2026 College Fantasy Football Quarterback Profiles

The quarterbacks are deep in College Fantasy Football in 2026. Despite the many options and depth at the position, the player pool is manageable with a little homework. College Fantasy Football quarterback profiles are a labor of love, and for the thirteenth year, I provide CFF players with ongoing insight and analysis to support your decisions. The profiles are tiered—Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude—to provide elasticity for CFF coaches, based on their league’s scoring format and personal preferences. Enjoy, my fellow CFF diehards!

2026 CFF Quarterback Profiles

Summa Cum Laude

Arch Manning, Texas

Team Offense (Rank): 388 ypg. (68)
Passing Yards: 251 ypg. (42)
Points Scored: 30.5 ppg. (41)
2025 Fantasy Points Per Game (FPPG): 29.9

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Arch Manning is football royalty and has been on a path towards a professional career for a very long time. He is on the cusp of achieving his lifelong dreams and goals. After sitting on the bench for his first two seasons at Texas, Manning finally earned the opportunity to start for the Longhorns last year. Under intense pressure from the fans and media, the third-generation Manning played well despite the narrative surrounding his performance. His potential fantasy upside makes him an exciting prospect for CFF enthusiasts seeking a quarterback to anchor their rosters.

Like many first-year starters, Manning got off to a slow start in 2025, but improved his play as the season progressed. In 4 of the final 6 games, he produced over 30 Fantasy Points (FPs), tossing 14 aerial strikes, scoring 4 rushing touchdowns, and passing for over 300 yards three times. He was a fantasy star down the stretch. During the offseason, Texas added additional offensive weapons (WR Cam Coleman and RB Hollywood Smothers) around its All-American quarterback, and three starting linemen return in 2026. With these factors, Manning’s fantasy outlook is even brighter, making him a must-draft early in your leagues, and I will be selecting him as often as possible.

Notebook: Coach Steve Sarkisian discussed Manning’s growth over the past year: “The thing I think (Arch) learned about himself, he had some real adversity last year, and he found out about how physically tough he is. I think his teammates did, too, and they credit him for that. The quarterback’s the toughest guy on the team, but that’s not only physical toughness, but that’s also mental toughness,” (bleacherreport.com).

Brad Jackson, Texas State

Team Offense (Rank): 473 ypg. (5)
Passing Yards: 251 ypg. (41)
Points Scored: 36.5 ppg. (12)
2025 FPPG: 33.1

There were many waiver wire gemstones at quarterback last year, and the Week 1 column featured Brad Jackson after he produced back-to-back games with over 30 FPs. In the opening two outings, he tossed five aerial strikes and rushed for two scores. At 6-0 and 200 pounds, he completed over 65% of his passes for 500 yards and scampered for 82 yards on 22 carries to start the season. His performance foreshadowed his fantasy stardom for the rest of the season, inspiring confidence in his future value.

In Coach G.J. Kinne’s explosive offense, Jackson finished the campaign with over 3,000 passing yards and 700 rushing yards, which is the epitome of a dual-threat star. He added 21 touchdowns in the air and scored 17 times on the ground. He concluded the year as CFF QB4 with well over 400 FPs. Over the past three years, in which Kinne has led the program, the Bobcats have averaged nearly 35 points and over 450 yards per game and have earned a bowl invitation each season, winning all three times. The Bobcats’ consistent offensive success under Kinne suggests Jackson’s potential for continued high fantasy output, and he will shine once again.

Notebook: Jackson discussed his commitment and improvement as a player in the spring: “My standard never changes. If anything, it keeps rising year to year. So it’s just continuing to have that standard for myself every day, just being the same guy and not taking anything for granted. Ultimately, you can keep striving forward and just continue to have that standard for yourself.” (sanmarcosrecord.com)

HURDLE FOR THE TD 🔥

QB Brad Jackson pulled out the moves for the Texas State touchdown. pic.twitter.com/A0Gdi6abk8

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 29, 2025

Magna Cum Laude

Trinidad Chambliss, Mississippi

Team Offense (Rank): 490 ypg. (2)
Passing Yards: 313 ypg. (3)
Points Scored: 36.9 ppg. (10)
2025 FPPG: 26.1

Trinidad Chambliss became a key contributor on the CFF waiver wire last year. After three years at Ferris State, a Division II program, Chambliss transferred to Mississippi in the SEC and began the season behind Austin Simmons on the depth chart. In Week 3, he started against Arkansas and made big plays that helped Mississippi secure a 41-35 win. He threw for 353 yards and ran for 62 with three total touchdowns, earning 38.3 FPs. His performance was impressive enough that I added him to three fantasy teams that week.

