The Rise of Dual‑Threat Quarterbacks in 2026 Fantasy Football
Analysts have turned to a handful of metrics that reliably predict a quarterback’s future fantasy output, moving beyond traditional passing stats to embrace rushing volume, efficiency under pressure and real‑world game results.
Among those metrics, rushing attempts stand out as the single strongest indicator of next‑season fantasy points per game, while completion percentage shows only a weak relationship.
Kyler Murray exemplifies the new archetype, having posted an average of 19.4 fantasy points per game since 2019 and delivering his highest rush totals and yards per game in 2025 despite a recent ACL injury.
His coach, Kevin O'Connell, has a track record of guiding veteran signal‑callers to an 18.1 point average across twelve full games, and the Minnesota Vikings’ top‑five red‑zone pass rate under his scheme could further boost Murray’s production.
Bo Nix, another emerging talent, combined a 5.3 rush attempt average with 20.3 scramble yards per game in 2025, while also posting the league’s lowest pressure‑to‑sack ratio, underscoring his ability to avoid hits.
Nix’s EPA/DB metric outpaces several established rookies, including Jaxson Dart, suggesting a promising trajectory for his fantasy value.
Justin Herbert continues to blend arm talent with mobility, ranking sixth in rushing yards per game among quarterbacks in 2025, and his efficiency surged when Joe Alt was on the field.
Perhaps the most striking development involves Malik Willis, whose EPA/DB of 0.47 over the past two seasons tops the NFL, a figure nearly double that of Josh Allen, the next closest quarterback in that category.