April 4, 2026
The Cleveland Browns have publicly praised quarterback
Deshaun Watson (Achilles) this offseason, but The Athletic's Zac Jackson said he feels "stronger than ever" that
Shedeur Sanders, not Watson, is the "favorite to win the starting job." Sanders wasn't Cleveland's first choice in 2025 and might not be their first choice for the future, either, but giving him every chance to win the job and to make real progress is "clearly the best option right now." The 24-year-old fifth-rounder is signed for three more seasons, and Jackson thinks that the best path to escaping the Watson mess is to let Sanders take the job and provide "at least league-average QB play." There will be a true competition between Sanders and Watson in training camp this summer after Sanders was highly inconsistent in his rookie season in 2025, throwing for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in eight games (seven starts). The former Colorado star has been working on getting stronger this offseason and is the Browns' "best option" at the position. Fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues looking for help at QB might want to consider buying low on Sanders.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Zac Jackson
April 4, 2026
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says that the money that the Las Vegas Raiders gave veteran quarterback
Kirk Cousins indicates that he "could or maybe should end up being the starting QB" to begin the 2026 regular season. Somehow, Cousins will be guaranteed $20 million in 2026, with almost half of the money being paid by the Atlanta Falcons, who released the 37-year-old at the start of the new league year. Even though the Raiders are expected to take Indiana QB
Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick at the end of April, Cousins is expected to be the team's Week 1 starter as they let Mendoza sit and learn early on in his first year in the NFL. The four-time Pro Bowler played in 24 games (22 starts) in his two years in Atlanta and completed 65% of his passes for 5,229 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions. At best, he'll be a low-end QB2 option for those in superflex fantasy leagues in 2026, and his run as Vegas' starter could be short-lived, depending on his performance and Mendoza's development.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
April 4, 2026
The Philadelphia Eagles and quarterback
Jalen Hurts are both cognizant of the fact that he's entering the final guaranteed year of his contract, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Hurts still has three years left on the extension he signed back in 2023, but only one more year is guaranteed. As McLane notes, it's common for teams and players in this situation to restructure the deal to add more years and guaranteed money, in exchange for lower annual value. However, the Eagles and Hurts have no plans to change his deal, and they'll let him enter 2026 on his current contract. That puts added pressure on him for 2026, since he has no guaranteed money beyond this season. With that being said, the Eagles would still take on a significant cap penalty if they were to take action (trade or release Hurts) next offseason. All the chatter about Hurts' future stems from his rushing production taking a step back in 2025. He was still productive, but his rushing yards and touchdowns dropped to the lowest mark since his rookie campaign in 2021. He was the QB8 in fantasy football, which tied for his worst finish since 2022. A little bit of pressure -- plus a new offensive system under
Sean Mannion -- could allow Hurts to bounce back as a top-five fantasy quarterback next year.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jeff McLane
April 3, 2026
Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Sam Darnold has been a top-13 fantasy option in each of the last two seasons. In 2025, the Super Bowl champion racked up 4,048 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Darnold has not missed a game in back-to-back seasons (2024 with the Vikings and 2025 with the Seahawks). In fantasy football, he has benefited from the presence of
Justin Jefferson or
Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the last two years, respectively. Under contract through 2027, Darnold will now have at least two more years of Smith-Njigba at his disposal, keeping him in the low-end QB1 or high-end QB2 range. Most dynasty managers will find themselves in a position to hold Darnold this offseason. Selling high is an option, but the lack of name value or rushing upside will probably result in trade offers that don't quite live up to his value. Therefore, he's worth holding, since he still offers low-end QB1 appeal even if other managers won't offer QB1 value in trades.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 3, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback
Justin Fields can be a temporary solution for the team and fantasy managers as
Patrick Mahomes (knee) recovers from his ACL tear. Fields was solid through nine games with the New York Jets last season, amassing 11 total touchdowns, one interception, and three lost fumbles. As the Jets moved on to
Geno Smith as their quarterback, it was clear that they had no place for Fields. Thus, he was dealt to Kansas City, where he might start Week 1 if Mahomes isn't cleared to play. Fields' rushing upside should be put to good use in a Chiefs offense led by Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy. Bieniemy was the offensive coordinator behind Mahomes' 358 rushing yards in 2022 and
