For this exercise, I left presumptive No. 1 pick and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) and cool-as-cucumber Ty Simpson (Bama) off the list. With Mendoza expected to start the draft and Simpson likely to go late in Round 1, these are slam-dunk must-draft players across all dynasty formats. What if you’re QB needy and don’t have the capital for those two? Let’s get into it.
For more ‘gems and landmines’ you can go here: Running Backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends
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Dynasty Rookie Quarterback Gems
Trinidad Chambliss (RS Senior), Ole Miss
Chambliss seemingly came out of nowhere, and so he did. Dept. II Ferris State to be precise, where the school is as well known as the city it is located in Big Rapids (not Grand Rapids), MI. The quarterback of Grand Rapids enrolled in the school in 2021, where he ultimately became the “big fish in a small pond” as he led the Bulldogs to the Div. II Championship in 2024, where he totaled five touchdowns. With nothing left to prove at that level, Chambliss entered the transfer portal with his sights set on moving up to a competitive Division I program.
Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss came calling. Expectations weren’t high for a kid making the jump to the big leagues, and Chambliss ended his collegiate career with just one Div. I season under his belt. But what a season it was. All Chambliss did was lead the SEC with 3,937 yards passing, with 22 touchdowns through the air to a paltry three interceptions. He went another 527 meters with his legs and found dirt eight more times. The 23-year-old finished his lone top season eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting and led Ole Miss to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff as the No. 6-ranked team.
Trinidad Chambliss’s playing instincts are ridiculous.
This series of 3 plays sums it up. pic.twitter.com/scveD6uOFc
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 2, 2026
If you thought the Justin Fieldses and Anthony Richardsons of the world have soured the salivation of NFL general managers on their ability to play dual threats, you’re seriously mistaken. Chambliss is cool and accurate in the pocket, but his awareness and escape ability are also at pro level. He has the ‘can’t learn’ ability to stretch the play and allow receivers to find holes in broken plays, which is very much the key to his success. Furthermore, he does not limit himself to the ‘tuck-and-run’, but finds every way to play like one quarterback First. Finally, Chambliss typically only uses his legs on designed goalies and for immediate survival against heavy pressure.
The clock for the NFL is ticking loudly. The redshirt senior is fighting another year at Ole Miss, presumably hoping to finish the journeys he started in his lone season. February 12 is his date The interim measure will be dealt with by the court. Given the draft class landscape, he would be better off coming in now with a Day 2 grade against teams in a mediocre QB class than trying his luck against a bevy of signal-callers in 2027. Win or lose, he has time to make the final decision…but not much. Fantasy managers should target him at the top of the second round once Mendoza and Simpson come off the board. Depending on the 2026 Combine results, he has a chance to leapfrog Simpson thanks to his athletic skills.
Sawyer Robertson (RS Senior), Baylor
There are several quarterbacks who will come off the board before Robertson at the 2026 NFL Draft. Garrett Nussmeier, Taylen Greene and Drew Allar are expected to find homes first. However, we can’t talk about fantasy football gems without mentioning a few names that will fly under the radar in your league. Robertson enters. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it could be the next big thing among waterfowl that can drop a pass in the breadbasket of a wide 50-yard field.
However, Robertson is no duck. He finished his college career as a Baylor Bear, and he has all the prototypical quarterback traits to back that up. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds (conservative), he’s big. He has the arm strength to match the profile, routinely tops completions of 20+ yards, and he trusts his wallet rather than coming out when things get tough. Instead, he uses pro-level footwork to reset for throws and rarely gets caught on his back foot. That said, a pocket passer can get rid of the ball very quickly, which is something NFL scouts like to see from a young quarterback. He reads the pressure on the line and has already made a decision. Best of all, he anticipates routes and releases the ball while trusting his receivers.
Back in September I tweeted asking if Baylor QB Sawyer Robertson was the most slept on QB in this draft class and with a thinned out crop he will likely be a Top 5 QB in this draft class for me if my big board falls.
