Mike ClayMar 31, 2026, 09:17 AM ETCloseMike Clay is a senior writer for fantasy football and the NFL at ESPN. Mike is a member of the FSWA Hall of Fame. His projections power the ESPN Fantasy Football game, and he also appears on “Fantasy Football Now” and the Fantasy Focus Football podcast.Follow on XMultiple Authors
In advance of the NFL draft, Mike Clay is revealing his 2026 fantasy football rankings at each key offensive position, with profiles for each player. These rankings do not include rookies because we are unsure of their landing spot.
If you are seeking a breakdown of this year’s top NFL draft prospects, Mike has profiled the top 80 skill position players in his fantasy football rookie rankings.
Allen enters his age-30 fantasy campaign having finished each of the past six seasons no worse than second among quarterbacks in fantasy points. Despite seeing less passing volume the past two seasons (14th or lower in pass attempts both years), the 2024 NFL MVP has finished in the top 10 in passing TDs six seasons in a row and remains a major threat with his legs (top five in carries and rushing TDs among quarterbacks all eight seasons of his career). Allen’s 21.4 fantasy points per game in 2025 was actually his lowest since 2019, but it was still enough to lead the position. With Joe Brady returning as playcaller and the Bills adding a No. 1 receiver in DJ Moore, Allen remains an elite fantasy quarterback.
Jackson, 29, is eyeing a rebound after a disappointing, injury-plagued 2025 campaign. Jackson started the season strong (26-plus fantasy points in each of his first three games) but left Week 4 because of an injury and wasn’t the same once he returned in Week 9 (13.5 fantasy points pre game in his final nine outings). Jackson’s overall rushing was down, but that was likely a product of him not being fully healthy, especially considering his scramble rate (8.4%) remained high. Jackson has a new coach (Jesse Minter) and playcaller (Declan Doyle), but his supporting cast is otherwise similar to a 2024 campaign in which he paced all quarterbacks in fantasy points. Assuming he’s back to full health, Jackson is a strong bet for a rebound and should be valued as a high-end QB1.
Daniels is looking to bounce back after appearing in only seven games due to injury last season. The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year began his career with a bang, tossing 25 touchdowns and adding 891 yards and six scores with his legs in his first season. He wasn’t quite as dominant when healthy last season (16.3 points per game, compared to 20.9 in 2024), but he remained a major factor with his legs (58-278-2 in seven games, three of which were partial appearances). Daniels’ supporting cast is underwhelming and he’ll be working with a new playcaller (David Blough), but his dual-threat ability supplies the 25-year-old with elite upside. He’s a strong QB1 target.
Maye is entering his third NFL season and second full season as New England’s starter. The 2024 No. 3 draft pick is fresh off a breakout 2025 campaign in which he finished in the top five among quarterbacks in pass completions, yards and TDs, as well as rush attempts and yards. Maye, who led the league in completion percentage (72%) and yards per attempt (8.9), trailed only Josh Allen in fantasy points (351.9), fantasy points per game (20.7) and top-10 fantasy weeks (10). The NFL MVP runner-up will need to overcome a tougher schedule and a supporting cast that remains rather uninspiring, but the 24-year-old’s combination of passing talent and rushing ability have him well positioned for another top-five fantasy campaign.
Hurts enters his seventh NFL season and sixth as the starter in Philadelphia. The 28-year-old tossed a career-high 25 touchdowns last season, but his rushing production was way down (105-421-8 after delivering at least 139 carries, 605 yards and 10 TDs in each of the prior four seasons). Hurts’ fantasy production dipped, as his 18.7 points per game was his lowest as a starter and ranked eighth at the position after three straight top-five campaigns. Hurts’ supporting cast remains strong, and new playcaller Sean Mannion very well could add some juice back to the offense. Hurts’ fantasy stock is down a bit from years past, but his dual-threat ability locks him in as a midrange QB1.
Burrow will try to bounce back after injuries limited him to eight games in 2025. The 29-year-old has missed at least six games in three of his six pro seasons, including two of his past three. Burrow was still a starting-caliber fantasy quarterback when active last season (top-12 scorer in five of his final six games), but his ceiling was limited by a near complete lack of rushing (41 yards on 14 carries). Burrow was a top-five scoring quarterback in each of his past two full seasons, and coach Zac Taylor cut back a bit on his extreme pass-heavy playcalling last season, so Burrow is best valued as more of a midrange QB1 than an elite option.