Chambliss played so well that Simmons never regained the starting role. The SEC Newcomer of the Year led Mississippi to the CFP and an upset of Georgia in the Quarterfinals before falling to Miami in the Semifinals. He finished the season with 3,937 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and 527 rushing yards with 8 scores. In 8 games, he surpassed 300 passing yards, and in 6 contests, he rushed for over 40 yards, including a season-high 112 against Tulane. Scoring 392 FPs and exceeding 30 FPs in six games, his season-long production emphasize his consistency and talent.

Until late March, it was uncertain if Chambliss would be eligible to play in the upcoming college football season. However, a Mississippi judge denied the NCAA’s petition, confirming Chambliss can return to the field in Oxford, MS. CFF diehards rejoiced that the Rebels’ dual-threat playmaker is returning to campus for another season in 2026.

Notebook: “You know, when I visited Oxford from Ferris State, I really liked it here and wasn’t promised anything about being the quarterback. The thing that helped was that my parents really liked it here, too, on the visit. We’ve been treated great, and once Ole Miss decided to go with PG (Pete Golding), we wanted to stay,” Chambliss said after the court granted him another season in college (missississippitoday.org).

John Mateer, Oklahoma

Team Offense (Rank): 354 ypg. (90)
Passing Yards: 236 ypg. (57)
Points Scored: 26.2 ppg. (78)
2025 FPPG: 24.2

There is clearly trepidation among CFF diehards in early drafts this season to acquire John Mateer. His current ADP is far lower than my ranking, and in the past three drafts I participated in, Mateer has been selected in Rounds 6 (pick 2), 10 (pick 1), and 7 (pick 9). I understand the reluctance to select the Sooners’ quarterback. Nevertheless, CFF diehards cannot ignore his massive upside as a dual-threat signal caller, and it seems that early CFF drafters are not factoring Mateer’s fantasy potential to win weekly matchups into their decisions.

Two years ago, Mateer captured the Cam Newton Award, given to the preeminent CFF quarterback, highlighting his elite potential. He produced 474 FPs and averaged 39.5 FPPG for Washington State. He threw for 3,139 and rushed for 826 while totaling 44 touchdowns. Moving to Oklahoma, he stepped up in competition and got off to a great start last season. In the first four games, he surpassed 25 FPs in each while averaging 33.5 FPPG. Unfortunately, Mateer suffered a broken bone in his throwing hand in the victory over Auburn and missed the next game.

The Sooners’ signal caller returned to the field 17 days later versus Texas, but he clearly was not fully healthy. He did not look like himself until the final three games of the season, in which he exceeded 24 FPs in each outing. Reports are positive regarding Mateer’s health entering training camp, and he should fly high once again during his second year in the Sooners’ system. I will not be surprised if he finishes the season among the top 5 CFF quarterbacks, which should reassure readers about his potential.

Notebook: “Mateer has a ridiculously high ceiling. That offense has answers for everything. They don’t do a ton, but everything they do complements the other thing. When (Mateer) just executes and then makes splash plays here and there, they complement their elite defense very well,” an anonymous SEC coach revealed (on3.com).

Sam Leavitt, LSU

Team Offense (Rank): 334 ypg. (109)
Passing Yards: 231 ypg. (61)
Points Scored: 22.8 ppg. (101)
2025 FPPG: 26.5

Coach Lane Kiffin is one of the best offensive coordinators in the nation, and throughout his coaching career, he has developed and crafted numerous CFF luminaries. There is no reason for me to jump off the bandwagon in 2026 with Kiffin moving from Mississippi to LSU. While at Mississippi, Kiffin helped cultivate Trinidad Chambliss, Jaxson Dart, and Matt Corral into successful and productive CFF quarterbacks. When he arrived in Baton Rouge, LA, one of Kiffin’s first decisions was to pluck Sam Leavitt out of the transfer portal and give the reins of the offense to the former Arizona State quarterback.

In 2024, Leavitt guided the Sun Devils to an 11-3 record, the Big 12 Championship, and a CFP berth. He passed for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns against only 6 interceptions. He added 443 yards and 5 scores on the ground. In 13 games, he totaled 334 FPs and averaged 25.7 FPPG. Last year, Leavitt’s season was cut short when he suffered a Lisfranc injury in October that required surgery. In 7 games, he produced 26.5 FPPG, slightly better than the previous campaign. As a passer, his efficiency marginally dipped, posting a 10:7 TD-to-INT Ratio. Yet as a runner, he remained productive, scampering for 306 yards and another 5 touchdowns.

