The most important position in professional sports is the NFL quarterback, and it’s worth noting how performance, offensive changes, and team makeup can swing the pendulum one way or the other. Today, Kyle Lesti takes a closer look at the recently updated 2026 dynasty quarterback rankings over at PlayerProfiler.
How the 2026 Dynasty Quarterback Landscape Stacks Up
Top Tier – “The Elites”
Looking at Lifetime Values, two players sit perched well above even the other elite options at the position.
1. Drake Maye | 23.8 years old | New England Patriots
Drake Maye‘s Explosive Rating
Drake Maye has looked the part ever since stepping in Week 6 of his rookie season. He then finished 2025 averaging 21.2 points per game. Maye also ranked in the top five of just about every efficiency metric tracked at PlayerProfiler, and finished No. 2 in the second-closest MVP vote to date. This year, he gets a legit alpha in A.J. Brown. Go with confidence when drafting the former North Carolina Tarheel.
2. Josh Allen | 30 years old | Buffalo Bills
The pinnacle of consistency, Josh Allen has been living at the top for years now. In fact, he finished as the QB1, QB2, and QB1 in 2023, ’24, and ’25, respectively. Furthermore, his arm talent and intangibles will aid him in the coming years as his rushing volume and efficiency figures wane. You’ll find no quarrels here with anyone who prefers Allen as their 1.01.
Elite Sub-Tier
Slightly less proven, these young bucks are primed to ascend.
3. Jayden Daniels | 25.4 years old | Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels has the highest ceiling of anyone in any tier. He’ll be adapting to a new scheme in 2026, as he looks to bounce back after his sophomore season was cut short due to injury. Subsequently, it can be easy to forget just how impressive he was in his 2024 rookie season.
Jayden Daniels‘ 2024 Advanced Efficiency Metrics
I’m fully in the camp of “the best is yet to come” concerning the LSU alum.
4. Caleb Williams | 24.5 years old | Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams‘ Athletic Profile
Caleb Williams finished as the QB7 in points per game (FPPG) in 2025. He also boasted some impressive passing metrics. For example, he ranked second in Air Yards and Deep Ball Attempts. In 2026, the former Trojan is looking to take his Bears offense into the stratosphere in his second season with head coach Ben Johnson.
Sleepers
The term “sleeper” doesn’t mean what it used to. With the steady stream of data and with news at everyone’s fingertips, players aren’t outright “slept on.” However, here are a few guys who will outperform their rankings (and their ADP), whom you can draft or trade for at a discount.
16. Cam Ward | 24 years old | Tennessee Titans
The 16th-ranked quarterback at PlayerProfiler left a lot to be desired in his rookie season, especially if you were perusing the box scores. But Cameron Ward (startup ADP QB23) showed flashes throughout the season. He also had a signature performance, taking the future Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks to task in their Week 12 matchup before coming up short, 30-24.
Cam Ward connects with Chimere Dike for a touchdown! Big play in the game. 🏈 #SEAvsTEN #NFL
[Video: ]
[Image: pic.twitter.com/oEWsi1oIep]— MiloX Sports NFL (@MiloXSportsNFL) November 23, 2025
Last year, Titans pass-catchers dropped 25 passes, the fifth-most in the league. To help in that area, they brought over Wan’Dale Robinson from the New York Giants, likely at the behest of new Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll. They also selected OSU standout Carnell Tate with the fourth overall pick in April’s draft. Ward, a former first-overall pick, could flirt with QB1 numbers in his sophomore season.
25. Bryce Young | 24.9 years old | Carolina Panthers
Another former first overall selection, Bryce Young, finished as the QB 24 last year in FPPG, tossing a career-high 23 touchdowns. Not an impressive number, but it was a huge improvement from the 15 he threw in 2024. I’ll be looking for another year of improvement as he develops his rapport with Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker.
The Panthers drew a tough 2026 schedule after winning the NFC South last year with their 8-9 record (adj. third-toughest). But they also caught a break; they are set to travel the least amount of miles in the entire NFL. This year figures to be a “make ot break” season for the former Alabama signal-caller. I’m ultimately placing my bets on Young to be a steady QB2-type player.
Honorable Mentions: Malik Willis (MIA), Shedeur Sanders (CLE)
Busts
Here are some players I’m either not buying at cost, or am just out on altogether.
11. Jaxson Dart | 23.1 years old | New York Giants
No, I don’t hate Jaxson Dart. I’m just not drafting him or valuing him over Trevor Lawrence, Brock Purdy, maybe even Fernando Mendoza, and Ward. Sure, he made his share of great plays as a rookie. But nearly all of his production resulted from his rushing. Too often, he has “happy feet,” which leads to bailing on the play too soon.
Jaxson Dart’s Advanced Passing Metrics
I’ll be interested to see how he adjusts once defenses around the league play to what he’s shown so far. I’ll need to see more before buying him at this price, which means I’ll have very few Dart shares. His QB23-30 ADP in drafts is far more easily digestible.
35. Deshaun Watson | 30.7 years old | Cleveland Browns
A few clips of #Browns QB Deshaun Watson from Day 3 of veteran minicamp: pic.twitter.com/nesb4y2Jp1
— Ashly Holder (@AshNoelleTV) June 11, 2026
Ranked at QB34, you could be drafting Deshaun Watson to be your QB3. I’m here to tell you, don’t. The beleaguered 2017 first-round pick hasn’t been a relevant quarterback in a few years now. Watson has played just 19 games over the last three seasons. In his limited action last year, his True Passer Rating was just 72.0, good for a ranking of 37 in that stat. In fact, you would have to go back to the year 2020 to find any real production from Watson. And who the hell wants to go back to 2020?!
Since making the trainwreck of a decision to sign Watson to that huge deal, Cleveland has started actually building something. Draft Harold Fannin Jr. draft KC Concepcion. Draft Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson. Take a flyer on Denzel Boston and Shadeur Sanders. Leave Watson for someone else; I don’t care how late in the draft it is.
Honorable Mentions: Sam Darnold, Kyler Murray
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Many Successes,
Kyle