6’4, 225 lbs., an arm that oozes talent… pic.twitter.com/GbK9EwJzlw
— Reason (@the_real_reason) January 27, 2026
The Lubbock, Texas native, who turned 22 yesterday, has the strength and presence in his pocket that scouts value highly. Robertson played under Mike Leach in the Air Raid attack, which relies on deep passing and accuracy. To that end, his average air meter/attempt is a silly 17.8 yards. He also achieved an impressive exit velocity of 76.6 mph at the Senior Bowl. After a year under Leach’s tutelage, he brought his knowledge of the Air Raid to Baylor, which has had widespread offense since the days of Art Briles.
Robertson’s second season resulted in a lot of warm-up off the bench, save for a few spots due to injury. An injury to the starter in 2024 led to Robertson walking away from the gig. In his final two seasons, he totaled 3,000 yards in each (leading the Big 12 in 2025), along with 59 touchdowns. He added seven more on the ground, although that can’t be counted on at the next level.
Robertson, like others, can only improve his stock at the combine by showing what he’s good at. He’s currently expected to appear at the draft around the middle of Day 3, but he’s not headed to a team desperate for a starter nowbut there is little problem with targeting him in rookie drafts in the fourth round. If put in the right situation because an organization is moving on or due to injury (*cough* Minny *cough*), he could do real damage in a system that values the deep ball and become a fantasy boon.
Dynasty Rookie Quarterback Landmine
Garrett Nussmeier (Senior), LSU
Many fantasy managers probably expected this name to appear a little higher on the page. First the boring stuff, for those in the camp measurables are of utmost importance: Nussmeier is 6 feet tall in a phone book. 200 pounds soaking wet, and that’s very generous. He has 8 6/8″ hands (that’s less than 9″, folks) and an arm length/reach of less than 31″. There are NFL defensive backs who are bigger. It is to Nussmeier’s credit that sometimes played much bigger than it looks. However, the useful word here is ‘sometimes’. Nussmeier has proven to be a bit streaky in his career, which simply won’t work out when he’s tasked with leading a team of Gentlemen.
Nussmeier is everything you are looking for in terms of highlights and electricity. A climax full of impressive weapons battles and epic victories from the brink of defeat. Heading into the 2025 draft process, Nussmeier was routinely discussed as a pick on Day 1. All he had to do was strengthen his athleticism at the combine. He then surprised many by returning to Baton Rouge for a fifth season.
“If he plays well, he’s healthy again. If he plays poorly, he’s injured again. I just thought the commentary on his performance was funny.”@FBallGamePlan on how former LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier is evaluated: pic.twitter.com/rbvkhHiEx5
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) February 1, 2026
That turned out to be a mistake. Yes, Nussmeier battled an oblique injury that ultimately ended his season four games early. You’d think such a nagging injury for a potential first-round pick would be worth fighting through. In the season that put him on the radar as a first-round pick, Nussmeier’s stats were breathtaking. Or were they? Certainly, there were some very exciting performances, and he pitched for more than 4,000 meters. 29 TDs? A conference-leading 12 picks over 13 games? Wrong direction. Despite all the good things people had to say, perhaps a return to LSU was because he still felt unproven. Still, it wasn’t the best laid plan. He returned last season, playing through injury for 214 yards per game and 12 touchdowns in nine games. Just like that, his draft stock attracted an Amber Heard.
Even his most successful season 4,000/29/12 would not make it onto the big stage. Be careful what you read. Watch the tape for yourself and don’t let the emotions of the games cloud your judgment. Nussmeier fans talk him down like he’s still a first-rounder. Especially after cashing in on the Senior Bowl MVP (no longer injured) as he hit five of nine for 57 yards, a rushing touchdown and his signature interception. Speaking of rushing, if you think that’s part of his game, think again. Nussmeier finished his five-year career with 70 attempts negative 134 yards (college rushing stats include yardage lost due to sacks). Fantasy managers will race for Nussmeier in rookie drafts at the end of the second round. Let them.
Quantity over quality
There is both good and bad news across the board at the quarterback position for the 2026 NFL Draft. The bad news is that there are very few guaranteed starters on Day 1. Two: possible. The good news is that there are a wealth of guys worth putting into super flex leagues. Many of them could be backups from the jump. But as anyone in fantasy knows, you’re just an injury away from a youth movement. Happy hunting.
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