Fantasy Football QB Rankings 2026: Best PPR draft quarterbacks, top sleepers and breakouts originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The value placed on the quarterback position in fantasy football varies.

In sharper and more competitive leagues, you might see the position fall late in drafts. However, in your average home league, it's extremely common for someone to reach on a Josh Allen- or Lamar Jackson-type player.

The fluctuating value of fantasy football quarterbacks persists in 2026.

Superflex and two-quarterback league formats have increased the value of a position that was once overlooked in fantasy sports because of the many reliable quarterbacks. Even a quarterback ranked 20th often delivers a solid stat line most weeks. 

So when should you pull the trigger on the quarterback position in your fantasy football drafts? Here's how to navigate the 2026 fantasy QB draft rankings.

MORE: Top 300 overall cheat sheet for fantasy football drafts

Fantasy Football QB rankings: Best quarterbacks for 2026 drafts

I ranked every projected starter for all 32 NFL teams this season based on their fantasy football impact.

Kirk Cousins and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza remain in a competition for the Las Vegas Raiders' starting job, but Mendoza could eventually take over.

QB RankPlayerTeam1Josh AllenBUF2Lamar JacksonBAL3Jayden DanielsWAS4Drake MayeNE5Jalen HurtsPHI6Joe BurrowCIN7Jaxson DartNYG8Trevor LawrenceJAC9Caleb WilliamsCHI10Dak PrescottDAL11Bo NixDEN12Brock PurdySF13Matthew StaffordLAR14Justin HerbertLAC15Patrick MahomesKC16Kyler MurrayMIN17Tyler ShoughNO18Jared GoffDET19Daniel JonesIND20Baker MayfieldTB21Malik WillisMIA22Jordan LoveGB23Cam WardTEN24C.J. StroudHOU25Sam DarnoldSEA26Bryce YoungCAR27Fernando MendozaLV28Geno SmithNYJ29Aaron RodgersPIT30Jacoby BrissettARI31Deshaun WatsonCLE32Tua TagovailoaATL

MORE: 'Do Not Draft' list of worst value picks, players to avoid

When should I draft a quarterback in fantasy football?

This is the golden question plenty of fantasy football managers want answered ahead of the draft.

The unfortunate answer is it depends on where Josh Allen falls.

In 2026 drafts, the first quarterback off the board will be Allen, and as every year, that first QB to go off the board will start a chain reaction.

This year is unique as Allen stands alone in tier 1 for the position. Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels and Jalen Hurts are usually right around Allen, but after last season, the safety simply is not there like it is for Allen.

I can break my advice into two categories based on whether you want Allen or not.

When should I draft Josh Allen in fantasy football?

Allen falls into such a rare category because of his safe floor. Since 2019, Allen has had four QB1 finishes; the only two years where he didn't finish No. 1 were QB4 and QB2.

You know exactly what you're getting, which takes a lot of stress away from the fantasy managers. But when should you select Allen? I have him ranked No. 37 in my overall rankings.

However, I certainly don't blame you for wanting him over some players I have ranked higher, like Garrett Wilson or Tetairoa McMillan. The highest I could stomach taking Allen would be as the 30th overall pick.

To put it into context, my 29th-ranked player is George Pickens, and everyone above him is too valuable at much scarcer positions.

Who should I take instead of Josh Allen in fantasy football?

There is only one Josh Allen, so a majority of fantasy managers will fall under this category. Tier two for this position has plenty of good options. 

Here's my best advice: if you don't feel comfortable punting quarterback until the end of your draft, take the last player left between the following names:

  • Lamar Jackson
  • Jayden Daniels
  • Drake Maye
  • Jalen Hurts
  • Joe Burrow
  • Jaxson Dart
  • Trevor Lawrence
  • Caleb Williams

From QB2 Lamar Jackson to QB9 Caleb Williams, I could see any of these players finishing right under Allen at No. 2.

Late-round quarterbacks for 2026 draft

If you have decided that punting QBs until the end of your draft is how you want to construct your team, congratulations; this is correct.

In fantasy football, it can be a smart move to wait on drafting a quarterback because the gap between an elite QB and a good late-round QB is usually less significant than the gap between elite and late-round RBs or WRs.

With that being said, here are some of my favorite late-round options:

  • Matthew Stafford
  • Kyler Murray
  • Tyler Shough
  • Baker Mayfield
  • Malik Willis

If I had to plant a flag, it would be Kyler Murray. Murray has just as much upside as anyone on this list and is in a very quarterback-friendly scheme.

Kevin O'Connell has made worse quarterbacks than Murray into viable fantasy options. You could argue that Murray is the most talented and athletically gifted quarterback KOC has had. Not to mention Murray will play with the best weapon of his career in Justin Jefferson.

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