QB Start/Sit Week 1: Jackson, Burrow Lead Rankings (2026)

FantasyPros has released its Week 1 (2026) quarterback rankings, a consensus from four fantasy experts, to guide managers in their crucial Saturday-Sunday lineup decisions. The rankings feature familiar faces at the top, along with some intriguing placements for new blood in the league Source.

Top Tier Quarterbacks

Lamar Jackson (BAL) leads the pack, ranked as the No. 1 quarterback for Week 1. His matchup against the Indianapolis Colts is rated 3 out of 5 stars, earning him an A+ start/sit grade. Following closely is Joe Burrow (CIN), who takes the No. 2 spot with a favorable 4 out of 5-star home matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, earning an A grade.

Josh Allen (BUF) is positioned at No. 3, despite a challenging 1-star road matchup against the Houston Texans, still receiving an A start/sit grade. Justin Herbert (LAC) comes in at No. 4 with a 3-star home game versus the Arizona Cardinals, likewise earning an A- grade.

Rookie Impact in Week 1

Notably, rookie Jayden Daniels (WAS) has made a strong impression with experts, landing at No. 5 in the Week 1 rankings. He faces a 2-star road matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles and receives an A- start/sit grade. Another rookie, Drake Maye (NE), is ranked No. 7, set to face a 1-star road matchup against the Seattle Seahawks (B grade).

Further down, Caleb Williams (CHI) is ranked No. 10, with a 3-star road game against the Carolina Panthers, earning a B grade. These high rankings for first-year players suggest fantasy experts anticipate significant immediate production from these rookie signal-callers.

Mid-Tier and Risky Plays

Jalen Hurts (PHI) is ranked No. 6, benefiting from a 5-star home matchup against Washington, but with only a B+ grade. Jaxson Dart (NYG) and Dak Prescott (DAL) round out the top nine, both with 5-star and 3-star matchups respectively, both earning B grades.

Veteran quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes II (KC) and Matthew Stafford (LAR) find themselves in less favorable positions, ranked No. 17 and No. 16 respectively, both receiving C/C- grades. Mahomes faces a challenging 1-star home matchup against the Denver Broncos.

Several quarterbacks face especially tough matchups, leading to lower rankings and grades. C.J. Stroud (HOU) is ranked No. 24 with a 3-star matchup and an F grade, while Bryce Young (CAR) is at No. 22 with a 5-star matchup but a D- grade. These indicate experts do not expect strong performances from these players despite potential volume or lesser known matchups.

Quarterbacks to Potentially Avoid

Players like Sam Darnold (SEA), Kirk Cousins (LV), Geno Smith (NYJ), Jacoby Brissett (ARI), and Daniel Jones (IND) are all ranked in the bottom tier (No. 23 through No. 29), each receiving F grades. These quarterbacks face difficult matchups, with their opponents ranging from 2-star to 5-star difficulty ratings, suggesting they should be avoided in most Week 1 fantasy matchups.