Everything Went Wrong for Jaxson Dart Last Year. He Still Finished QB14

Jaxson Dart has nothing but upside

LAB REPORTS

By: The Lab

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There's one player I've been bullish on all year, and it's Jaxson Dart. The talent is unreal. When I look at this offense heading into 2026, I see a quarterback capable of being a top 5 fantasy option once everything around him settles down.

The Numbers

In 11 starts he finished as the overall QB14, just outside the top 12. He threw for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions, while adding 487 rushing yards and 9 rushing touchdowns on the ground. That's 24 total touchdowns in 11 games. His signature performance came against the Broncos, where he threw for 283 yards with 3 passing touchdowns and added a rushing score on top of it. What stands out most is that this is a player who can put up legitimate QB1 numbers whenever he's actually on the field.

What Went Wrong Around Him

None of this is a fantasy deal breaker, but the team went 4-10 in the games he appeared in. Malik Nabers tore his ACL right around the same time Dart took over as the starter, so the two of them barely got a chance to play together. Cam Skattebo suffered a season ending ankle injury, which cut short the momentum everyone felt after that Thursday night breakout. On top of all that, Brian Daboll was fired midseason. Given the chaos surrounding him, a QB14 finish should be viewed as a floor, not a ceiling. With a more stable situation and a full coaching staff in place from day one, the outlook only gets better from here.

What's Different in 2026

There's a new head coach in John Harbaugh and a new offensive coordinator in Matt Nagy. If there's one thing that gives me pause about this offense, it's the Nagy hire. Skattebo should be ready for Week 1. I'm still not fully confident in Nabers. The Giants also added weapons in Isaiah Likely, Darnell Mooney, and one of my favorite Day 3 picks in Malachi Fields, along with bringing back Beckham and adding JuJu Smith-Schuster. Some tough roster decisions are coming at receiver. What excites me most is that with a real head coaching presence now in place, I expect Dart to play a little less recklessly. My hesitation is still the offensive coordinator. If things start slow, there's a real chance playcalling shifts away from Nagy the same way it did in Chicago, and that could end up helping Dart more than hurting him.

Where He's Being Drafted

Current ADP has Dart sitting somewhere in the QB10 to QB12 range, roughly the 7th or 8th round of a 12 team league. That price feels right to me. I love it when a breakout quarterback isn't being drafted near the top of the position. By the time I'm on the clock for Dart, I already have my core roster in place without having to reach for one of the pricier quarterbacks.

My Take

I'm genuinely high on Dart this year. What I saw as a rookie is enough to convince me he's this year's version of Drake Maye, a player who takes the leap the moment the situation around him stabilizes. He gives me real Josh Allen vibes, a quarterback who can beat you with his arm and his legs. That combination is the closest thing fantasy football has to a cheat code. Why pay up for someone like Jalen Hurts or Jayden Daniels when you can get a discount on a quarterback I think ends up being the best one in his own division?

Busy Dad Fantasy | X: @BusyDadFantasy

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