Sam Howell's 263 rushing yards in 2023. Over those two seasons, Mahomes and Howell combined for nine rushing touchdowns. Fields isn't a full-season option in fantasy football, but he has QB1 upside for the first few weeks if Mahomes isn't ready. He's worth a late-round pick for managers who wait until the later rounds to select their primary quarterback.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 2, 2026
Following a breakout rookie campaign in 2024, Washington Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels entered his second season surrounded by the oldest roster in the NFL. Perhaps unsurprisingly, injuries largely derailed Washington's 2025 season. With the Commanders now slated to pick seventh in the upcoming NFL Draft, they are in a prime position to add an offensive weapon to a unit in dire need of difference makers outside of Daniels and the 30-year-old
Terry McLaurin. The team has been linked to Notre Dame running back
Jeremiyah Love as well as some of the top receivers in the class, and should they add a skill position player with their first pick, Daniels will undoubtedly see his dynasty value spike.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
April 2, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback
Joe Burrow has missed time in all but one of his professional seasons and started at least 11 games only three times in his six-year career. When active and healthy, the 29-year-old former first overall pick is unquestionably one of the best quarterbacks in the league, leading the NFL in touchdown passes in 2024 after finishing second in 2022. In a fantasy landscape geared ever more toward rushing quarterbacks, he is one of the few pocket passers in the league who can reliably threaten a QB1 finish on the strength of passing yards and touchdowns. With the Bengals offense largely intact, healthy, and with nary a contract dispute on the horizon, Burrow's continuity with Ja'Marr Chase,
Tee Higgins, and
Chase Brown could have him in line for the first such finish of his career.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
April 2, 2026
New Orleans Saints quarterback
Tyler Shough emerged as an incredibly strong fantasy option during the second half of his Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign in 2025. Across nine starts, he racked up 2,256 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns, five interceptions, 174 rushing yards, and three rushing touchdowns. He was particularly dominant following the Saints' bye. From Week 12-18, he had 10 total touchdowns and ranked as the overall QB5 in fantasy football. In addition to his own talent, Shough benefited from the presence of
Chris Olave and
Juwan Johnson, who will both remain with the team in 2026. Going forward, he also gets another weapon in the form of running back
Travis Etienne Jr., who will create opportunities for the offense on the ground and through the air. Given that Shough was the QB9 as a starter and the QB5 during the aforementioned seven-game stretch, there's a very real chance that he can be a top-12 fantasy quarterback during the 2026 season. There's still a window to buy low on him in dynasty leagues, too.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 2, 2026
New York Giants quarterback
Jaxson Dart had an impressive rookie season, racking up fantasy points on the ground and through the air. Despite making just 11 starts, he still finished as the overall QB14 with 2,272 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, five interceptions, 487 rushing yards, and nine rushing touchdowns. The 2025 first-round pick dealt with adversity during his first season in the league, as
Malik Nabers (knee) went down early in the year with a torn ACL,
Cam Skattebo (ankle) suffered a season-ending ankle dislocation, and the Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll midseason. The good news for Dart is that Nabers and Skattebo should both be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season, giving him weapons to boost his own fantasy stock. He also got a coaching upgrade as the Giants brought in John Harbaugh as head coach and quarterback whisperer Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator. There's a bit of injury concern with Dart because of how willing he is to put his body on the line when he runs with the football. However, if he can stay healthy for a full 17 games, he has a very strong chance of finishing among the top-five fantasy quarterbacks.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 2, 2026
The Las Vegas Raiders have signed quarterback
Kirk Cousins to a contract that is essentially a one-year deal with $20 million guaranteed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The contract is technically for five years and $172 million, but the latter four years will be voided, such that Cousins gets $8.7 million from the Falcons this year, $1.3 million from the Raiders this year, and a $10 million roster bonus from the Raiders on the third day of the 2027 league year. The move is certainly an interesting one for the Raiders, who have the No. 1 pick and are projected to draft quarterback
Fernando Mendoza. Head coach Klint Kubiak recently said that in an ideal world, every rookie quarterback would sit on the bench for a few weeks, learning from a veteran. The signing of Cousins indicates that perhaps the Raiders will let Cousins start Week 1 while mentoring Mendoza, before the rookie eventually takes over as the starter midseason. That makes both quarterbacks difficult to trust in redraft leagues. The good news is that both Cousins and Mendoza should be able to support strong fantasy campaigns from
Ashton Jeanty and
Brock Bowers.
