Joe Burrow

Every year, it seems as if good health is the only thing standing in between Joe Burrow and a high-end QB1 season. The 29-year-old Burrow is unquestionably one of the best pure passers in the game, if not the best. His career completion percentage of 68.5% currently stands as the best of all time. He's averaged 7.4 yards per pass attempt over his six NFL seasons, and he's had at least 34 TD passes in all three seasons in which he played at least 16 games. Two seasons ago, Burrow completed 70.6% of his throws and led the NFL in completions (460), passing yardage (4,918), and TD passes (43). Burrow played only eight games in 2025, missing nine starts with a turf toe injury that required surgery. Burrow missed seven games with a wrist injury in 2023. And as a rookie in 2020, Burrow missed the last six games of the season after tearing his ACL, MCL, and PCL. The injury history is worrisome, and Burrow adds little fantasy value as a runner. But Burrow's passing proficiency is indisputable, and he has one of the league's best WR tandems at his disposal with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

Once Joe Burrow returned to the huddle last year, he was the same stud quarterback that we have come to love in fantasy as the QB5 in fantasy points per game. During that stretch (Weeks 13-18), Burrow was 11th in CPOE, third in passing yards per game, second in highly accurate throw rate, and fourth in hero throw rate (per Fantasy Points Data). With Burrow back under center, Cincy was fourth in neutral passing rate and seventh in neutral pace. I expect the Bengals to be a fast-paced, pass-happy offense again in 2026. Burrow is a rock-solid QB1 with top-3 upside with two stud wide receivers to lean on weekly.