Today I'll be getting into the rookie QBs that should be on our radars. I've watched film on every single rookie QB, and the ones mentioned below are the most likely to carry fantasy value. Fernando Mendoza is the cream of the crop. Past him, there is a lot of dart-throwing on developmental QBs.

If you need a QB, are close to contending in dynasty, and can't get your hands on Mendoza, then I'd recommend trading draft capital to acquire a veteran or waiting to select someone from the 2027 draft class.

2026 Rookie QBs Worth a Dynasty Pick

Fernando Mendoza (Las Vegas Raiders)

Fernando Mendoza's Situation in Las Vegas

The No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft had a viral photoshoot with Kirk Cousins this offseason. The Raiders have already announced that Kirk Cousins will be the starting QB in Week 1, which is what we should hope for whenever we draft a rookie QB.

Rather than toss Mendoza into the fire and potentially wreck his confidence, he'll have the opportunity to sit behind Cousins and learn from the sidelines.

What the Film Shows on Fernando Mendoza

Mendoza reads and processes the defense quickly pre- and post-snap. He has fantastic lower- and upper-body mechanics in the pocket and on the run, displaying the velocity to throw passes all over the field when they need to be on a rope. He can layer throws over defenders sitting in zones in the intermediate areas. He throws with great ball placement, allowing his WRs to transition into Yards After The Catch (YAC) quickly. He also throws with anticipation and trusts his arm to throw into tight windows.

In addition, Mendoza is adept at buying time for screenplays to develop and throw accurately around defenders in his face. He manipulates a defense with his feet while keeping his eyes upfield. Mendoza is faster than you'd think, but needs to protect himself more often when he tucks and runs.

Fernando Mendoza's Dynasty Value

While he's likely off the radar in 1QB redraft formats, he's a locked-in top 3 pick in dynasty rookie drafts. If you need a QB in dynasty and can wait on their development, taking Mendoza at 1.01 shouldn't be off the table. He is as good of a prospect as Caleb Williams, and I would've preferred him over Cam Ward had they been in the same draft class.

Ty Simpson (Los Angeles Rams)

Ty Simpson's Landing Spot Behind Matthew Stafford

There is so much drama around the NFL Draft selection of Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick. Sean McVay was irritated with the pick when the team is in win-now mode. Almost a month after the draft, the Rams extended Matthew Stafford's contract through the 2027 season, paying him an additional $55M. Let's talk about Simpson's talent before getting more into his situation, which will likely keep him on the bench through 2027 unless Stafford suffers an injury.

What the Film Shows on Ty Simpson

Simpson is one of the most consistent QBs in this draft class. His footwork and upper-body mechanics are good enough to earn him 1st-round draft capital; we just wish he landed on another roster for early fantasy production.

He is capable of getting through 2-3 reads. He will flee the pocket as pressure collapses on him, but is not a great decision maker under pressure. He is accurate up to 15 yards downfield while throwing on the run and can deliver the ball accurately while running left and right. He can test all areas in the first and second levels of the field. From a clean pocket, he has the arm strength to attack deep.

In addition, Simpson can throw with touch to loft balls over defenders who are sitting in short zones. There is enough velocity on his throws to test the sidelines in the short to intermediate areas of the field. He has enough speed to threaten defenses with his legs and evade the incoming pass rush. Simpson will run deep into the backfield to evade pressure, which might get him in trouble when being chased by NFL-caliber defenders.

Ty Simpson's Dynasty Value

All that sounds like a solid NFL QB, right? As I mentioned with Mendoza, it's a good thing that he'll get to sit behind a veteran QB as he learns how to succeed in the NFL. Ty Simpson shouldn't make it out of the second round in rookie drafts, but take him knowing he'll sit on your taxi until 2028 at the earliest. If you need immediate QB production, you may be better served trading your early second-round rookie pick for Malik Willis.

Drafting Simpson should be a luxury pick, or you're a rebuilder who can sit on him for several years while you cobble together a contending roster. A lot can change by the time Ty Simpson is ready to start for the Rams, and his dynasty value will certainly depreciate the longer he rides the pine. Be patient if you draft him. He's off the radar in redraft leagues and is an end-of-draft injury-upside pick in best ball.

Carson Beck (Arizona Cardinals)

Carson Beck and the Cardinals QB Competition

The Arizona Cardinals have stated that there will be a competition to determine their starting QB. Carson Beck will attempt to win the job away from last year's starting QB, Jacoby Brissett and veteran Gardner Minshew. Whoever wins the job will be behind a porous offensive line and will have to get used to having a facemask full of sod in 2026. The weapons on this offense are exciting enough that we value whoever starts at QB as a QB2 in 2026.

In dynasty, the Cardinals are a team to buy into and Beck's Average Draft Position (ADP) in the mid-second to early-third round of rookie drafts makes him a strong buy candidate for me. He'll likely sit and learn to start his rookie year, but we could see him midseason if the Cardinals have a bad record. 

