Which quarterbacks are worth paying up for, and which ones are being drafted too early? My 2026 QB tiers reveal the players I'm targeting, fading, and watching closely on draft day.
Tier 1 - League-Winners
1. Josh Allen
2. Lamar Jackson
3. Jayden Daniels
These are the quarterbacks who can fundamentally change your fantasy team. Each possesses an elite combination of passing production, rushing ability and touchdown upside, giving them legitimate QB1 overall potential. You're not simply drafting a quarterback, you’re drafting a weekly advantage.
Tier 2 - Elite Upside, Real Questions
4. Drake Maye
5. Joe Burrow
6. Caleb Williams
7. Jalen Hurts
This group has the talent and offensive environment to finish among the very best quarterbacks in fantasy, but each comes with a little more uncertainty than the quarterbacks in Tier 1. Whether it's health, consistency, supporting cast or simply projecting another step forward, these quarterbacks have massive ceilings—but slightly more risk attached.
Tier 3 - High-Floor QB1s
8. Dak Prescott
9. Justin Herbert
10. Trevor Lawrence
11. Matthew Stafford
12. Brock Purdy
These quarterbacks may not have the same combination of ceiling and certainty as the top two tiers, but they provide an excellent path to weekly QB1 production. This is the tier where I would feel comfortable waiting on quarterback rather than forcing the position early.
Tier 4 - Boom-or-Bust Breakouts
13. Jaxson Dart
14. Bo Nix
15. Patrick Mahomes
16. Kyler Murray
This is the fun tier. Every quarterback here has a path to dramatically outperform his ADP, but each also has enough uncertainty to make them risky as your only quarterback. If you're looking for a late-round quarterback who could explode into the top five, this is where I want to shop.
Tier 5 - Reliable QB2s
17. Baker Mayfield
18. Jared Goff
19. Jordan Love
20. Tyler Shough
21. Daniel Jones
These quarterbacks aren't players I'm aggressively targeting as my QB1, but they can absolutely keep a fantasy team afloat. They're the quarterbacks I want available if I miss on my preferred targets or need a dependable second option. The upside varies, but the paths to usable fantasy production are clear.
Tier 6 - Streamer Territory
22. Sam Darnold
23. Malik Willis
24. Jacoby Brissett
25. CJ Stroud
This is the range where I'm no longer comfortable drafting these quarterbacks as my primary option. They may have stretches of fantasy relevance, but their combination of floor, opportunity and rushing upside doesn't give me enough confidence to invest heavily. These are quarterbacks I'd rather stream based on matchup or roster circumstances.
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