Daniel Jones enters the 2026 fantasy football season returning ahead of schedule from an Achilles injury that ended last season after a red-hot start. He was leading one of the most dangerous offenses to open last year, something none of us saw coming and that leaves a very clear question as we prepare for this new season: was it a mirage?
Should I Draft Daniel Jones in Fantasy Football?
The passing efficiency Jones showed early last year was a major outlier for his career profile. Before 2025, his first season with the Colts, Jones had never averaged even seven yards per pass. However, he thrived initially in Shane Steichen’s scheme, averaging 8.1 YPA and looking like a completely different signal caller.
That efficiency translated directly to fantasy dominance, as he finished as a top-12 QB1 in six of his first seven games. On the ground, his efficiency dipped slightly (his 3.6 yards per carry was a career low) but he still managed to rush for five scores, which was his second-best career output and anchored his fantasy floor.
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The primary concern for 2026 lies with his supporting cast. Michael Pittman is now in Pittsburgh, vacating massive target volume and an established safety blanket. Field-stretcher Alec Pierce’s health is spotty at best, a terrible sign after inking a nine-figure deal. The front office added veteran Keenan Allen to the room, but Allen didn’t have any free-agent interest until mid-August as he enters his age-34 season.
Looking at the remaining roster, Josh Downs is a player I like, but a role change in this transitioning offense always carries risk. At tight end, Tyler Warren is a star, and that provides some stability over the middle of the field, but holistically, this is below-average weaponry.
Given the limitations of the receiving corps and Jones’ ongoing recovery/risk, this is a team that very much could lean heavily into the ground game with Jonathan Taylor. Treat Jones as a risky buy and one that shouldn’t be counted on to repeat his success during the first half of 2025.
Kyle Soppe’s QB Fantasy Rankings 2026
- Josh Allen | BUF
- Drake Maye | NE
- Joe Burrow | CIN
- Lamar Jackson | BAL
- Jayden Daniels | WAS
- Caleb Williams | CHI
- Justin Herbert | LAC
- Jalen Hurts | PHI
- Jaxson Dart | NYG
- Trevor Lawrence | JAX
- Dak Prescott | DAL
- Bo Nix | DEN
- Patrick Mahomes II | KC
- Brock Purdy | SF
- Matthew Stafford | LAR
- Jared Goff | DET
- Kyler Murray | MIN
- Jordan Love | GB
- Baker Mayfield | TB
- Tyler Shough | NO
- Malik Willis | MIA
- Daniel Jones | IND
- C.J. Stroud | HOU
- Sam Darnold | SEA
- Bryce Young | CAR
- Jacoby Brissett | ARI
- Cam Ward | TEN
- Aaron Rodgers | PIT
- Fernando Mendoza | LV
- Justin Fields | KC
- Kirk Cousins | LV
- Geno Smith | NYJ
