Daniels, Jayden - WAS

After a sublime 2024 rookie season in which he threw for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns, ran for 891 yards and six touchdowns, and was named Offensive Rookie of the Year, Daniels played only seven games in 2025 due to elbow, knee and ankle injuries. When he was healthy, Daniels was a far less efficient passer than he had been in 2024, averaging only 6.7 yards per pass attempt and completing 60.6% of his throws in 2025 (down from 7.4 YPA and a 69.0% completion rate as a rookie). Daniels still ran aggressively, averaging 8.3 rushing attempts per game after averaging 8.7 as a rookie. But his effectiveness as a runner waned, going from 6.0 to 4.8 yards per carry. Daniels' running ability and his potential as a passer still make him a top-five fantasy quarterback, but he's obviously a less appealing investment than he was a year ago, and the Commanders' lack of proven pass catchers behind WR Terry McLaurin is cause for concern.

ALLEN, JOSH - BUF

Josh Allen is once again the consensus QB1 in fantasy. He finished QB1 in fantasy scoring last season for the fourth time in the last six years. After down years from Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts, the gap between Allen and other fantasy QBs seems to have widened. And yet, there are at least a few small gray clouds dotting Allen's profile. In 2025, he hit a six-year low in passing yards per game (215.8), TD passes (25), and fantasy points per game (22.0). A lack of pass-catching weaponry has been a problem. Khalil Shakir led the Bills with 719 receiving yards in 2026, and Buffalo hasn't had even a 900-yard receiver since Stefon Diggs left after the 2023 season. The Bills traded for D.J. Moore in March in an attempt to give Allen additional help. But what really anchors Allen's fantasy value is his rushing. He ran for 579 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2025 - his third consecutive season with double-digit TD runs. Over the last five years, Allen has averaged 640 rushing yards and 10.8 TD runs.

Jackson, Lamar - BAL

Injuries and a steep decline in rushing production cratered Lamar Jackson's fantasy value in 2025. After finishing QB1 in fantasy scoring in 2024, Jackson plummeted to a QB20 fantasy finish last season and was QB16 in fantasy points per game at the position. Jackson lost three games to an early-season hamstring injury and one game to a late-season back injury. He also dealt with knee, ankle, and toe issues that may have contributed to the sharp drop-off in his rushing numbers. In his first six seasons as a full-time starter, Jackson averaged 10 rushing attempts and 63 rushing yards per game. In 2026, he averaged 5.2 rushing attempts and 26.8 rushing yards per game. Jackson has been an elite fantasy scorer at the position for so long that it's reasonable to think better health will propel him to another high-end QB1 season. It's worth noting, however, that Jackson will be working with a new offensive coordinator, 29-year-old Declan Doyle, a former assistant to Bears head coach Ben Johnson.

Hurts, Jalen - PHI

Jalen Hurts expected to sit out season finale

The Eagles are expected to rest QB Jalen Hurts in Week 18 against the Commanders

Philadelphia is expected to rest most of its starters in the season finale. Third-year QB Tanner McKee will get the start against a struggling Washington defense and could be a serviceable DFS option. Jalen Hurts will turn his focus to the postseason, while also looking ahead to 2026 as a high-end fantasy QB1.

Burrow, Joe - CIN

Every year, it seems as if good health is the only thing standing in between Joe Burrow and a high-end QB1 season. The 29-year-old Burrow is unquestionably one of the best pure passers in the game, if not the best. His career completion percentage of 68.5% currently stands as the best of all time. He's averaged 7.4 yards per pass attempt over his six NFL seasons, and he's had at least 34 TD passes in all three seasons in which he played at least 16 games. Two seasons ago, Burrow completed 70.6% of his throws and led the NFL in completions (460), passing yardage (4,918), and TD passes (43). Burrow played only eight games in 2025, missing nine starts with a turf toe injury that required surgery. Burrow missed seven games with a wrist injury in 2023. And as a rookie in 2020, Burrow missed the last six games of the season after tearing his ACL, MCL, and PCL. The injury history is worrisome, and Burrow adds little fantasy value as a runner. But Burrow's passing proficiency is indisputable, and he has one of the league's best WR tandems at his disposal with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.