Locked On Fantasy Football – Daily NFL Fantasy Football Podcast · Locked On Podcast Network, Michelle Magdziuk, Vinnie Iyer

Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix & MORE: Fantasy THIRD-YEAR QB outlook for 2026

·32 min·2 clips

Why Caleb Williams at QB10 offers better draft value than Drake Maye at QB2 for 2026 fantasy football.

This episode projects the 2026 fantasy football value for quarterbacks from the 2024 NFL draft class as they enter their third professional seasons. Hosts Michelle Magdziuk, a researcher and fantasy analyst for NFL Network, and Vinny Iyer, a writer for SportingNews.com, analyze these players based on their early career performance and future outlook. They specifically evaluate Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr., and J.J. McCarthy for dynasty and redraft fantasy considerations. Drake Maye finished as the QB2 in fantasy scoring during his second season, behind only Josh Allen, while Caleb Williams jumped to QB7. Current consensus rankings place Maye as the QB2 in cost, grouped with top-tier players like Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, whereas Williams is ranked as QB10. The hosts note Jalen Hurts has fallen into a second tier that also includes Jayden Daniels, who is ranked as QB5 despite an injury-plagued sophomore season. Daniels averaged 16.3 points per game and missed 10 games in 2025 due to a sprained knee, hamstring injury, and dislocated elbow. Bo Nix is presented as a consistent QB10-QB12 option, averaging around 17.9 points per game with limited weekly upside. A key insight is the significant cost disparity making Caleb Williams a recommended value pick, as his draft position around 85th overall is much lower than Maye's early-round cost. The analysis suggests Williams's ceiling could be higher in a Ben Johnson offense, similar to how Johnson boosted Jared Goff's fantasy production. For Jayden Daniels, the hosts express caution due to his injury history and a new offensive coordinator, David Blough, who has never called plays before. They project Bo Nix as a "Jared Goff type" fantasy quarterback, reliant on a strong defense and offering limited weekly explosiveness. Michael Penix Jr. is viewed as a major fantasy risk following a torn ACL and a career average of just 13.4 points per game as a starter. J.J. McCarthy is described as an atrocious NFL quarterback in 2025 with a 72.6 passer rating, though he might retain some fantasy streaming appeal due to his rushing ability and weapons like Justin Jefferson. The hosts emphasize that McCarthy's job security is tenuous and the Vikings could bring in competition. The tone is analytical and conversational, focused on comparative player valuation and strategic draft advice for fantasy managers. This episode is ideal for dynasty fantasy football players and managers preparing for 2026 drafts who prioritize forward-looking quarterback analysis. Listeners seeking immediate 2025 fantasy advice or discussions about established veteran quarterbacks might find less relevance here.

As heard by us

A practical ranking pass on a loaded quarterback class, with Daniels' injury context doing the most work.

Locked On Fantasy Football treats the 2024 quarterback class as a deep one, with Drake May, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Bo Nix all framed as players who have already delivered real fantasy value in short runs.

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Why you'd press play

Get a third-year quarterback fantasy read before your draft room starts arguing.

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