Purdy enters his fifth NFL season looking to rebound after injuries caused him to appear in only nine games. The good news is Purdy played well, scoring 17-plus fantasy points in seven of the nine games, including 26-plus points in three straight games during Weeks 15-17. A highly effective passer and solid contributor as a rusher, Purdy has quietly finished in the top 10 in fantasy points per game in each of the past three seasons. With a good supporting cast led by Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle (once healthy) and free agent addition Mike Evans, Purdy is an underrated mid-to-back-end QB1 in 2026.
Lawrence is entering his sixth NFL season after a breakout 2025 in which he ranked no lower than seventh among quarterbacks in pass attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns, as well as top 10 in carries, yards and TDs. He reeled off seven consecutive top-10 fantasy outings to finish the season. Lawrence’s efficiency has been fine, at best, but he continues to generate big volume, having finished in the top 10 among QBs in pass and rush attempts in each of his four full seasons. With a strong, deep group of pass catchers and Liam Coen back as playcaller, the 26-year-old is well positioned for mid-to-back-end QB1 production.
Nix enters his third NFL season after finishing exactly seventh among quarterbacks in fantasy points during each of his first two campaigns. Nix’s passing efficiency has a ways to go (career 6.5 yards per attempt), but his dual-threat ability has kept him in the weekly QB1 mix. Nix has finished both seasons no lower than 11th in pass attempts, completions, passing TDs, carries, rushing yards and rushing TDs. Last season, he provided a solid floor (11 games with 15-plus fantasy points), but his ceiling was low (four top-10 weeks). In 2026, he’ll have a new playcaller in Davis Webb and an upgraded group of pass catchers with Jaylen Waddle added to the mix. The 26-year-old is a fine back-end QB1.
Williams enters his third NFL season after a solid rookie campaign in 2024 followed by a big leap forward in 2025. Williams finished last season no lower than 11th among QBs in pass attempts, completions, pass yards, passing TDs, carries, rush yards, rush TDs and fantasy points per game. While Williams’ completion percentage was one of the worst in the league (58%), his dual-threat ability and turnover avoidance (seven INTs both seasons) has led to solid fantasy output. The 2024 No. 1 draft pick has a good supporting cast in playcaller Ben Johnson and a trio of young pass catchers in Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland. Williams is a fringe QB1 with upside for another leap.
Prescott is entering his 11th NFL season following a successful 2025 campaign in which he led the NFL in completions and ranked no lower than fourth in dropbacks, pass attempts, passing yards and passing TDs. Prescott appeared in all 17 games and has now finished no worse than 11th in fantasy points during all seven seasons in which he has played at least 16 games. Last season, his nine top-10 fantasy weeks were tied for third most at the position. Prescott is no longer much of a threat with his legs, but he should continue to put up big passing numbers with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens at his disposal. The 33-year-old is a fringe QB1.
The reigning NFL MVP, Stafford returns for his 18th NFL season and his fifth with the Rams. The 38-year-old is fresh off an elite season in which he led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns, which allowed him nine top-10 fantasy weeks (tied for third most at the position). Stafford’s third-place finish in fantasy points per game was his first top-10 finish since 2019, and some regression is likely due to a complete lack of rushing (65 or fewer rushing yards in five straight seasons and one rushing touchdown since 2017). Stafford still has receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams and a strong offensive line at his disposal, so another big passing season is possible. That’s just enough to keep him in the fringe QB1 mix.
Jones re-signed with the Colts during the offseason and will return as the team’s starter. The 2019 No. 6 draft pick made a big leap in 2025 — his first season with Indianapolis — finishing no lower than seventh in completion percentage and yards per attempt. Despite the strong play, Jones was inconsistent as a fantasy option, averaging 18.8 fantasy points during 12 full games and posting three top-five weeks but no additional finishes better than ninth. Jones was effective through the air and scored five rushing TDs, but he didn’t run the ball as much as in years past and might do even less of that in 2026 after tearing an Achilles in Week 14. He’s likely to be ready for Week 1, but effectiveness is a concern, so he’s best viewed as a midrange QB2.
Herbert enters his seventh NFL season following a solid 2025 campaign in which he ranked just inside the top 10 quarterbacks in pass attempts, yards and touchdowns. Herbert added serious value with his legs, ranking fifth at the position in carries and second in rushing yards (career highs in both). He finished 10th among quarterbacks in fantasy points, but that’s a bit misleading, as his inconsistent production led to five top-five weeks but no other finishes better than 13th. Herbert has finished between 11th and 15th in fantasy points per game in each of the past four seasons, though it’s fair to expect a leap forward in 2026 with star tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater healthy and a new playcaller in Mike McDaniel. Herbert is safest as a QB2, but there’s upside for more.