Drafting a quarterback is basically a game of chicken. You’re sitting there in the third round, looking at a reliable wide receiver, but then you see Josh Allen staring back at you from the draft board. Honestly, it’s stressful. Most people think they need to grab a big name early or they’ll be stuck with a "boring" pocket passer who gives them 12 points a week.
But here's the thing about quarterback rankings for fantasy football: the names at the top rarely tell the whole story of how you actually win your league.
We’ve all seen the lists. Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson. They’re the "Big Three" for a reason. They run. A lot. In fantasy, a rushing yard is worth 2.5 times more than a passing yard in standard scoring. A rushing touchdown is usually worth six points, while a passing one might only be four. It's a cheat code. But the gap between the elite and the "fine" is shrinking faster than you’d think.
The Konami Code is getting crowded
Remember when only two or three guys could actually run? Those days are gone. Now, we have Jayden Daniels coming off a massive rookie year where he looked like Lamar 2.0. We have Anthony Richardson—if he can actually stay on the field for more than three consecutive quarters—who has the highest ceiling of anyone not named Josh Allen.
Even guys like Bo Nix and Drake Maye showed in 2025 that they aren't afraid to tuck the ball and scramble.
When you look at quarterback rankings for fantasy football, you have to account for this "rushing floor." It’s the safety net. If Lamar Jackson has a terrible day throwing the ball and goes 150 yards with two interceptions, he still might finish as a top-10 QB because he ran for 65 yards and a score.
Why Josh Allen is still the king (for now)
Allen is a freak. There is no other way to put it. He’s the only player in NFL history to put up 25+ passing touchdowns and 10+ rushing touchdowns in a single season multiple times. He basically is the Buffalo Bills' goal-line offense.
- The Consistency: He hasn't finished below the QB3 overall since 2020. That is an absurd level of reliability in a sport where everyone gets hurt.
- The Volume: Buffalo moves through him. Even when they lost Stefon Diggs, Allen just found new ways to produce with Khalil Shakir and Dalton Kincaid.
- The Attitude: He plays like a linebacker who happens to have a bazooka for an arm.
But you’re paying a premium. Usually a second or early third-round pick. Is that worth it when you could have a superstar running back like Bijan Robinson instead? That’s the debate that ruins friendships every August.
The "Wait on QB" strategy is back with a vengeance
In 2025, we saw something weird. The middle-tier guys—the ones everyone called "safe but boring"—actually held their own. Joe Burrow came back healthy and reminded everyone that throwing for 4,500 yards and 35 touchdowns is still a viable way to score fantasy points.
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If you missed out on the elite runners, you weren't necessarily doomed.
Baker Mayfield was a top-10 fantasy QB for huge stretches of last season. Let that sink in. He was basically free in drafts. Jordan Love proved that his 2023 breakout wasn't a fluke.
If you can get 90% of the production of an elite QB at 20% of the cost, you’ve won the draft. This is the "Opportunity Cost" most managers ignore. While your buddy is drafting Jalen Hurts in the third, you’re grabbing a WR1. Then, in the eighth round, you snag C.J. Stroud or Brock Purdy.
The C.J. Stroud Enigma
Stroud is a better real-life quarterback than a fantasy one. It’s a hard truth. He’s surgical. He doesn't turn the ball over. But he doesn't run.
To be a Tier 1 fantasy QB without rushing, you have to be nearly perfect. You need 40 touchdowns. Can Stroud do it? Maybe. The Texans' offense is loaded. But you're betting on a "perfect" season just to match what a guy like Jayden Daniels does on a "good" season.
Middle-Tier Traps and Sleepers
Kyler Murray is the name no one talks about enough. He’s finally another year removed from the ACL surgery. He has Marvin Harrison Jr. to bail him out on bad throws. Honestly, Kyler is the prime candidate to jump back into the elite tier of quarterback rankings for fantasy football without the high price tag.
Then there’s the "Post-Hype" guys.
Trevor Lawrence. We’ve been waiting for the "generational" breakout for years. It’s kinda exhausting. But in 2025, he actually stabilized. He’s not going to win you a league alone, but as a QB2 in Superflex or a late-round streamer? You could do worse.
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The 2026 Rookie Factor
Keep an eye on the incoming class. We’re hearing names like Arch Manning (if he declares) or the big-time prospects out of the SEC. Historically, rookie QBs were a "no-go" for fantasy. Not anymore. The NFL has changed. Coaches are building schemes around what these kids did in college.
If a guy has legs, he’s a fantasy starter from Week 1. Look at what Jayden Daniels did.
How to actually use these rankings
Don't just look at a list from 1 to 32. That's useless. Use tiers.
Tier 1: The Titans
Allen, Hurts, Lamar. They are the only ones who can realistically score 40 points in a single game. They are expensive.
Tier 2: The High-End Passers & Emerging Runners
Burrow, Stroud, Daniels, Richardson, Mahomes. Yes, Patrick Mahomes is in Tier 2 now. The Chiefs' offense has become too efficient and "ball control" for him to be the fantasy monster he was in 2018. He's great, but he's not a lock for QB1 anymore.
Tier 3: The Value Vets
Love, Murray, Dak Prescott, Purdy. These guys are the backbone of winning teams that built depth at RB and WR first.
Tier 4: The Question Marks
Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Tua Tagovailoa. High upside, but you better have a backup plan.
The Truth about "Safe" Quarterbacks
There is no such thing as a safe pick. Aaron Rodgers at age 42? Not safe. Justin Herbert in a run-heavy Jim Harbaugh system? Not safe.
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The biggest mistake people make with quarterback rankings for fantasy football is drafting for "floor" when they should be drafting for "ceiling." In a 12-team league, finishing with the 8th-best QB doesn't help you much. You want the guy who can be #1.
That’s why you take the swing on the guy who runs. Even if he’s a rookie. Even if his arm is a work in progress.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Draft
First, check your scoring settings. If your league gives 6 points for a passing touchdown, the gap between pocket passers like Burrow and runners like Lamar shrinks significantly. If it’s only 4 points, you almost have to have a runner to compete.
Next, watch the draft flow. If five QBs go in the first three rounds, don't panic and reach. The value is now at Wide Receiver. Wait. Grab a guy like Jordan Love two rounds later.
Finally, don't be afraid to carry two QBs if you wait. If you draft a high-risk guy like Anthony Richardson, pair him with a high-floor veteran like Jared Goff. It balances the "spike" weeks with a steady stream of points.
Stop treating the QB position like a chore. It’s the highest-scoring position on your team. Treat it with a little more nuance than just picking the guy with the highest Madden rating.
Rankings are just a guide, but your gut and the rushing stats are what actually get you the trophy. Keep an eye on the injury reports during training camp, especially for the dual-threat guys, as their value is entirely tied to their mobility. If a guy like Kyler or Lamar is "nicked up," their fantasy ceiling drops through the floor.