When to Draft a Quarterback in Your Fantasy Football League

Aug 10, 2026

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

An interesting debate in fantasy football is when to select a quarterback. In the NFL, having an elite option under center can significantly increase a team’s chances of winning a championship. However, a fantasy league can be won without necessarily paying up for the position. Most fantasy leagues start multiple running backs and wide receivers, but just one quarterback.

One strategy is to select a top-tier quarterback early in drafts. Those players come with a high floor and eliminate the need to play matchups. They are considered “set it and forget it” when it comes to making weekly lineup decisions.

Another way of playing things is to load up on running backs and wide receivers early, then attack the quarterback position later in the draft. There are still some quality options available in the middle rounds, including many that don’t even fall into the streaming category. Let’s examine the tiers at the position and highlight players to consider as the draft moves along. There will be options for those who want to attack the position early, wait until the middle rounds, or stream the position on a weekly basis. We are working within the parameters of 12-team leagues with a traditional snake draft. Overall ADP is courtesy of the 4for4 Multi-Site ADP tool.

Tier 1 Quarterback Targets (Rounds 1-3)

Tier 1 is a tier of one this season. Josh Allen (3.03) is the only quarterback being selected within the first three rounds of most leagues. Allen’s ability to rack up stats with his arm and his legs is what makes him so unique. He is coming off three straight seasons with at least 25 passing touchdowns and 12 rushing scores. He has played either 16 or 17 games in each of the last seven seasons, and is still only 30 years old. If you want to have a leg up on the competition at quarterback, take Allen early.