Carson Beck's Mechanics and Processing

Beck is capable of identifying college-level defensive coverage and taking advantage of what is available on a given play. He panics under pressure when coverage has been disguised, and he has to get the ball out quickly. His overall mechanics are solid, but slow. He has good footwork on his dropbacks. He does not cleanly transfer power from his lower body into his throws. This is most apparent when the pass is "easy", like on screens and swing passes.

His upper-body mechanics are compact, but again, his release time will hold him back at the next level. Beck does not leave the pocket unnecessarily as pressure collapses. He gets through his first read quickly, and will hit the dump-off if he doesn't feel confident in the play post-snap. He will work through a full field of progressions if he has time, but his footwork degrades under pressure and by the 3rd to 4th read he is not capable of getting the ball out.

Carson Beck's Accuracy and Arm Talent

Beck throws the ball deep down the sideline on go routes with anticipation. Beck's accuracy across all levels of the field is good enough to reach the NFL. He'll give his guys a chance to make a catch. He is not consistent enough in his accuracy to lead his receivers and will throw the ball off target, making what should be routine catches more difficult. He has the arm strength to throw the ball to all three levels.

Beck believes in his arm and will throw it over the middle of the field. He has enough touch to beat various drop depths of zone coverage. If his mechanics were quicker, these throws would be less frequently contested. He throws accurately rolling left and right and can do so under pressure. His decision-making begins to degrade as he rolls out, and he makes questionable throws on the roll-out under pressure into coverage.

He does not have the speed to beat the edges to the sideline if he extends the play on a roll-out. He will have to throw it away more frequently at the start of his NFL career. When taking sacks in the pocket and as a runner, Beck needs to use better technique to protect the ball when tackled. 

Carson Beck's Dynasty Value

Let's hope new Head Coach Mike LaFleur can bring some of the Rams' offensive magic over. With how bad the offensive line is, we likely see multiple starting QBs in Arizona this season. The offensive line play may expose the blemishes in Beck's game. Beck is one of my favorite targets in rookie drafts as he's priced at a range where he will likely increase in value early in his career relative to where you draft him. He shouldn't be on any redraft rosters unless he's announced as the starter or injuries occur to Brissett and Minshew.

Drew Allar (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Drew Allar's Landing Spot in Pittsburgh

Drew Allar will have the privilege of sitting behind one of the greatest QBs of all-time as a rookie. He'll learn to be a professional and hopefully absorb some of the greatness of Aaron Rodgers over the course of the 2026 season. As he sits and learns new Head Coach Mike McCarthy's system, we hope he can mature as a decision-maker and clean up the flaws in his game.

What the Film Shows on Drew Allar

Allar looks the part of a prototypical NFL QB. He's 6-foot-5 and around 230lbs. He has a strong arm capable of pushing the ball downfield. He spent four years at Penn State and was a highly acclaimed QB coming out of high school. He is nimble in the pocket and able to evade pressure, with enough speed to get out and challenge a defense with his legs.

His accuracy, however, is not good.

While watching game film, there were too many times I saw him sail passes over or behind his targets. It happens with or without pressure. His upper body mechanics are inconsistent, as are his lower body mechanics. He has a hard time reading defenses pre- and post-snap, and will make throws into double coverage where the defense has the advantage. He takes too long getting through his reads. He will miss guys who are wide open over the middle of the field, underthrow players down the sideline, and throw hospital balls to receivers with defensive players ready to take his pass catchers' heads off.

Under pressure, Allar is a complete wild card. At times, he will make the correct decision to take the sack. Other times he will abandon all of his mechanics and throw into highly contested situations. He trusts his arm and will occasionally make a play that is Mahomes-esque, but I think it is more dumb luck than high-level play. The highlights would make you think he is capable of starting at some point in 2026. Please watch a full game, and by halftime you'll see that's not the case. 

Drew Allar's Dynasty Value

McCarthy and Rodgers may aid Allar and improve his ability to read the field. If he can make better decisions, he may stick around in the NFL. For me, Allar is 3+ years away from being a fantasy-relevant player. The offensive weapons on the Steelers may give you spot start opportunities for Allar if Rodgers goes down, and he would be a sell for me if anyone wanted to buy him off my dynasty roster.

Cade Klubnik (New York Jets)

Cade Klubnik's Landing Spot with the Jets 

The New York Jets traded two fourth-round picks to move up and select the Clemson QB with the 110th overall pick. Prior to the 2025 season, Klubnik was considered to be a top two QB prospect in the 2026 NFL draft. His final season at Clemson fell apart as he struggled through wrist, thumb, and ankle injuries. This tanked his draft stock, allowing him to fall to a Jets team that is loaded with first- and second-round offensive talent.

He'll get the benefit of sitting behind Geno Smith should Smith avoid any suspensions for off-the-field incidents. If Smith is suspended, Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook will compete with Klubnik for the starting role.

What the Film Shows on Cade Klubnik

Since he was mostly injured for the 2025 season, this write-up will focus more on his 2024 tape. Klubnik does most of his work in the short to intermediate area of the field. His mechanics help him release the ball quickly. His upper body mechanics are tight and sound, but he lacks the velocity to attack deep downfield. His lower body mechanics are solid. He is capable of making throws on or off platform in the short to intermediate areas of the field. He can throw with enough velocity to fit balls into tight windows 15 yards down the field.