--Andersen PickardSource: Adam Schefter
April 1, 2026
The Tennessee Titans have signed free agent quarterback
Hendon Hooker, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Hooker spent the final portion of his collegiate career at the University of Tennessee, so signing with the Titans represents a homecoming of sorts for him. The North Carolina native was initially selected by the Lions in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent two years in Detroit before splitting the 2025 season with the Jets and Panthers. He has appeared in just three NFL games across three seasons, all in 2024. He ultimately completed six of his nine pass attempts for 62 yards, zero touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He also added two rushing yards and a sack. Outside of the draft capital, not a whole lot has gone Hooker's way in the NFL. He has struggled to emerge as a viable backup who is worthy of playing time. Instead, he has spent most of his career as a No. 3 quarterback. Indeed, he projects as the Titans' third- or fourth-string quarterback behind
Cameron Ward,
Mitch Trubisky, and possibly
Will Levis.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jordan Schultz
April 1, 2026
San Francisco 49ers quarterback
Brock Purdy got a new weapon at his disposal this offseason after the team signed veteran wide receiver
Mike Evans. While Evans saw his 12-year streak of 1,000-yard seasons come to an end in 2025, he's still a superstar pass-catcher and a clear upgrade over last year's de facto No. 1 receiver,
Jauan Jennings. Purdy will now get to throw to a stacked group of players, including Evans,
Ricky Pearsall,
George Kittle (Achilles), and even
Christian McCaffrey. The former seventh-round quarterback ultimately appeared in nine games last year, ranking as the QB24 with 2,167 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Extrapolated over a full 17-game season, he would have set a new career-high in touchdowns (38), but also interceptions (19). The 26-year-old will look to clean up the turnovers while remaining an effective passer, especially around the goal line. He has top-10 fantasy upside for 2026 and is still a decent offseason target in dynasty leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 1, 2026
The number 10 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, Minnesota Vikings quarterback
J.J. McCarthy has struggled to get his professional career on track to this point. After missing his entire rookie season due to a torn meniscus, McCarthy was handed the starting role in Minnesota heading into 2025. Across 10 games, the 23-year-old completed just 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. McCarthy also missed time due to ankle, hand, and head injuries. The Vikings made a big addition to their quarterback room over the offseason, signing former Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Kyler Murray. While Murray is also coming off a down year, he's established a far higher level of NFL production than McCarthy heading into 2026. While Minnesota plans to hold an open competition during training camp, McCarthy will have to show major improvement over the summer to hold onto the starting role. In dynasty formats, McCarthy's fantasy value has never been lower than it is right now.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 1, 2026
Drake Maye
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye emerged as a superstar in 2025, leading his team to a Super Bowl appearance and finishing second in the MVP vote. Across 17 games, the 23-year-old completed 72% of his pass attempts for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while also rushing for 450 yards and four scores. Maye's dual-threat ability gives him high-end fantasy upside, and his age makes him a clear dynasty asset. There are some questions around Maye's supporting cast in New England, as the team's starting wide receiver trio of
Romeo Doubs,
Kayshon Boutte, and
Mack Hollins projects as a below-average group. Maye also averaged an unsustainably excellent 8.9 yards per pass attempt in 2025, so a moderate regression in passing efficiency without an uptick in passing volume could lower his numbers across the board. Still, Maye has all the makings of a franchise signal-caller and profiles as an elite dynasty quarterback heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 31, 2026
ESPN's Adam Schefter said on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday that "it does sound like
Aaron Rodgers back in Pittsburgh is happening." "That would be my guess right now," Schefter added. Rodgers technically is still a free agent, but the fact that he's been speaking with new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy frequently is a hint that the future Hall of Fame signal-caller is leaning toward re-signing with the team for a 22nd season in the NFL. The 42-year-old has become notorious for taking his time in the offseason to decide on his playing future, but owner and president Art Rooney II recently said the organization is hoping that Rodgers will make his decision by the NFL draft at the end of April. If Rodgers returns for a second season in Pittsburgh, he'll have a new weapon in receiver
Michael Pittman Jr., but for fantasy purposes, he'd still be a low-end QB2 with limited upside in what will very likely be his final year in the league. The four-time MVP finished as the QB19 in fantasy in 2025 with 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 16 regular-season games. A reunion with McCarthy won't suddenly make Rodgers a QB1 in fantasy again.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
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