Understanding which QBs can run is one of the most underrated edges in fantasy football. There's a massive difference between a QB rushing for 400+ yards and five touchdowns versus one who barely cracks 150 yards with no touchdowns. That rushing upside raises both the floor and the ceiling.

Last year's QB finishes demonstrate this. Nine of the top 12 fantasy QBs rushed for at least 350 yards. The only three who didn't (Matthew Stafford, Dak Prescott, and Jared Goff) had to throw for over 4,500 yards and 30 touchdowns just to keep up!

This newsletter breaks down all 32 starting QBs heading into 2026. We identify the QBs set to be mobile monsters, the ones who carry some sneaky rushing upside, and the ones who don’t run at all. The goals of this exercise: find the QBs with rushing upside and give fantasy managers a clear picture of which QBs run.

If you missed our analysis on WR room construction, be sure to check that out here! We went through all 32 WR rooms, analyzing the alpha, the WRs set to be in balanced passing attacks, and the WRs in top-heavy rooms.

These QBs are set to have high rushing upside in 2026. These signal-callers have shown the potential to rack up yards on the ground each week and could surpass 400 rushing yards on the season.

Finding QBs with rushing upside in the mid-to-late rounds could be a huge advantage. Most of the QBs in this chart are going within the first few rounds, but there are two QBs who could be potential fantasy values later in drafts.

Kyler Murray:

Many fantasy managers may have forgotten that Kyler Murray is one of the best rushing quarterbacks in the league when healthy. He has rushed for at least 400 yards in every season he has played at least 10 games, including 572 rushing yards in his last full season in 2025.

His 151.7 ADP in Sleeper leagues makes him a mid-round value, and one of the few mobile monsters still available that late in drafts. In limited action last year, he averaged 34.6 rush yards per game before a season-ending injury cut his year short.

Malik Willis:

Malik Willis finally gets a shot as a starter after signing a multi-year deal with the Miami Dolphins this offseason. In just three starts since the beginning of 2024, Willis has run for 41 yards, 73 yards, and 60 yards while scoring three rushing touchdowns, flashing exactly the kind of upside that belongs in the mobile monster conversation.

Currently sitting at 137.8 ADP in Sleeper leagues, Willis’ rushing ceiling alone could carry him to a top-12 QB finish in 2026.

These QBs have shown the potential to run at a high level. Most fantasy managers are overlooking their rushing ability heading into 2026. While everyone is fighting over the mobile monsters, these signal-callers are quietly putting up yards on the ground every week.

Most fantasy managers are sleeping on these three QBs. Known more for their arms, each one has the legs to rush for 300+ yards and a handful of touchdowns this season.

Tyler Shough:

Tyler Shough came on strong as a fantasy option late last season, averaging 18.6 points per game over his final eight contests. A big reason was his sneaky rushing upside. He topped 20 rush yards in four of his last seven games, highlighted by a 55-yard, two-touchdown rushing performance in Week 14 against the Buccaneers.

Shough won't be a true mobile monster, but consistent rushing contributions each week make him a legitimate sleeper at his 144.4 ADP.

Deshaun Watson:

We are currently projecting Watson as Cleveland’s starter, event though they’re unlikely to name their starter until closer to the season. Although he didn’t play in 2025, his inclusion in this section is due to his rushing history. He averaged 21.2 rush yards per game in 2024, 23.7 yards per game in 2023, and 29.2 yards per game in 2022.

Expect some regression here coming off of the achilles tear. But our preliminary projections put him at 16.5 rushing yards in Week 1. That sneaky ground production could make him a viable QB2 in superflex formats.

Fernando Mendoza:

Fernando Mendoza is harder to project as a rookie, but the rushing upside is real. He ran for 276 yards and seven touchdowns in his final college season at Indiana, and if that rate carries over to the NFL, Mendoza could emerge as one of 2026's sneakiest rushing quarterbacks.

Our preliminary projections have him at 22.8 rushing yards in a Week 1 matchup against Miami. Tons will change before then (like us finding out whether he will have the starting job), but nevertheless the projection gives some idea of the weekly production Walter would expect. That dual-threat potential alone could push him to low-end QB1 territory.

These QBs do their damage through the air and nothing else. Don't expect much rushing from this group on the ground. All 13 of these QBs are likely to finish with under 200 rushing yards on the season.

It’s not unheard of to see QBs who barely run post unexpected rushing numbers. For example, Justin Herbert surprisingly ran for 498 yards last year after rushing for just 147 yards a few years earlier. Two QBs from this chart could have a similar jump:

Bryce Young:

Bryce Young has shown some sneaky rushing ability over the past two seasons. He has topped 20 rush yards in 10 of his last 30 games, and had a 24-yard, one-touchdown rushing performance in Carolina's Wild Card loss to the Rams last season.

Young won't threaten the 350-400 yard range, but a 300-yard rushing season is well within reach. He ranked 13th among all QBs in scramblers per game last year at 2.06 and rushed for six touchdowns just two seasons ago. If he can get to the 300-yard mark with five touchdowns, he could be a better all-around fantasy option.

C.J. Stroud:

C.J. Stroud showed sneaky rushing upside to start the 2025 season, averaging 25.3 rush yards per game through the first eight weeks. That number cratered to just 3.3 yards per game over his final six contests, which was due to a concussion he suffered in Week 9. Stroud was clearly more hesitant to take off and run post-concussion.

With that injury now behind him, Stroud could recapture that early-season mobility. He ranked 16th among all QBs in scrambles per game last year at 1.79.