Breakout QB Candidates For 2026 Fantasy Football: Jaxson Dart In Store For A Big Year 2

Every season, we look at players who have the talent but have not yet lived up to it. Sometimes it’s a new coach or new supporting teammates that could turn things around and make a player a star. These three quarterbacks have the opportunity to become 2026 breakout stars, all entering the second year of their respective careers.

Breakout QB Candidates For 2026 Fantasy Football

Jaxson Dart | NYG

The Giants gave the reins to Dart in Week 4, and except for the time he missed after suffering a concussion, the offense was his to command.

Dart had an excellent year, throwing for 2,272 yards, rushing for 487 yards, and totaling 24 touchdowns in 12 games.

New York needed to make a splash when selecting their head coach, and they did by hiring former Super Bowl-winning HC John Harbaugh.

To help Dart in his sophomore season, they brought in several veteran pass catchers, including Odell Beckham Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster, Darnell Mooney and Isaiah Likely. They also added a receiver in the draft by selecting Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields in the third round.

The biggest question for the Giants offense is the status of their star receiver, Malik Nabers. Last season, he suffered aseason-ending torn ACL, and then reports came out that he had a second “clean-up” procedure. They hope he is ready for Week 1, but that is why the Giants brought in depth.

Who should be ready after hisseason-ending broken ankle is the RB Cam Skattebo. The power back was on the verge of a breakout rookie season before the injury and could be the leader who commands the run game, opening it up for Dart’s passing attack.

Dart’s dynamic dual-threat ability and collection of offensive weapons can help him deliver a breakout sophomore year.

Cam Ward | TEN

The 2025 No. 1 overall pick had a disastrous rookie season. Last year, Ward finished 31st in passer rating (80.2), 31st in completion percentage (59.8%) and 33rd in EPA per dropback (-0.23).

Instead of giving up on Ward, Tennessee is building around him. It started in free agency with the signing of new weapons, including former Giants WR Wan’Dale Robinson, who is coming off a career-high 1,014 receiving yards, andTE Daniel Bellinger. With former Giants head coach Brian Daboll as the newest Titans offensive coordinator, he is familiar with Robinson and Bellinger and can build around their strengths.

Another big splash came in the draft when the Titans selected Ohio State WR Carnell Tate with the No. 4 overall pick. He’s a big-time receiver who averaged 17.2 yards per catch, along with 9 receiving touchdowns in 2025. This now gives Tennessee its cornerstone in the passing game for years to come, and he will have less pressure to start, with Calvin Ridley on the other side.

There’s a new coaching staff and new weapons; it feels like a fresh start for Ward, and he has the chance to excel.

Tyler Shough | NO

The NFC South was not a competitive division last season, with three teams, including the division winner, the Carolina Panthers, finishing 8-9. The Saints finished last with a 6-11 record, but ended the year on a positive note, winning four of their final five games.

You could attribute the late success to the decision to start second-round rookie quarterback Shough in Week 9. From Weeks 12-18, he was one of the league’s best quarterbacks, ranking 5th with 1,798 passing yards, and his 69.7% completion rate was the highest among quarterbacks who attempted at least 200 passes.

It has been a long time since the Saints have had a perennial 1-2 punch at wide receiver, and with 2022 first-round pick Chris Olave and 2026 first-round pick Jordyn Tyson, they could have a dangerous aerial attack that could make Shough a star.

Players Mentioned in this Article

JaxsonDart
QBNYG
PPG
17.0
Proj
301.8
CamWard
QBTEN
PPG
10.9
Proj
234.2
TylerShough
QBNO
PPG
14.5
Proj
273.1

Published Jun 5, 2026, 6:45 AM ET

Breakout QB Candidates For 2026 Fantasy Football: Jaxson Dart In Store For A Big Year 2

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