NFL Draft Fantasy Rookie Quarterback Rankings

Michael Fabiano's look at the top 10 rookie signal-callers heading into the 2026 NFL draft.

Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza will be the first overall pick of the Las Vegas Raiders in the NFL draft. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The 2026 rookie quarterback draft class is less than impressive, to say the least. 

Just one player, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, is projected to be anything more than a backup in his rookie year and even he might start the season second on the Raiders’ depth chart behind Kirk Cousins, assuming he’s the top pick in the NFL draft.

Just one other quarterback, Alabama’s Ty Simpson, is projected as a potential first-round pick. He’s been tied to the Jets and Cardinals in either the first or second rounds.  Beyond that duo, fantasy fans are looking at a list of signal-callers who are unlikely to make a first-year impact and might not make a fantasy impact in their career. 

Here’s my look at the top 10 rookie quarterbacks heading into the 2026 NFL draft.

2026 Fantasy Rookie Quarterback Rankings

Rk	Player	Pos	TM	Bye
1	Fernando Mendoza	QB	IND	22
2	Ty Simpson	QB	ALA	23
3	Garrett Nussmeier	QB	LSU	24
4	Drew Allar	QB	PSU	22
5	Carson Beck	QB	MIA	23
6	Taylen Green	QB	ARK	23
7	Cade Klubnik	QB	CLE	22
8	Cole Payton	QB	NDST	23
9	Diego Pavia	QB	VAN	24
10	Behren Morton	QB	TXT	24