Matt Bowen’s 2026 fantasy football quarterback tiers break down the position into six distinct groups, emphasizing dual‑threat playmakers as the top tier. In Tier 1, Josh Allen leads with 21.4 fantasy points per game and 14 rushing scores, followed by Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Drake Maye, each offering strong rushing upside. Tier 2 features midtier starters like Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, and Jalen Hurts, who mix pocket presence with mobility and can deliver breakout weeks. Tier 3 offers low‑end starters such as Trevor Lawrence, Jaxson Dart, and Justin Herbert, providing steady numbers and a higher floor for later‑round picks.

Bowen highlights that the next tiers—QB2s and QB3s—contain veterans like Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, and Jared Goff, who can serve as safe, high‑floor options or superflex starters. He stresses that drafting by tiers helps managers avoid overreaching and ensures a balanced roster before a major drop‑off in projected output.

Overall, Bowen’s framework prioritizes rushing upside while acknowledging that pocket throwers can still generate high fantasy output, especially when paired with top receivers and efficient offensive schemes.