Afterward, he entered the transfer portal for the second time and signed with LSU to play for Coach Kiffin. During the spring, he began sprinting, resumed mobility activities, and is on track to suit up for training camp with the Tigers. I do not understand why his current ADP is so low compared to my ranking of the LSU dual-threat signal caller. If his value remains steady during the summer, Leavitt will be rostered on the vast majority of my CFF teams, reflecting his strong fantasy potential.

Notebook: “Yeah, I think what we see in (Sam) is some similarities to Trinidad (Chambliss). Winner, highly competitive. He took the team to the playoffs two years ago, made a lot of plays, and when things broke down, he had to make plays with his feet. (Sam) is really, really competitive and smart. He’s really a student of the game,” Coach Lane Kiffin stated during the spring (yahoo.com).

Liam Szarka, Air Force

Team Offense (Rank): 407 ypg. (46)
Rushing Yards: 262 ypg. (3)
Points Scored: 29.8 ppg. (48)
2025 FPPG: 27.6

For years, acquiring a triple-option quarterback has been an underappreciated strategy in College Fantasy Football, as these run-first field generals from academies like Army, Navy, and Air Force can provide a competitive edge. I often sought to acquire quarterbacks in the run-based scheme and won many CFF games with Keenan Reynolds (Navy), Malcolm Perry (Navy), and Bryson Daily (Army) on my rosters. Last year, Blake Horvath (Navy) finished among the top 15 CFF quarterbacks, and Liam Szarka (Air Force) became a valuable CFF starter in the second half of the season off the waiver wire.

During the first three weeks of the season, Szarka shared time calling signals. He did not earn the starting job until the fourth game of the year against Hawaii. Once behind center full-time, he established himself as a feasible CFF starter. He recorded a spectacular four-game stretch that started against Boise State, in which he scored 38.8, 43, 47.6, and 38.6 FPs.

By the end of the season, he paced the Falcons in rushing (922 yards and 13 touchdowns), passing (1,294 yards and 9 touchdowns), and total offense (2,216 yards), and was named All-Mountain West honorable mention. In the eight games in which he piloted the offense, Szarka averaged 33.7 FPPG—he missed the New Mexico and Colorado State games due to injury. Prioritizing and drafting triple-option quarterbacks can be a game-changer in CFF strategy and roster construction.

Notebook: “I was like, this dude’s (Szarka) a warrior, man. I mean, you aren’t going to recruit a guy unless he has some ability. The maturity, the poise. Darn near fearless. Good stuff,” Coach Troy Calhoun stated regarding Szarka’s football abilities last season (gazette.com).

Liam Szarka ties it up for Air Force to end the 3rd! pic.twitter.com/TynG90DNm2

— College Football Zone (@CollegeFBonX) November 1, 2025

CFF Diehards on Fire!

Among College Fantasy Football quarterbacks, who is the most interesting signal caller based on current ADP?

• Demond Williams, Washington: 22%
• Kamario Taylor, Mississippi State: 22%
• Marcel Reed, Texas A&M: 34%
• LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina: 22%

“LaNorris Sellers is lowest in ADP, but may have the highest ceiling of them all in a new Briles-installed system from TCU. He brings tempo/volume, explosive plays, QB run involvement, vertical passing, stressing defenses horizontally and vertically, and creating easy reads for athletic QBs.” @brachta

“As much as I’ve been all over LaNorris Sellers this year, I’d like to say him, but Kamario Taylor’s upside is pretty tantalizing and gets my vote.” @eliotmays.

“Kamario Taylor for me, by a hair over Demond Williams.” @aceholesrule

“Kamario Taylor and LaNorris Sellers are tops here, but in the QB2-3 range for me in full FBS. O-line questions for both teams with SEC schedules, back-loaded with ranked teams.” @sfbomber

Marcel Reed, Texas A&M

Team Offense (Rank): 445 ypg. (23)
Passing Yards: 260 ypg. (30)
Points Scored: 33.8 ppg. (19)

Last season, the Aggies jumped out to an 11-0 record and stood atop the SEC. Sparking Heisman talk that included Marcel Reed as a long-shot possibility. Regrettably, the dream came to an abrupt end when Texas clobbered Texas A&M and knocked the Aggies out of the SEC Championship Game. Despite the setback, the team earned an invite to the CFP but got beat by Miami. How did the Aggies collapse in their final two games? Many of the Texas A&M faithful blamed Reed, who tossed four interceptions and failed to complete a touchdown in the two losses…by far his worst performances in the two biggest games of the year. It appears that CFF fanatics are also holding Reed responsible for the team’s collapse.

