We are just a few days away from the opening action of the 2026 NFL season, and fantasy football draft season is already in full swing. Every edge you can find against your respective league-mates makes a difference, and quarterback is a key position to maximize your scoring.
While a few key outliers deserve mention in the opening few rounds of the quarterback rankings, there is a steeper drop-off at running back and wide receiver. There is slight variance based on league scoring and format, but in general, I believe you’ll be better off waiting on a quarterback to prioritize other positions.
With this in mind, here are three top names to have your eye on that should be in line to comfortably outperform their ADP at the QB position and give you a leg up in producing more team success given the value of drafting them.
Top Mid-Round Fantasy Football Sleepers in 2026:
Dak Prescott – QB – Dallas Cowboys
It feels rare for the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys to be underrated, but that feels like the case from a fantasy football perspective for Dak Prescott. Dual-threat quarterbacks have dominated the top rankings, and for good reason. But there is still a place for the top pocket passers to produce at a high rate, and Prescott is a clear example of this. The four-time Pro Bowler threw for 4,552 passing yards last season, along with 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Prescott finished with 343.8 fantasy points based on DraftKings scoring, or 20.2 per game. He ranked fifth in total fantasy points and seventh in fantasy points per game among quarterbacks.
Despite this, Prescott is currently being selected with an average draft position of 81.5, with some variance based on league format and scoring. DraftKings Network rankings currently list the Cowboys’ standout as the 89th overall selection or QB10. This includes trailing players like Caleb Williams, Justin Herbert, Trevor Lawrence, Jalen Hurts, and Jayden Daniels, who each hold bigger question marks about their outlook.
Last year was the first look at Prescott under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s system. Only the Chicago Bears tallied more plays per game than the Cowboys, and this keeps the floor of production high for Prescott. He has a promising collection of pass catchers, headlined by CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and tight end Jake Ferguson. Dallas also had a historically bad defense last season, but even following a change at defensive coordinator and some notable personnel, expectations should be tempered this year. The identity of the Cowboys will remain as scoring points at a high rate, with Prescott at the heart of this. He is a high-volume passer and, prior to last season, the last time he finished a season completely healthy, he ranked as QB3 back in 2024. Expect Dallas to continue leaning on him at a high rate, and for a path to being a top-five fantasy football quarterback to be there once again.
Baker Mayfield – QB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Plenty of eyes will be on Baker Mayfield this season, as he enters the year without a contract extension in place and some harsh feelings surrounding this dialogue. The former first overall pick wears his heart on his sleeve regardless, and expect this to especially be the case as he sets his offseason market. Tampa Bay missed the playoffs last year after finishing in a three-way tie with an 8-9 record. Mayfield threw for 3,693 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He finished as QB12 in total points and 18th in fantasy points per game on DraftKings scoring at 17.2 on average. This was a massive step back from the 4,500 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, and 23.6 fantasy points per game that Mayfield averaged in 2024. The Buccaneers star finished fourth in fantasy points per game among quarterbacks this season.
Entering this year, Mayfield is currently being drafted around the 135th overall selection and as QB18. He does not crack the top 16 quarterbacks on the DraftKings Network rankings. Based on this draft range, Mayfield is being selected as a mid-tier backup quarterback from a fantasy football perspective. The loss of Mike Evans is notable, but wide receiver has been a point of depth for the franchise. Mayfield has proven capable of leading one of the top offenses in the league and expect these results to show in the fantasy football scoring department. The chip on Mayfield’s shoulder will be evident all season, and count on him to be as motivated as ever. If he hits his peak, he will play himself into the conversation for top fantasy football quarterbacks this year, and he is more than worth a gamble in the later rounds.
Kyler Murray – QB – Minnesota Vikings
Another late-round flyer with top-end fantasy football perspective is Kyler Murray. It has been a strange few seasons for Murray, as has it been for the Minnesota Vikings as they have searched for stability at the quarterback position. But the two will team up this season, and there has not been enough public acknowledgment of how high the ceiling is for Murray in this Minnesota system. The public perception of the former number one overall pick is at an all-time low following last year’s midseason benching. But the writing felt to be on the wall for his time in Arizona for quite some time, and there has been a trend of top quarterback prospects finding their footing in new locations of late. Don’t be shocked if Murray etches his name on this list after the season.
Kevin O’Connell has one of the most quarterback-friendly systems in football, and Minnesota offers a dynamic group of wide receivers. Justin Jefferson still has a firm case for the top pass-catcher in the sport, while Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Jauan Jennings shine in their respective roles. Minnesota’s lack of confidence in former 10th overall pick J.J. McCarthy should say a lot about the opportunity for Murray, and he will be playing to keep the job. McCarthy and Carson Wentz’s lack of production last year was problematic, and the Vikings addressed this by shaking things up. Prior to last year, Sam Darnold finished as QB12 in 2024 in the Vikings system, and Kirk Cousins ranked sixth in fantasy scoring the season prior.
Murray has taken a major step back since he popped onto the scene, with his 16.4 fantasy points per game on DraftKings scoring last year marking the worst of his career. He ranked 22nd among quarterbacks in fantasy points per game. But Murray has never tallied fewer than 18.7 fantasy points per game before this, averages 20.8 fantasy points per game across his career, and averaged as many as 25.4 fantasy points per game across a season. This occurred in 2020, when Murray ranked sixth among quarterbacks in fantasy points per game, or fourth among single-callers that played more than five games. He averaged 9.3 fantasy points per game based on his rushing production this season. Murray’s dual-threat ability adds a new layer to this Vikings’ offense, and expect Minnesota to put him in positions to succeed consistently. Have Murray circled as a late-round flyer who has a chance to settle in as a high-end starter as he settled into his new location with a quarterback friendly system and improved teammates.
