If you've played Fantasy Football for a while you've probably heard about how deep quarterback is from year to year. But by comparison, this year's group is notably deeper than the past three seasons or so.
And every other position you'll pick is at least a little less deep, which is why we'll see the best draft-day values come at quarterback. Again.
Where does the depth come from? It's a crossroads of great veteran players still going strong and a new breed of young quarterbacks with awesome potential.
By my count there are sixteen quarterbacks I'd be okay starting in Week 1 in one-QB leagues this year and another five I'd love to have on my bench in hopes of a breakout season.
When a position is deep like this, you can either target the quarterbacks who you think will be the biggest stat differentiators, or wait for value and steal a QB in the middle-to-late rounds, or both.
That's going to be your goal: Get a great quarterback at a great value. And because so many quarterbacks have great potential to land north of 22 points per game in six-point formats, you can reasonably accomplish this goal.
Some positional notes:
- Fourteen quarterbacks averaged at least 20 Fantasy points per game (six-point pass TDs) in 2025 and four others were above 19.
- Patrick Mahomes has the longest active streak of consecutive seasons with 20-plus Fantasy points per game with eight. Josh Allen has had at least 24 points per game in six straight years, Jalen Hurts has at least 21.8 points per game in five straight years.
- Between eight and 10 of the top 12 quarterbacks in each of 2021-25 were on playoff teams. Want a good Fantasy QB? Make sure he's on a playoff contender.
- Between five and six of the top 12 quarterbacks in 2023-25 were also in the top 12 the previous year. So there is some turnover there -- just like there's turnover in who's in the playoffs every year.
Tier 1
Rounds 3-5
There will be people in your home leagues that take quarterbacks before Round 3. Let them. Don't panic. Don't reach. The demand for quarterbacks in one-QB leagues is naturally limited, and the supply for good quarterbacks is strong in 2026.
That said, all four of these quarterbacks have potential to finish as the best QB in Fantasy. It would not be a big mistake to target whoever is available last among these four, provided it's within close range to where I'd take them in drafts. Just don't get mad at yourself if you don't get any of them.
All four will be very early Round 1 picks in Superflex/two-QB leagues.
Tier 2
Rounds 6-7
I'd expect Hurts and Daniels to be the next quarterbacks off the board after those first four. Both have the built-in edge with their rushing, and both could improve their passing numbers with new playcallers. They represent good value since they have some outstanding upside and can be had rounds after the first four.
This will also be the tier for any quarterback that generates a lot of buzz in training camp. I could easily see any of the three quarterbacks in the next tier leaping up here.
Both of these quarterbacks will be top-15 picks (probably top-12 picks) in Superflex/two-QB leagues.
Tier 3
Rounds 8-9
Expect a surge in quarterback drafting starting in Round 8 in those home leagues. I'm not sure there's a consensus after the first six quarterbacks but these three stand out as having good upside without too much downside.
Between the three QBs there have been just two seasons below 19 Fantasy points per game in the past three years (Caleb Williams' 2024 rookie year, Dak Prescott's eight-game 2024 season). Yes, that means Herbert has averaged at least 19 Fantasy points for the entirety of his six-year career, and now he's mind-melding with savvy playcaller Mike McDaniel.
I'd also expect any quarterback in the remaining tiers to get fired up into this tier if the preseason reports suggest great things.
These quarterbacks will be top-24 picks in Superflex/two-QB leagues.
Tier 4
Rounds 9-10
The depth of the quarterback position shows itself in the fourth tier. A pretty simple case can be made for each of these five names to exceed their Draft Day value, and the downside for all five isn't that terrible save for injury-related issues.
Kinda makes me want to focus on this group rather than any of the previous tiers.
Just keep in mind that waiting on quarterback isn't a bad option, especially if you keep finding players at other positions you like in the first eight rounds.
Another option is to take two of these quarterbacks (or one of these quarterbacks and one of the quarterbacks in Tier 5). This especially makes sense in 14-team leagues, but not in smaller 10-or-fewer-team formats. The more quarterbacks available on the waiver wire, the less important it is to carry two. I'd lean against carrying two quarterbacks in a 12-team league unless the value on one or both QBs is impossible to pass up.
These quarterbacks will be top-50 picks in Superflex/two-QB leagues.
Tier 5
Rounds 11+
I can't stress enough how deep the quarterback position is. Everyone from Goff to Mayfield has top-12 potential. In fact, if you read just this list of names and see four or more QBs you'd be okay starting, then you should definitely wait on drafting the position.
The first seven names will be wiped out by pick 80 in Superflex/two-QB leagues.
