Quarterback Sleepers For 2026 Best Ball Drafts: Target A Year 2 Leap For Cam Ward
Adam Kaufman highlights a trio of late-round sleepers with league-winning upside at the QB position for your 2026 best ball drafts.
We’ve already broken down the optimal roster construction to win your best ball league. Now comes the fun part—Quarterback sleepers!
You could define a sleeper as anyone likely to outperform their fantasy football ADP. Anyone can point to Justin Herbert, Brock Purdy or Jaxson Dart and call them values. I'd rather dig deeper.
When you're drafting in the double-digit rounds, you're chasing spike weeks and ceiling outcomes. That's especially true under center, where starters are available well into the middle rounds. But if we're truly hunting sleepers, let's focus on QBs who can provide more than merely competent production and potentially win you your league.
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Three QB Sleepers For 2026 Best Ball Drafts
Cam Ward | TEN
- ADP: QB22 (136.2)
If you’re looking for the quarterback most likely to beat his current draft price, start here.
Ward’s rookie season was uneven. The 2025 first overall pick threw for 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns and 7 interceptions while failing to complete 60% of his passes. He also absorbed a league-high 55 sacks, likely resulting in a night-terror or two.
Tennessee’s offense looked like it was playing uphill, and Ward spent much of the year trying to survive behind inconsistent protection with a limited supporting cast. A midseason change at head coach didn’t help either.
The good news?
The environment is noticeably different entering Year 2.
With Robert Saleh installed as head coach, the Titans upgraded the staff by bringing in Brian Daboll and significantly enhanced Ward’s weaponry. Top-five pick Carnell Tate from Ohio State joins 1,000-yard receiver Wan’Dale Robinson alongside a hopefully healthy Calvin Ridley to give Tennessee perhaps its deepest receiving corps in years.
That’s a massive renovation from Elic Ayomanor, Chig Okonkwo and Chimere Dike accounting for almost half of the target share during Ward’s freshman season.
More importantly, we began to see signs of growth late in the season. Over his final four games, Ward threw for 766 yards with 8 touchdowns against just 1 interception before a shoulder injury cut his Week 18 effort short.
Second-year quarterbacks have historically produced some of fantasy football’s biggest breakouts, and Ward still possesses the arm talent and playmaking ability that scouts celebrated coming out of Miami. If Tennessee’s offseason improvements translate, it’s not difficult to envision him finishing well above his current QB22-ish price tag.
Daniel Jones | IND
- ADP: QB25 (144.3)
Fantasy football has always viewed Daniel Jones differently from real football because of his mobility.
Throughout his career, Jones has regularly produced useful fantasy performances whenever he’s healthy because of the rushing element he brings to the position. That upside remains attractive in best ball formats where we’re chasing occasional ceiling weeks rather than weekly consistency.
That said, there’s concern here.
Last season ended prematurely when Jones ruptured his right Achilles while already grinding through an injury to his left leg. Assuming he’s ready for Week 1, which is no guarantee after only nine months, he’ll return to an Indianapolis offense loaded with playmakers.
Jonathan Taylor remains one of the league’s premier running backs, while Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, Tyler Warren and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine provide plenty of options in the passing game.
Jones doesn’t need to become a star to pay off this price. At his current ADP, you’re simply looking for a signal-caller capable of sprinkling in top-10 weekly finishes throughout the year. Historically, that’s exactly what Jones has done when available.
Jacoby Brissett | ARI
- ADP: QB30 (196.6)
This is where we really embrace uncertainty.
Brissett’s contract dispute with Arizona has understandably scared off drafters. Oh, that and his QB competition, a stud rookie running back and a new head coach who appears to prefer a more balanced offense.
The journeyman vet has skipped OTAs while seeking a restructured deal, and the Cardinals have added competition to the quarterback room with Gardner Minshew and third-round selection Carson Beck, a candidate to be evaluated later in the season.
Arizona used the third overall pick on Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite, Jeremiyah Love, who will be active as a pass catcher but is sure to be featured as a runner with Mike LaFleur at the helm.
But, believe it or not, there’s still value with Brissett amidst this mess.
Before the offseason drama, Brissett delivered the most productive season of his career. He completed 64.9% of his passes for 3,366 yards and 23 touchdowns while emerging as a surprisingly reliable fantasy option.
When Kyler Murray went down, Brissett stepped in and aired it out.
From Week 6 forward, he averaged more than 40 pass attempts per game and developed strong chemistry with Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. He finished as a top-12 fantasy quarterback in 10 of his 12 starts.
The obvious questions explain why Brissett is available in the final rounds.
The potential to considerably outperform expectations is also why he’s interesting.
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