QBs to Avoid in 2026 Fantasy Football Drafts: Pass on C.J. Stroud
Fantasy

QBs to Avoid in 2026 Fantasy Football Drafts: Pass on C.J. Stroud

Justin Carlucci offers up three quarterbacks worth passing on at their current fantasy football ADP in favor of better values or more upside.

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There seems to be a wealth of riches at quarterback this season. Everywhere you look, there’s another guy in a good spot. But you can’t draft everyone, so choosing which quarterbacks to avoid in 2026 fantasy football drafts is critical.

At some point you have to zoom out, take some stands, and decide who you’re not betting on. The position is deep enough this year that it’s not too scary to fade a few guys at the top of the board. Let’s talk about three quarterbacks I’m not crazy about drafting at their current prices.

QBs to Avoid in 2026 Fantasy Football Drafts

WAS_commanders-logo.svgJayden Daniels | QB | WAS 

Jayden Daniels sits at a consensus fantasy football ADP around the mid‑60s, and he’s going even earlier on some platforms. There’s no denying the ceiling. We watched him break out as a rookie in 2024, and the rushing upside is obvious. But you’re paying a pretty hefty price at a position where you have a lot of flexibility.

Early in his career, Daniels has already encountered injuries, and durability matters when you’re spending a premium pick on quarterback. In that same neighborhood, you can still grab someone like Jalen Hurts, who has big‑time rushing upside with arguably more weapons in a brand‑new scheme that should only help.

Then there’s the supporting cast. Washington basically chose not to bring in much help. Chig Okonkwo was a nice pickup, but outside of Terry McLaurin, there really aren’t true target earners. It feels like a bit of a disservice to Daniels not to invest in some more help offensively.

CIN_bengals-logo.svgJoe Burrow | QB | CIN

Joe Burrow is probably an even clearer case of cost vs. risk than Daniels.

I love the player. I love the weapons in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The Bengals defense still projects to be bad, which should put plenty of pressure on Burrow to push the ball downfield and keep them in shootouts. On paper, that’s exactly what we want in fantasy.

The problem is the cost. Burrow is going in a range where there are other high‑end options with less risk attached. If you’re comfortable shopping the middle rounds, you can grab Caleb Williams in his second year in Ben Johnson’s offense or Dak Prescott, who still has the Cowboys humming and throwing a ton. When I compare those profiles to Burrow’s recent injury history, I’m not sure I can honestly call Burrow a true league-winner at his current cost.

There’s one big exception: old‑school formats with six points per passing touchdown. In those leagues, I’m more willing to inherit the risk if the draft board breaks a certain way. Fantasy Life’s projections have Burrow pegged to lead the league in passing touchdowns by a considerable margin, and extra points per TD move the needle.

In standard four‑point passing TD leagues, though, the combination of price, injuries and strong alternatives in his range push me toward other names.

HOU_texans-logo.svgC.J. Stroud | QB | HOU 

C.J. Stroud is going much later in drafts, but he’s still coming off the board ahead of several quarterbacks I prefer by a considerable margin, including Cam Ward, Baker Mayfield and Tyler Shough.

I don’t see a compelling reason to invest until he proves it.

Among quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks last season, Stroud ranked 35th in catchable throw percentage and 38th in adjusted completion percentage, per Fantasy Points data. 

I’m also not thrilled with Houston’s rushing attack or offensive line. The defense continues to be excellent, which is great for the Texans in real life — but it doesn’t do Stroud many favors in fantasy if games tilt toward lower scoring or conservative scripts.

With more appealing late‑round options available, I’m content to pass on Stroud for now. If he takes a step forward, I’ll reevaluate next summer.

Players Mentioned in this Article

  1. Jayden Daniels
    JaydenDanielsQ
    QBWASWAS
    PPG
    16.2
    Proj
    311.5
  2. Joe Burrow
    JoeBurrow
    QBCINCIN
    PPG
    17.4
    Proj
    308.6
  3. C.J. Stroud
    C.J.Stroud
    QBHOUHOU
    PPG
    14.1
    Proj
    254.7
  4. Chig Okonkwo
    ChigOkonkwo
    TEWASWAS
    PPG
    5.7
    Proj
    115.2

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