With the 2025 NFL season complete, attention turns quickly to the 2026 offseason—and few positions carry more uncertainty (or fantasy leverage) than quarterback. In the first installment of a positional offseason preview series, the focus lands on veteran free agents, potential reclamation projects, and volatile dynasty assets who could swing leagues depending on how the offseason unfolds.
This quarterback class is less about blue-chip certainty and more about timing, opportunity, and organizational patience.
Daniel Jones: Stability Over Exploration
Daniel Jones headlines the unrestricted free agent class, but all signs point toward continuity rather than movement. Despite a late-season injury that clouds his Week 1 availability, the expectation is that Jones returns to Indianapolis.
The logic is straightforward:
- He already knows the offense.
- The Colts were encouraged by his pre-injury performance.
- Learning a new system while rehabbing would severely limit his market appeal.
The bigger questions in Indianapolis revolve around Anthony Richardson Sr.'s future, potential contingency plans, and whether the team hedges early-season availability with another capable option.
Fantasy Outlook
Jones' injury creates a buying window. Prior to going down, he was producing at a QB1 level, and his age (28) plus draft pedigree keep him firmly in the top-15 to top-20 dynasty QB conversation. In startups, he profiles more as a QB2/3—less "safe" than Jared Goff, but offering more long-term upside.
Aaron Rodgers: One More Year in Pittsburgh?
Aaron Rodgers enters free agency as the oldest active quarterback in the league, but expectations remain that he returns to Pittsburgh in 2026.
Rodgers appears comfortable in the Steelers' organization, and the team values stability. While his fantasy ceiling is clearly capped—this is a low-volume, conservative passing offense—there's little incentive for Pittsburgh to pivot elsewhere without a clear successor ready.
Fantasy Outlook
Rodgers is largely off the dynasty radar outside of deep Superflex formats. He's no longer a difference-maker, but he remains a viable streamer if retained as the starter.
Malik Willis: The Ultimate Wild Card
No quarterback discussed carries more variance than Malik Willis.
Still just 26, Willis flashed both rushing upside and improved passing late in the season—particularly in pass-heavy game scripts. His mobility alone gives him fantasy-breaking potential if he ever secures a full-time starting role.
League buzz suggests two possible paths:
- A short-term "prove it" deal
- A multi-year contract in the $60–70M range with limited guarantees
Skepticism remains around his ability to run a high-volume passing offense, but the tools are undeniable. If a team commits to him as a starter—even temporarily—his dynasty value spikes immediately.
Fantasy Outlook
Willis is the type of asset dynasty managers try to acquire before clarity arrives. He's risky, but his upside dwarfs many safer veterans.
The "Mystery Box" QBs: Trey Lance & Zach Wilson
Once viewed as franchise cornerstones, both Trey Lance and Zach Wilson now project as long-term backups.
- Wilson failed to separate himself even in limited competition.
- Lance has yet to capitalize on repeated opportunities.
Absent an unexpected depth-chart collapse, neither is likely to open 2026 as a starter.
Veteran Bridges: Joe Flacco, Russell Wilson, Jimmy Garoppolo, Marcus Mariota
This tier includes aging quarterbacks unlikely to be Week 1 starters—but injuries and chaos always create opportunity.
Marcus Mariota stands out slightly due to his rushing ability and schematic fit as a backup, particularly in systems that wouldn't need to overhaul the offense if he were forced into action.
Dynasty Outlook
These players are largely irrelevant in standard dynasty formats, useful only in the deepest Superflex leagues or as short-term emergency plays.
