Kyler Murray Headlines 3 Fantasy Football QB Breakout Candidates for 2026
By Zachary GephartSports Illustrated
No one expected Drake Maye to take the NFL by storm last year.
Just a season after the Patriots crawled to a 4-13 finish, the former first-round pick evolved into a fantasy star and outperformed all expectations. Finding breakout stars like Maye isn't easy, but the managers who do tend to be playing for championship Sunday.
If you're looking to find the next breakout quarterback, here are three names who could take a huge leap in 2026.
Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) throws a pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first quarter at EverBank Stadium. | Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Cam Ward (#137 ADP, #22 among QBs) struggled for the majority of his rookie season, but managers should note the difference between a poor situation and a poor performance. His best receiving option was tight end Chig Okonkwo, who led the Titans with a concerning 560 receiving yards. Despite that, Ward was able to string together two passing touchdowns per gameacross his final four full matchups.
Since then, Tennessee has completely overhauled its offense. Their biggest issue, a lack of receiving threats, was fixed with the additions of rookie phenom Carnell Tate and former Giants gadget Wan'Dale Robinson. These acquisitions, paired with a newly restructured Calvin Ridley contract, transform Ward's supporting cast from an obvious weakness to one of the best receiving corps in the league.
Cam Ward improved in the second half of the season. Are you drafting him in fantasy next season?pic.twitter.com/U3KFJYkppz
Furthermore, Tennessee hired former Giants head coach Brian Daboll as its new offensive coordinator. And considering Daboll helped develop Josh Allen into a superstar, this is a great sign. Similar to his tenures in Buffalo and New York, Daboll will adapt the offensive playbook to Ward, allowing him to play the game within his strengths. The Titans quarterback will benefit immensely from Daboll's frequent use of option routes, structured scramble drills, and deep throws.
If Tennessee's revamped offense holds to form, Ward is set for a notable jump in fantasy production.
Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) scrambles during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium. | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images 01kvgjy5bndfyymzgp3t.jpg
Despite New York finishing the season 4-13, its starting quarterback had a stellar year in 2025. Dart finished with a 3:1 passing touchdown to interception ratio, with 9 additional scores coming on the ground. More impressively, he accomplished this despite losing Malik Nabers to a Week 4 injury, leaving Wan'Dale Robinson as his number one option for most of the year.
Now, Dart has a multitude of weapons at his disposal. The Giants signed Darnell Mooney, Isaiah Likely, and Odell Beckham Jr. this offseason, and that's only the beginning of their overhaul. They also brought in Calvin Austin III, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Malachi Fields, ensuring that Dart won't have the same problem he did in 2025. To top it off, this doesn't even include when Nabers will return, which is expected to be sometime early on in the season.
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This story was originally published June 19, 2026 at 12:01 PM.
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