Quarterback battles are among the most consequential of training camp storylines for fantasy football, but for the teams with their starting quarterback job up for grabs in 2026, the story is more likely to be a comedy or a tragedy than a heroic tale of glory. We still need to tune in closely to be ready to adjust our rankings when (even better, before) a starter is named. Putting the quarterbacks in their right places based on the outcome of these competitions is just one aspect of calculating the fantasy fallout. We should also know which pass-catchers would benefit most from each outcome. Let's run down the fight card we'll watch play out over the next month!
Atlanta: Tua Tagovailoa vs Michael Penix Jr.
New head coach Kevin Stefanski has no loyalty to the previous regime's 2024 first-round pick Penix, and he is coming back from an ACL tear - at least it was his left instead of his right, which he tore twice in college. Tagovailoa is playing on a one-year, veteran minimum contract after the Dolphins decided to take the Band-Aid off and absorb a $99.2 million cap hit over two years when they released him. Former teammate Darren Waller thinks Tagovailoa has PTSD from hits/injuries, which can be overcome, but only in live regular season action. Stefanski turned around Baker Mayfield's career with the Browns before the duo ran out of steam, so we should be open to him getting the best out of Tagovailoa with the structure of his offense - that is, if Tagovailoa regains some confidence and stays healthy. Penix said he is ahead of where doctors thought he would be in recovery at the start of camp, but it could still be until late August before he is fully cleared. Tagovailoa has to be considered the favorite to win in light of this, but the team signed Cooper Rush and Jake Strand threw passes to the first team after a minor back issue kept Tagovailoa out of an early camp practice session.
Who will benefit if Tagovailoa wins: Bijan Robinson, Zachariah Branch
Tagovailoa will be good at getting the ball out early and on time to set up run-after-catch opportunities, and hopefully keep the offense on schedule and more productive by staying true to Stefanski's play designs in structure.
Who will benefit if Penix wins: Drake London
Penix is an aggressive downfield passer, and his connection with London gave us five 100+ yard games in the duo's last six games together.
Prediction: Tagovailoa starts Week 1 against Pittsburgh, but either via injury or benching, Penix starts early in the season and the majority of games. As ominous as it sounds, the quarterback moves at the open of camp could be foreshadowing for the Falcons starting a quarterback other than Tagovailoa or Penix at some point, and maybe a lot longer than anyone is contemplating right now.
Cleveland: Deshaun Watson vs Shedeur Sanders
Watson carries a $40 million cap hit, while Sanders was the second quarterback the team selected last year, falling to the fifth round. Watson hasn't exactly lit up camp so far, but is Deion's presence at practice really helping Shedeur's case? New head coach Todd Monken has spoken glowingly of Sanders, but Watson was anointed the favorite by a long-time beat writer earlier in the spring. If the decision is purely Monken's, Sanders has a chance, but who knows how this team will make this decision and who will have the final say.
Who will benefit if Watson wins: Harold Fannin Jr., KC Concepcion
If Watson is the starter, his popgun arm and defanged style of play post-injury will keep the passing game focused on quick-release plays to set up Fannin and Concepcion's run-after-catch prowess.
Who will benefit if Sanders wins: Denzel Boston, Harold Fannin Jr.
Sanders is a bolder downfield passer with more arm strength and arm talent than Watson. This especially plays into the strength of Boston, who wins at the catch point. Fannin is a winner either way, as he caught four of Sanders' seven touchdown passes last year, and led the team in targets in every Sanders start until the tight end went down in Week 17
Prediction: Sanders is the Week 1 starter because Watson's training camp and preseason performances make starting him indefensible. The Browns offense exceeds admittedly low expectations.