While understanding the disappointment among Aggie fans, I do not see why the CFF community is so down on Reed heading into 2026. He concluded last year among the top 20 CFF quarterbacks returning, passing for over 3,100 yards and 25 touchdowns, but more importantly, he rushed for 493 yards and 6 scores. In 24 games played over the past two campaigns, he has scampered for 1,040 yards and 13 touchdowns while generating 23.8 and 27.9 FPPG and scoring over 30 FPs 10 times (41% of games). As a dual-threat playmaker, Reed has the upside to excite CFF coaches and lead them to championships in 2026.

Notebook: “Marcel’s daily approach has been extremely impressive. He already carries himself like a professional in the way he attacks every aspect of his preparation. Beyond the work he puts into strength and conditioning, he consistently makes time for film study, stays locked in with his nutrition, and has even hired a personal chef to maximize his recovery and performance,” stated athletic performance coach Clif Marshall in mid-May (aggieswire.usatoday.com).

Devon Dampier, Utah

Team Offense (Rank): 483 ypg. (4)
Passing Yards: 217 ypg. (80)
Points Scored: 41.2 ppg. (4)
2025 FPPG: 32.3

One of the keys to being a good fantasy analyst is admitting when you are wrong on a player. Last year, Devon Dampier transferred from a G5 program at New Mexico to a P4 team at Utah, and the higher level of competition concerned me. I ranked the electric signal caller much lower than the consensus in the CFF space. I will not make the same mistake again and will be acquiring Dampier whenever possible in drafts.

In the past two seasons, the Utes’ dual-threat star finished as CFF QB2 (NM) and CFF QB12 (Utah), scoring 32.3 and 34.3 FPPG. He increased his passing touchdowns from 12 to 24, dropped INTs from 12 to 5, and improved his passer rating from 77.4 to 103.8. His yards per attempt rose from 7.1 to 7.5, and he produced over 40 FPs three times, including a season-best 57.2 against Nebraska.

These improvements illuminate his top-tier fantasy production and a valuable draft target. In addition, during the past two years, he has gained 2,001 rushing yards and scored 29 times on the ground. Simply, Dampier is one of the elite quarterbacks in the nation and a great anchor on a CFF roster. I told myself not to miss out on another commanding performance this season.

Notebook: “Something that we live by at Utah is no one’s bigger than the team. No one’s bigger than the program, so when you lose one person, man, there are so many other people in the building, we worked so hard to get to this point that one person doesn’t control our destiny,” Dampier expressed during the offseason (deseret.com).

Devon Dampier and Utah are dominating 💪
pic.twitter.com/85OtG8aJ0l

— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) August 31, 2025

Conner Weigman, Houston

Team Offense (Rank): 395 ypg. (60)
Passing Yards: 216 ypg. (81)
Points Scored: 29.1 ppg. (55)
2025 FPPG: 30.3

The Houston Cougars have a rich football history that I know resonates with college football fans and historians alike. In the late Eighties and early Nineties, Andre Ware and David Klingler dominated the airwaves in the Cougars’ run-and-shoot offense. Since I have been playing college fantasy football, Case Keenum, Greg Ward, and Clayton Tune have all helped me win numerous CFF matchups. I cannot even count how many times and how many hours I have spent on my couch watching Houston football. In 2025, Conner Weigman once again ignited my passion for following Houston.

Coming out of high school, Weigman was a five-star recruit and enrolled at Texas A&M with massive expectations. For the Aggies, he started 13 games in three seasons and completed 219 throws for 2,694 passing yards and posted a 19-7 TD-INT Ratio. He transferred to Houston before last year and finally illustrated his elite skills on the gridiron. He concluded 2025 as CFF QB8, manufacturing nearly 400 FPs. The Cougars’ field general threw for 2,711 yards and 25 scores while adding 700 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Wiegman looks like one of the safest selections at quarterback, with an enticing ceiling each week.

Notebook: Weigman discussed the team’s goals in 2026: “We want to be a more explosive offense. Push the ball down the field, and having the time to push the ball down the field, that’s going to be huge for us. Ultimately, it’s taking what the defense gives us; if it’s there, take it. If not, check the ball down, and keep the ball moving.” (si.com)

Byrum Brown, Auburn

Team Offense (Rank): 374 ypg. (77)
Passing Yards: 197 ypg. (97)
Points Scored: 26.8
2025 FPPG: 39.9

I am convinced that Byrum Brown is going to be the most important quarterback in college fantasy football this season. His 2026 ADP continues to drop—he has been selected between picks 75-100 in my recent drafts—after a terrible performance in Auburn’s A-Day spring game. Obviously, CFF coaches are concerned about his ability to transition from South Florida in the American Conference to Auburn in the SEC. While some may worry about his recent struggles, it’s important to remember his proven track record and overall potential. It would clearly have been more appealing if Brown thrived in the spring. But it seems that drafters are overreacting to the recent news, and the Tigers’ dual-threat playmaker is one of the best bargains at the position.

