You might be one of those who opts out of putting much thought into fantasy quarterbacks, especially this year, which is particularly deep on paper. But that doesn’t mean the position is immune to the risks and rewards that specific picks present over others.
Here’s a quick overview of the top fantasy players to know at quarterback, including the sleepers, breakouts and busts to have on your radar heading into the 2026 season.
Average draft positions (ADP) cited courtesy of fantasypros.com and based on PPR scoring leagues. ECR ranking represents the average ranking of fantasypros.com experts.
Complete QB rankings: The latest list for your 2026 fantasy drafts.
Quarterback Sleepers
Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
Current ADP: QB21 | ECR ranking: QB20 | My ranking: QB17
Shough surprised many by his usefulness after taking over the starting job in Week 9, ranking as the QB12 in fantasy points per game the rest of the season. He showed a very solid and consistent floor, topping 17 fantasy points in each of his final six starts. With No. 8 overall pick Jordyn Tyson joining Chris Olave, Shough should have enough weapons to keep that momentum going.
Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings
Current ADP: QB17 | ECR ranking: QB17 | My ranking: QB14
It’s easy to forget just how productive Murray once was for fantasy managers. He averaged at least 20.3 fantasy points in each of his first four seasons and has never averaged fewer than 30 rushing yards per game, even while falling out of the top tiers in recent years. A move to Minnesota and a receiving corps featuring Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson give him a real shot at a resurgence.
Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins
Current ADP: QB20 | ECR ranking: QB21 | My ranking: QB18
If you’re hunting for upside late in drafts, Willis is an ideal target. While the sample size is small, he was the QB6 across his two starts last season despite ranking just 20th in passing yards over that stretch, a reminder of how valuable his legs can be. Willis offers legitimate top-12 upside without requiring anything close to a top-12 investment.
Also worth considering: Cam Ward (TEN); Bo Nix (DEN)
Quarterback Breakouts
Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
Current ADP: QB9 | ECR ranking: QB11 | My ranking: QB7
Depending on how you define breakout, it may have already started. Dart averaged 20.13 fantasy points across his 12 starts as a rookie, despite losing his top receiver, Malik Nabers, and RB1, Cam Skattebo, to injuries soon after taking over. He also rushed for 487 yards and nine touchdowns, giving him the kind of dual-threat upside fantasy managers covet. With Nabers and Skattebo back, plus Isaiah Likely and reinforcements along the offensive line, Dart has all the ingredients for a monster sophomore season.
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Current ADP: QB7 | ECR ranking: QB7 | My ranking: QB6
Williams made a sizable leap in his first season under Ben Johnson, increasing his fantasy scoring by 3.4 points per game while setting a Bears record with 3,942 passing yards. Another year in Johnson’s offense should only help. If Williams can build on the three rushing touchdowns he added last season, his fantasy ceiling starts getting awfully interesting.
Also worth targeting: Trevor Lawrence (JAC); Brock Purdy (SF)
Quarterback Busts
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Current ADP: QB2 | ECR ranking: QB2 | My ranking: QB2
Nobody is questioning Jackson’s place in the quarterback top tier, but his declining rushing volume should give fantasy managers some pause at his likely price. He averaged just 5.2 carries and 26.8 rushing yards per game last season, roughly half his previous career norms as a starter. After falling from the QB1 in 2024 to QB20 last season amid multiple injuries, Jackson suddenly comes with more risk than we’re accustomed to.
Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Current ADP: QB3 | ECR ranking: QB3 | My ranking: QB3
Maye was fantastic last season, finishing as fantasy’s QB2, but he also benefited from about as friendly a schedule as possible. New England avoided every top-10 scoring defense while playing eight games against bottom-nine squads. This year brings the fifth-hardest schedule for passing, and the Patriots should remain a run-oriented offense. Drafting Maye at last year’s production level could be asking for trouble.
Also be wary of: Jayden Daniels (WAS); Patrick Mahomes (KC)
Agreed on Willis. At the price he's going, he's certainly worth the upside. Meanwhile, now that Murray has been officially named the starter, I'm really liking him as a Top 10 option. I think he plausibly carries some of the upside he had earlier in this career, now throwing the ball to Jefferson and friends, as well as playing on artificial turf for much of the year.
The injury risk is certainly there, but he has a ton of upside in this offense. He could be the next QB to springboard off of a fresh start.