When he does attack deep, it is typically when he identifies single coverage, and he often makes the throw before the receiver has earned separation. His deep balls tend to hang in the air. He identifies coverage well pre- and post-snap, and gets the ball out quickly to take what the defense gives him. He is capable of layering throws over a defense sitting in zones. He makes sound decisions under pressure, often stepping up to evade the rush. He tucks and runs more often than he keeps his eyes downfield when working up in the pocket.

When forced to roll out, he will look to make a play with his arm instead of his legs. When on the run, he resets his feet when he has enough space and is capable of throwing off platform underneath a defense. Klubnik will tuck and run or throw a ball away when nothing is available downfield. 

Cade Klubnik's Dynasty Value

The Jets offense is ripe for an uptick in offensive production. They have the weapons to have a fantasy revival in the near future. Should Klubnik get behind center, he has the talent to hold onto the job. He may not be a QB1, but given a few years to develop, he may break into the QB2 conversation. He's a fantastic taxi candidate going in the late third to fourth round in rookie drafts. I would easily draft him over Drew Allar if you're picking between the two. I wouldn't invest in him for redraft or best ball in 2026.

Late-Round 2026 Rookie QB Fliers

I'll be brief on the next few players, but they are the rest of the 2026 QB class worth mentioning. 

Cole Payton (Philadelphia Eagles)

The lefty NDSU product got his chance to start in 2026 and displayed enough arm talent to receive an invite to the Senior Bowl. Cole Payton looked like one of the best QBs at the Senior Bowl and improved his footwork over the week of practices. His Senior Bowl showing was enough for the Eagles to invest a fifth-round draft pick in him. Payton's tape is full of him making throws on the run and challenging defenses with his legs.

Payton is likely a career backup, but given the opportunity to start, he will be able to put up fantasy-relevant weeks given his rushing upside. The Eagles have plenty of offensive weapons to make him an interesting spot start in your lineup should he see the field. Again, he is likely a career backup and can be off the fantasy radar in all but the deepest of leagues.

Taylen Green (Cleveland Browns)

If you turn on Taylen Green's highlights, you may think he's the second coming of Lamar Jackson. Watch a full game, and you'll see wildly inconsistent mechanics and head-scratching decisions.

The Taylen Green experience was some of the best and worst tape I watched this draft cycle. First, he's a massive human being at 6-foot-6, possessing 4.3 40-yard-dash speed, and is capable of throwing the ball deep down the field while on the run. He keeps his eyes down the field while scrambling out of the pocket, which I did not expect to see for an athlete of his caliber.

The downside is in his accuracy and decision-making. He doesn't consistently layer throws over defenses and will throw passes directly into a defender sitting in zone coverage. If he can clean up his mechanics and improve his decision-making, he'll be a very interesting dynasty stash. If he has the opportunity to start, you'll want to spend a waiver on the potential upside he possesses.

There's a real chance he starts for the Browns this year if the Browns are contending for a top 10 draft pick again and Watson and Sanders aren't making plays. He has the talent to put up a 100-yard rushing game, putting him in rare company at the QB position. 

Garrett Nussmeier (Kansas City Chiefs)

Garrett Nussmeier tumbled down the draft board, ultimately being selected in the 7th round by Kansas City. After watching him during drills and scrimmages at the Senior Bowl, I thought he was the best QB there. Nussmeier suffered an abdominal injury during training camp in 2025, which wreaked havoc on his throwing mechanics. His accuracy was considerably worse in 2025 than in his 2024 film.

When healthy, Nussmeier has the traits you look for in a QB. Nussmeier works through his progressions and will get to the other side of the field. He can hit throws at all three levels of the field. He quickly recognizes advantages and attacks down the sidelines. There is a somewhat irrational belief in his own arm talent, which allows him to throw with anticipation. On the flip side, he will throw it into highly contested situations where the defense has the advantage.

His footwork is lackadaisical, which slows down his release and prevents the transition of power from his base to his arm. He also doesn't step into his throws often. The Chiefs selected him late enough that we shouldn't consider him for fantasy football.

There's a world where he makes an appearance filling in for an injured starter in the future, and if it happens to be on the Chiefs, he may warrant a spot start for a QB-needy team.

How to Play the 2026 Rookie QB Class in Dynasty

Aside from Mendoza, there aren't any QBs with a high certainty of succeeding in the NFL. Many may not end up getting a second contract. This year's QB class is weaker than the past three classes, and we shouldn't expect anyone outside of Mendoza to break out.

My advice to dynasty managers would be to draft Mendoza with plans to start him in future seasons, or put Simpson, Beck, and Klubnik on your taxi and sell them for future draft capital or RB depth with a path to fantasy relevance when the opportunity presents itself. Just know that opportunity might not come. 

Cam White is a Senior Analyst & Host at Optimus Fantasy. You can find more of his work on our YouTube channel, and make sure to follow him on Bluesky.