Last year, Brown captured the Cam Newton Award for the preeminent quarterback in CFF. His production and FPs (479) were off the charts, leading thousands of CFF diehards to championships. He rushed for over 1,000 yards and scored 14 times while posting a 28-7 TD:INT Ratio and adding 3,158 passing yards. In the past three seasons at USF, he averaged 33.9, 14.1, and 39.9 FPPG. Brown followed former USF Coach Alex Golesh to Auburn, and he knows the system extremely well, which bodes positively for a seamless transition. His familiarity with the system and coach makes him a prime candidate for another strong season. Draft Brown now before his ADP rises in August.

Notebook: “Coach Golesh showed me his plan from day one when he got to USF, and now he came here and wanted to build something again. Coach has never done me wrong. I have full trust and faith in him. What we have building here, I’m excited for the whole country to see,” Brown stated in March (auburntigers.com).

Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State

Team Offense (Rank): 292 ypg. (128)
Passing Yards: 174 ypg. (114)
Points Scored: 14.2 ppg. (132)
2025 FPPG: 29.9

The Drew Mestemaker story might seem like a Hollywood script; yet it is not fictional but a true-to-life reality show. His journey is inspiring, showing his rise from never starting a varsity game in high school to walking on at North Texas in 2024. Last summer, he beat out Reese Poffenbarger for the starting role with the Mean Green and had a sensational season, leading the program to a 12-2 record. Over the offseason, Mestemsker followed his coach, Eric Morris, to Oklahoma State and inked a two-year, $7.5 million NIL deal.

In 2025, Mestemaker finished the season among the top 10 CFF quarterbacks with 418 FPs. He led the nation in passing yards (4,369), and only Fernando Mendoza threw more touchdowns than Mestemaker (34). In five games, he passed for more than 300 yards, including a remarkable performance against Charlotte in which he totaled 608 yards and 4 scores. Unfortunately, Mestemaker rushed for only 89 yards all year, but did produce five touchdowns with his legs. His recent NIL deal and continued development under the same coach highlight his potential for sustained success at Oklahoma State, reassuring CFF diehards that he will keep slinging the football and producing plenty of FPs.

Notebook: Mestemaker discussed the change in venues this spring: “It’s definitely been crazy. It’s been different than North Texas, that’s for sure. But it’s the life you dream of as a kid, and it’s what you work for every day. So, it’s been awesome.” (pistolsfiringblog.com)

Caden Veltkamp, Florida Atlantic

Team Offense (Rank): 445 ypg. (22)
Passing Yards: 340 ypg. (1)
Points Scored: 29.5 ppg. (51)
2025 FPPG: 26.6

One of my favorite games to watch last year was the UConn-Florida Atlantic contest in late November. The two teams put on an offensive display that produced so much fantasy goodness in the Huskies 48-45 victory. Caden Veltkamp threw for 494 yards and two touchdowns and added 23 rushing yards and two scores, producing 46 FPs. It was the second time that he scored over 40 FPs, and the passing yards were his highest of the season. This late-season performance underscores Veltkamp’s strong fantasy potential as a passer in Coach Zach Kittley’s aerial attack, making him a reliable option for CFF managers.

Veltkamp played three seasons at Western Kentucky but did not earn the starting gig until his third year on campus in 2024. As a member of the Hilltoppers that year, he averaged 25.5 FPPG on 25 touchdown passes and 7 rushing scores. He rushed for a career-high 150 yards and passed for 3,180 yards. Following Kittley to Florida Atlantic, Veltkamp took over the offense and produced 26.7 FPPG last year. He passed for a career-best 3,641 yards and 24 aerial strikes while adding 4 touchdowns on the ground. In 9-of-12 games, he totaled over 20 FPs, including surpassing 30 FPs five times. While his fantasy floor is high, his limited rushing yards cap his overall ceiling, which managers should consider when projecting his upside.

Notebook: “(Coach Kittley) recruited me to Western Kentucky, but I never actually got to play for him (as a freshman). When the coach called me again (before junior year), he said, ‘You’re my guy.’ I was ready to go, and I wanted to play in his offense, so the opportunity to come back (to WKU) and actually get to play for him was something I really couldn’t pass up,” Veltkamp reflected upon transferring to play for Kittley (upressonline.com)