STAFFORD, MATTHEW - LAR

Matthew Stafford is coming off an MVP season in which he led the league in passing yards (4,707) and TD passes (46) while throwing only eight interceptions and taking just 23 sacks. He finished QB3 in fantasy scoring despite and has offensive wizard Sean McVay as his head coach and the dynamic duo of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams at wide receiver.

So why does he appear on our "Dud" list?

Well despite his eye-popping passing numbers, Stafford rushed for exactly one yard all season and zero touchdowns. With rushing stst being such a premium in fantasy, Stafford takes a big hit as a result. For example, Stafford passed for over 1,000 yards and 10+ TDs more than Josh Allen last season -- yet, Allen far surpassed Stafford as the top fantasy QB. Stafford dealt with back issues last summer but played all 17 regular-season games plus three playoff games. It is fair to wonder how much the wear-and-tear will have on the 38-year-old Stafford.

MAHOMES, PATRICK - KC

Patrick Mahomes' fantasy appeal has diminished in recent years, and now the nine-year veteran is trying to recover from a major knee injury. Mahomes tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee late in the Chiefs' Week 15 loss to the Chargers in mid-December. Reports say he has been rehabbing aggressively in hopes of starting the Chiefs' Monday-night game season opener against the Broncos on Sept. 14, which comes three days before his 31st birthday. Even if Mahomes is able to return for Week 1, his mobility could be compromised. Mahomes' rushing production helped him get off to a fast fantasy start in 2025. Through eight weeks, he was QB1 in fantasy scoring at 25 points per game, fueled in part by 280 rushing yards and four TD runs. Mahomes finished the year tied for QB2 in fantasy points per game behind Josh Allen, after finishing QB11 in FPPG (six games minimum) in both 2023 and 2024. Kansas City didn't make any significant additions to Mahomes' pass-catching arsenal in the offseason, but the Chiefs added RB Kenneth Walker III, who could make Mahomes' life easier by providing the Chiefs with a credible running threat.

Lawrence, Trevor - JAC

As the 2025 regular season reached its conclusion, Trevor Lawrence was playing the best football of his five-year NFL career under first-year Jaguars head coach Liam Coen. Over his first 10 games, Lawrence averaged 215 passing yards, 1.1 TD passes and 16.6 fantasy points per game. He averaged 6.4 yards per pass attempt over that span, and his passer rating was 79.4. Over his last seven regular-season games, Lawrence averaged 265 passing yards, 2.6 TD passes and 26.6 fantasy points per game. He averaged 8.4 yards per pass attempt over those seven games, and his passer rating was 108.6. Lawrence also had his most productive season as a runner, with 359 rushing yards and nine TD runs. With Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington (and perhaps occasional contributions from Travis Hunter), Lawrence has a good set of wide receivers. That said, given the volatile track record, it is fair to question whether T-Law can pick up where he left off -- or revert the his pre-2025 ways.

Darnold, Sam - SEA

Here's where the distinction between a fine real-life quarterback and a top-notch fantasy quarterback kicks in. Coming off a Super Bowl victory with the Seahawks, Darnold’s real-life efficiency is excellent, but his lack of rushing upside and Seattle’s historically run-heavy offense cap his weekly ceiling. In 2025 Darnold passed for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, which were solid passing numbers. But he averaged just 16.8 fantasy points per game -- thanks largely to his subpar rushing stats of under 100 yards and zero rushing touchdowns in 2025 -- placing him firmly as a middling QB2 for fantasy.

Herbert, Justin - LAC

Over the first three years of his NFL career, Justin Herbert averaged 287.5 passing yards and 1.9 TD passes per game. Over the last three years of his career, he's averaged 233.3 passing yards and 1.5 TD passes per game. There hasn't been a discernible difference in Herbert's passing efficiency over those two periods. The downturn can be traced to (at various times) conservative play-calling, offensive line injuries, or a shortage of quality pass catchers. Those problems remain in the forefront, but we are also worried about him possibly being over-valued in fantasy rankings due to the arrival of new Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel (under whom Tua Tagovailoa led the league in passing yardage three years ago). It's hard to imagine conservative Jim Harbaugh fully handing those reins over to McDaniel and allowing the offense to suddenly become pass-happy, and McDaniel himself has become increasingly more willing to run the ball over the last couple of seasons. Maybe that spells big dividends for Omar Hampton rather than Justin Herbert?

BRISSETT, JACOBY - ARI

Brissett was a surprise fantasy commodity in the 2nd half of the 2025 season. When forced into heavy passing scripts, Brissett has shown he can put up respectable numbers. Across his 12 starts in 2025, he averaged roughly 288 passing yards per game, throwing 23 touchdowns to 8 interceptions. Now Brissett enters the 2026 season holding out for a new contract under a one-year, $4.9 million base salary. Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Mike LaFleur has yet to lock him in as the undisputed QB1. Brissett faces heavy competition from veteran Gardner Minshew II and 2026 third-round pick Carson Beck. Brissett's holdout from voluntary OTAs has provided Minshew and Beck an opportunity to steal early first-team reps, which certainly has not helped Brissett's cause. His 2026 fantasy value is heavily tied to volume and garbage-time production, and his starting job in Arizona is currently unstable due to the ongoing contract dispute and a looming quarterback competition.