Fantasy Football Week 1 QB Rankings: Josh Allen Leads the Way
Several quarterbacks face tough matchups to open the season, while others have a chance to make an immediate fantasy impact.
Week 1 of the NFL regular season is closing in quickly, especially with a Wednesday game on tap, so let's jump into some fantasy football content!
We'll start by going over rankings at the quarterback position here! Check back for rankings for running backs, wide receivers and tight ends in stories to come!
Week 1 quarterback fantasy projections can be found on FantasySP! Injury news, trade value charts and a Who Should I Start tool is also available!
1. Josh Allen
Allen gets his season rolling against a tough Texans' defense in Week 1, but I'm going to trust the top fantasy QB and still rank him first.
Allen's dual-threat ability should still help him to a big fantasy day, and I believe he gets the job done for Buffalo in a stiff first test.
Jackson gets the No. 2 ranking going into a battle with the Colts.
His dual-threat ability is a big deal for fantasy, and after he was the second fantasy QB taken in most drafts, it makes sense to list him second overall for Week 1.
3. Joe Burrow
Burrow gets a test against the Buccaneers in Week 1.
The QB and the Bengals tend to start slow, but I think they buck that trend this week and get a big win right away. Burrow isn't a dual-threat guy, but I believe he'll go off as a passer to put up a big fantasy score.
4. Jalen Hurts
Hurts opens his season against the Commanders, and I like that matchup for the Philly QB.
He's down his top wideout from past seasons, but I think that will put more on Hurts' plate, and in this matchup, I think he delivers big for fantasy owners.
Herbert gets a solid matchup against the Cardinals in Week 1.
I wanted to rank him higher, but mostly just getting fantasy points as a passer, I think this slot is a bit more logical for Herbert.
Daniels will try to get his 2026 season rolling in a positive direction during a tough test against Philly.
His dual-threat ability helps him be ranked this high, and you just have to trust that he can do enough passing or running to deliver a good fantasy score.
Stafford will look to back up his MVP season in 2025 by starting fast against the Niners in East Melbourne. That game is on Thursday.
Stafford was a high-end fantasy QB last season, and was overlooked in fantasy drafts this year. Even in a tougher test, I see the veteran delivering big for fantasy owners who start him.
8. Drake Maye
Maye and the Patriots open the 2026 season in the same matchup that ended last season: a test with the Seahawks.
Maye usually will rank much higher, but in this stiff test, he's the No. 8 QB for me this week.
9. Dak Prescott
Prescott gets his season rolling on Sunday night against NFC East foe New York.
It's a solid matchup if you base it on last year, but after sweeping changes to New York this offseason, I'm a bit more skeptical of Prescott in this matchup. I still think he delivers a top-10 fantasy QB score by the end of the week.
10. Trevor Lawrence
Lawrence has a sneaky-tough matchup against the Browns in Week 1.
He ended his 2025 hot, so we'll see if he can start the 2026 campaign hot too. I see Jacksonville winning, so I think Lawrence will produce enough to finish in the top 10.
11. Caleb Williams
I'm not as high on Williams as others, and think he finishes outside the top 10 to start the year.
He gets a test against the Panthers in Week 1. That's a tougher matchup if you base things on last season, so this ranking might even be a little generous.
12. Jaxson Dart
Dart and the Giants have a favorable matchup against the Cowboys in Week 1.
There wasn't a better matchup for a fantasy QB last season, but Dart isn't an elite passer yet. He'll score plenty of fantasy points because of his dual-threat ability, but I don't have him in the top 10 to kick off the season.
13. Baker Mayfield
Mayfield gets to face the new-look Bengals' defense in Week 1.
Cincy was a favorable matchup last season, but the defense should be improved, so No. 13 was the highest I could go with Mayfield to start the season.
14. Jared Goff
Goff and the Lions will battle the Saints in Week 1.
New Orleans' defense was tough on fantasy QBs last season, but I still like Goff and the Lions' offense enough to try him inside the top-15 QBs.
