Jamey Eisenberg's Fantasy Football Quarterback Tiers 2.0: A round-by-round plan for how to draft QBs in 2026
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- Josh Allen is the lone Tier 1 quarterback and worth drafting no earlier than Round 3, with his CBS Sports ADP at No. 19 overall; he has finished as the No. 1 or No. 2 Fantasy QB in five of the past six seasons and gains D.J. Moore this year.
- Lamar Jackson, Drake Maye, Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels form Tier 2 (Rounds 4–5): Jackson dipped to 19.8 PPG in 2025 after a Week 4 hamstring injury, Maye finished No. 3 at 24.3 PPG with new weapons A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, Burrow averaged 24.8 PPG in his final six games before a toe injury ended his 2025, and Daniels is healthy after a seven-game injury-shortened season with Stefon Diggs now added (though Laremy Tunsil is out with a triceps injury).
- Justin Herbert is highlighted as a favorite Tier 3 target, with new OC Mike McDaniel joining and tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt healthy — Herbert averaged 25.1 PPG in the six games Alt played last year.
- Matthew Stafford set a career-high 46 passing touchdowns and added 4,707 yards in 2025, but at age 38 regression is expected; he still has Puka Nacua and Davante Adams in Sean McVay's offense.
- Patrick Mahomes is expected back in Week 1 from a torn ACL/LCL, and the Chiefs have brought back Eric Bieniemy as OC — Mahomes averaged 28.4 PPG under Bieniemy from 2018–22.
- Jaxson Dart averaged 22.6 PPG across his 12 actual starts (not the 19.4 full-season figure), rushed for nine touchdowns, and gets Malik Nabers back from a torn ACL plus new weapons Isaiah Likely, Darnell Mooney and Malachi Fields.
- Eisenberg argues 21 quarterbacks could average at least 20 Fantasy PPG in leagues that award six points per passing TD, reinforcing the case to wait rather than reach for a QB early.
Why it matters: With 21 quarterbacks projected to clear 20 Fantasy PPG, drafters can safely bypass QB until the mid-rounds — but those who do reach get Josh Allen as a tier-of-one anchor. Late-round values like Herbert (with McDaniel and healthy tackles) and Mahomes (with Bieniemy back) become priority targets, while injury rebound candidates Burrow and Daniels offer Tier 2 ceilings at non-premium cost.
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