has all the weapons he needs to have another great season.
With Sean Payton at the helm, and arguably one of the most complete rosters in the league, there is no reason Nix can’t make these three straight 300-point seasons.
We also saw the team address their running back position, bringing back J.K. Dobbins and drafting all-around back Jonah Coleman. There is a world where this trio may eat into Nix’s rushing upside. However, we saw last year that Nix can get it done as a passer, nearly hitting 4,000 yards and passing for 25 touchdowns.
The road to a top-five finish for Nix may be more difficult than the other names on this list. However, he has the clearest path to being a top-10 quarterback, and with Sean Payton calling the shots, top-five isn’t out of the question.
Kyler Murray (QB – MIN) | ADP: QB17
The only quarterback on this list who has a top-five finish under his belt is Kyler Murray. In the four seasons he has played 14+ games, Murray has finished as a top-10 fantasy signal-caller. That alone should give fantasy managers confidence that his current fantasy football ADP is too low.
That said, Murray finds himself in a completely new situation. Signing with the Vikings, you can argue that this is the most stable and well-rounded team he has been a part of. Not only do they have one of the best receivers in the league in Justin Jefferson, but Kevin O’Connell was viewed as a quarterback whisperer until J.J. McCarthy came along.
McCarthy should not scare anyone off of Murray; everything in minicamp so far has clearly indicated that Murray has a stranglehold on the starting job. Based on what we saw last season, this isn’t a surprise. As a result, barring injury, Murray is locked into the role and should bounce back for fantasy.
The path to a top-five finish is clear. We have a history of Murray being successful with an elite receiver (DeAndre Hopkins). We also have seen Murray score double-digit rushing touchdowns in 2020 (11), where he also rushed for 800 yards.
In five of his seven seasons in the league, Murray has rushed for at least 400 yards. Last season, four of the top five quarterbacks had at least 350 rushing yards, with Matthew Stafford being the odd man out with one total rushing yard on 29 attempts over the season.
The situation couldn’t be better for Murray as he enters his eighth season. He may not be the best quarterback in the NFL, but he has all the resources to have a great fantasy season in 2026.
Of the four passers in this article, Murray is my favorite to record a top-five finish in 2026.
Malik Willis (QB – MIA) | ADP: QB21
What’s the path for Malik Willis to become a top-five fantasy quarterback? You guessed it, rushing. Willis is one of the few quarterbacks who can put up massive rushing numbers. It seems like a lifetime ago that we were excited for Willis to get his first start with Tennessee. That excitement quickly turned into disappointment as it was clear he was not ready to take on the NFL.
Thankfully, after a few years with the Packers and Matt LaFleur, we get another opportunity to see him in a starting role. It has only been five games, but Willis has clearly developed the skills he was missing in Tennessee. So much so that those five games landed him a three-year deal as the starter in Miami.
In four of his five games over the last two seasons, Willis has rushed for at least 40 yards and combined for three rushing touchdowns. He has flashed as a passer, with two 200+ yard games and zero interceptions across all his games as a Packer.
The main issue is that this Miami offense is full of intramural players and De’Von Achane. Seriously, outside of Achane, it is a who’s who of NFL “could haves” and “what ifs.” With the presumed top receiver being Malik Washington and tight end breakout candidate Greg Dulcich, it’s going to be tough for Willis to thrive as a passer.
Maybe Achane can help inflate Willis’ passing numbers with his electric playmaking; however, we’ll need an elite rushing season for Willis to finish in the top five. I struggle to see the path for Willis to be a consistent fantasy producer, but the boom games will be there. He may have multiple top-five weeks this season, but may also have multiple weeks outside of the top 20.
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