15. Kyler Murray
Murray opens his Vikings' tenure taking on NFC North rival Green Bay.
The Packers were tough on fantasy quarterbacks last season, but are down Micah Parsons to start the season, so I think the dual-threat Murray could deliver a solid fantasy score. Until he shows it though, this is as high as I can comfortably put him.
16. Bo Nix
The Monday night showdown in Week 1 is between the Broncos and Chiefs, which should be a fun one.
Both quarterbacks in that game are coming off injuries at the end of last season, but are good to go for this year. The tough matchup against the Chiefs is why Nix ranks where he does.
17. Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes has an even tougher matchup against the Broncos, so he ranks 17th for Week 1.
I'm also a bit more skeptical with him coming off a much bigger injury, so he falls below Nix.
18. Brock Purdy
I usually like Purdy, but I'm taking him 18th going into a battle against the loaded Rams' defense.
LA was tougher on fantasy QBs last season, and should be much better in 2026, so we'll see if Purdy can at least be close to average this week.
19. Jordan Love
Love gets the 19th slot in a matchup against the Vikings in Week 1.
Minnesota was the toughest fantasy matchup for a quarterback a season ago, but the Packers are down a starting running back for the early part of the season (at least), so I think Love accumulates enough passing stats to have a slightly below-average fantasy finish.
20. C.J. Stroud
Stroud gets his season rolling against the Bills in Week 1.
That's a tough matchup based on last year, but in a game Houston needs to keep pace with Buffalo's high-flying offense, I am willing to try Stroud here.
21. Tyler Shough
I wanted to rank Shough higher, but just couldn't get myself too.
His matchup against the Lions is favorable based on last year's numbers, and with a banged-up secondary, he could really shine. Shough still needs to prove it though, so 21st is a fair spot in my eyes.
22. Sam Darnold
Darnold has a tougher test against the Patriots to kick off the regular season.
New England was a tough matchup last year and should be again in 2026. Darnold is likely to be an average-or-worse fantasy QB as a result.
23. Daniel Jones
Jones gets the new-look Ravens' defense in Week 1.
He's coming off a major injury too, so he ranks pretty low to start the year, but could move up in time.
24. Malik Willis
Willis will make his first start as a Dolphin against the Raiders in Week 1.
His dual-threat ability might become appealing in time, but I want to see how he looks on a lackluster offense before trying him over too many QBs.
25. Cam Ward
Ward gets a test against the Jets in Week 1.
New York was a favorable matchup a season ago, but with the young QB, I still need to see results before ranking him too much higher.
26. Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers gets his final season (most likely) underway with a battle against the Falcons.
Atlanta was a pretty average matchup for a fantasy QB last year, but Rodgers is well past his prime, so it's hard to try the true passer over too many QBs.
27. Bryce Young
Young opens his 2026 season against the Bears.
Chicago was an above-average matchup for QBs last season, but Young just hasn't delivered consistently enough in the past to trust more than this to start the season.
28. Kirk Cousins
Cousins will make his first start with the Raiders against the Dolphins.
Miami was another above-average matchup for QBs last year, but it's hard to trust Cousins and a lackluster Raiders' offense in Week 1.
29. Deshaun Watson
Watson has a test against the Jaguars in Week 1.
Jacksonville was a pretty average matchup a year ago, but making his first start in a while, I think Watson is bound for a below-average fantasy showing.
30. Jacoby Brissett
Brissett and the Cardinals face a stiff test against the Chargers in Week 1.
LA was the second-toughest fantasy test for QBs last season, so I don't see Brissett looking too good this week.
31. Geno Smith
Smith and the Jets battle the Titans to open the season.
Tennessee struggled to slow fantasy QBs last year, but I just don't trust Smith or the Jets' offense, at least to start the season.
32. Tua Tagovailoa
Tagovailoa is the Falcons' starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Steelers.
Pittsburgh struggled against fantasy QBs last year, and Atlanta has some nice offensive weapons, but Tua will need to prove himself to be a good fantasy asset before I trust him in 2026.
