Week 1 Fantasy QB Rankings
NOTE: Points are based off half-PPR propjections
Shiner’s THoughts:
Josh Allen
We’ve finally made it to the 2026 season, as Week 1 kicks off one week from now. Who else would be at the top of the list for Week 1 Fantasy QBs besides Josh Allen? Until someone dethrones him as top fantasy QB, then #1 is where he stays. Even though he’s going up against a ferocious Houston Texans defense, Josh Allen usually finds a way to make it happen for the Bills. With the addition of D.J Moore as his new WR1, we’ll see if he can add some new spark to the offense, along with new head coach Joe Brady.
2. Lamar Jackson
With a new coaching staff, Lamar Jackson is looking to bounce back from a lackluster 2025 season. With injuries and the Ravens not being able to produce offense, Lamar Jackson helped derail many people’s fantasy seasons. With Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers & Mark Andrews back for another year, people are hoping Jackson can reproduce another great fantasy season. The Colts defense will be a tough test, but I believe that Lamar Jackson can put together a solid Week 1 showing.
3. Dak Prescott
America’s Team is back in action against their division rival, as the Dallas Cowboys look for Dak Prescott to get them the win against the New York Giants. The Cowboys offense is once again elite, as CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Javonte Williams look to give Dak Prescott the firepower he needs to crush the Giants. I think the Cowboys stomp the Giants and easily get a week 1 win, which sets up Dak Prescott to torch the Giants secondary and earn a top 5 Week 1 finish.
4. Joe burrow
Can Joe Burrow come out of the gates hot to start out the season? Many fantasy teams that drafted him are hoping so. Over the past couple years either injury or extremely weak offensive performances have derailed Burrow’s fantasy football power. Against a tough Tampa Bay secondary, it may be tough for Burrow to get anything going. But with Ja’Marr Chase & Tee Higgins, there’s always a shot for Burrow to go off. I won’t give up on Joe Cool, and a lot of other people haven’t as well.
5. Matthew Stafford
Normally I wouldn’t have Stafford up this high fantasy wise, but against the rival 49ers he has a great shot to be a top 5 fantasy QB for Week 1. It’s looking like Puka Nacua will be available for Week 1 and not end up on the Commissioner’s Exempt List. Devante Adams is back and looking to score more TDs. To top it off they have a two headed monster in Kyren Williams & Blake Corum. If the 49ers are really as injured as they are, then Stafford should feast and rack up the fantasy points when both teams meet on the field.
6. Jalen Hurts
With A.J Brown shipped off to New England in the offseason, can Jalen Hurts continue to be a dual threat fantasy QB? Devonta Smith has the makings to be an excellent WR1 for the Eagles, but will the offense show any improvement? Makai Lemon is a suitable WR2 for the Eagles, but besides that the WR room is going to have some question marks going into Week 1. Even with that Saquon Barkley is still an amazing RB, and with Hurts being a running threat and can get into the endzone, he’ll have no issue putting up points against the Washington Commanders.
7. Justin herbert
The Chargers offense last year was awful under Greg Roman, but with Mike McDaniel as the new offensive coordinator, life should be a bit easier for Justin Herbert. If McDaniel can light a fire under the Chargers offense, they should have a good day against a terrible Arizona Cardinals defense. I think Herbert and McConkey are going to torch the Cardinals secondary, and it’s going to be a very good fantasy week for the both of them.
8. Drake maye
Will Drake Maye be able to replicate his 2025 MVP runner-up season or will he do even better? He has a very tough start to the season as Maye has a Super Bowl rematch with the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle looks to stuff Maye once again and ruin opening night, but with A.J Brown on the Patriots the offense will look a bit better then when they last met. Maye is also hoping that the o-line performs way better than it did at the Super Bowl. If Drake Maye can pick apart this stingy Seattle secondary, then there aren’t many defenses that can stop him this season.
9. Caleb Williams
The 2024 #1 Overall Pick Caleb Williams is looking to continue the magical run he has last season. Williams losing a bit of offensive power with D.J Moore going over to the Bills, but the Bears are hoping Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III will be able to turn the Bears offense into an offensive juggernaut under Ben Johnson. The Panthers defense won’t be a walk in the park, but with Caleb Williams at the helm, the Bears will be able to put up some good offensive numbers against them. The 2024 QB class is churning out production left and right (except for 9), so who will be the #1 fantasy QB out of that class when the dust settles at the end of the season?
10. Jaxson Dart
Jaxson Dart would be higher on this list if it weren’t for the fact that he couldn’t stay healthy last year. Dart is a deadly duel-threat QB, but will the Giants offense be able to be better under new head coach John Harbaugh? It’s a divisional showdown between the Giants and the Cowboys, so sparks will definitely fly during this game. Giant’s fans have to hope that the Cowboys defense is still the same one from previous years. But even if their defense has gotten better, I believe that Dart will be able to perform well in Week 1.
