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Fantasy Football QB Targets 2026: Quarterbacks to Draft
There are two generally accepted philosophies when it comes to drafting QBs in 1QB fantasy leagues. The first is you “need” a dual-threat QB as four of the top-five QBs last season had over 300 rushing yards as well as nine of the top 12. Those are so some hard numbers and if we dive back one more season, its four of the top five and nine of the top 12. The proof is in the pudding and running QBs put up stats. That can no longer be debated if it ever was. If you are going to go with a pure pocket passer, you better make sure they get at least 30 passing TDs and if you want to win your league, you might need closer to 40. The QB position remains the most polarized as the same names (Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Pat Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts) are among the first drafted, but last season only Allen finished in the top-five. Nobody had a top-five of Allen, Drake Maye, Matt Stafford, Trevor Lawrence and Caleb Williams before the season, although mine would have been close, not really. The problem is the risk associated with running QBs is real as Jackson and Mahomes went down with injuries and even Daniel Jones (who wasn’t running last season) went down with an Achilles tear. The real question is how much draft capital do we put into drafting a running QB.
The second general accepted philosophy is to wait on QB and that has never been more true with one massive exception. Josh Allen is a guarantee, a guarantee that you will finish with the best or at worst second-best QB in fantasy. I will put him aside for now because he is lives in his own tier.
If we just look at last season, Maye and Stafford were both drafted late and were league winners as they cost you nothing and gave you everything. That’s what we are after when looking at QB. That’s the blueprint. If you want a safe QB floor, aka a top-10 season then you can play it safe. Draft Jared Goff, Dak Prescott or Bo Nix. They offer a safe floor, but barring some sort of breakthrough, aren’t likely to finish with a top-three season anytime soon (Dak was QB3 in 2023). You can’t go wrong doing that as all three players are going outside the top-10 and should finish inside it. Nix has been the QB7 in b2b seasons and is going as the QB14. Goff has four straight top-10 finishes and is going as the QB16.
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I have been crazy about fantasy sports even before I knew what it was. Some people use stats as a tool and some use the eye test. I like to believe I have the perfect blend of both and that extra special spider sense that separates me from the herd. I have been nominated for one FSWA Football Article of the Year award and am just getting started. My only fear is that I will become too good at fantasy football and have to retire early like Michael Jordan. You won’t see me leave my house without at least one of my (four) dogs and if you are lucky enough, you will catch me cruising top-down with all four in tow.