Nic BodifordAug 13, 2026
A PFF fantasy piece names Josh Allen, Drake Maye and Justin Herbert as the three contenders to finish as the overall QB1 in 2026, and predicts Herbert will post career-best passing numbers in Mike McDaniel's new scheme.
Published in writing · Pro Football FocusRead the original
What Nic Bodiford said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromHerbert should be expected to post career-best passing numbers this season, playing behind a healthy offensive line in a significantly upgraded offensive scheme.
- Where it was published
- Pro Football Focus
- The piece
- Fantasy Football 2026: 3 contenders for the overall QB1 finish
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Justin Herbert to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points“He possesses the requisite rushing upside to finish as the overall QB1 this season.”
- 2Josh Allen to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points“Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert are all in play to be the position's top scorer.”
- 3Drake Maye to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points“Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert are all in play to be the position's top scorer.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Herbert to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points1 | Positional Finishes | — | — | — | — | |
| Josh Allen to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points2 | Positional Finishes | — | — | — | — | |
| Drake Maye to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points3 | Positional Finishes | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 3 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
3 checkable claims — 3 positional finishes — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
Josh Allen · 2026 season · positional finish4 calls from 4 pundits between 1 positional finish and 1 positional finish. Nic Bodiford said 1 positional finish. the room's median is 1 positional finish. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Their call against the room
positional finishTheir call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
1Positional FinishesJustin HerbertLos Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Positional FinishesJosh AllenBuffalo Bills
Josh Allen to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Positional FinishesDrake MayeNew England Patriots
Drake Maye to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Nate Gosney · Trade and Signing Calls · Daiyan Henley · Miss 0
After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season.Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · Buffalo Bills · Close 76
Prisco picked the Bills to win 21-14 at Minnesota.John Breech · Score Predictions · Buffalo Bills · Close 76
Breech picked the Bills to beat the Vikings on Monday night by a score of 24-17.Jordan Dajani · Score Predictions · Buffalo Bills · Close 62
Dajani picked the Bills to edge the Vikings 24-23.Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · Buffalo Bills · Close 74
Dubin picked Buffalo to win a low-scoring Monday night game in Minnesota, 20-14.Tyler Sullivan · Score Predictions · Buffalo Bills · Close 76
Sullivan picked the Bills to beat the Vikings 24-17.
More positional finishes
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Nick Wright · Positional Finishes · Puka Nacua · Close 75
Nick Wright picked the Ravens to beat Houston this weekend even with Lamar Jackson possibly out (leaning on Derrick Henry and Cooper Rush), the Chiefs to win in Jacksonville, and the Rams to beat the 49ers on Thursday night. They also laid out an AFC playoff field of Bills, Steelers, Chiefs, Chargers and Colts, projected the Chiefs' receiver pecking order once Rashee Rice returns, and called Justin Jefferson the best receiver in football with Puka Nacua a top-five receiver.Rich Hribar · Positional Finishes · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Hribar published their 2023 fantasy football quarterback tiers, ordering 41 quarterbacks into eight tiers that reflect how they prioritize drafting the position, with Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes in the top tier as the trio most likely to finish as the overall QB1.Chris Brockman · Positional Finishes · Jaxon Smith-Njigba · Hit 100
Brockman argued Jaxon Smith-Njigba is already the best receiver in the NFL and deserves to be the highest paid, called their shot that three quarterbacks (Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Carson Beck) go in the first round with Mendoza first overall, and suggested New England is headed for a 7-10 season.Ryan Tracy · Positional Finishes · Bryan Cook · Miss 0
Tracy argues the Chiefs should address edge rusher and defensive tackle via the draft and use free agency on running back and wide receiver; they name Brian Robinson as their target, expects Kenneth Walker III to re-sign with Seattle, thinks Nick Bolton-style veterans like Jerry Tillery, Derek Nnadi and Mike Pennel shouldn't return, believes Bryan Cook is a top-10 safety the Chiefs can't afford, and predicts a quarterback (Trinidad Chambliss) will rocket up boards so more than one QB goes in the top 10.Pat Gustavson · Positional Finishes · Bijan Robinson · Close 75
Gustafson picks the Patriots, Bills, Seahawks and Bears in the divisional round with a Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl, predicts Mike Tomlin and Matt LaFleur stay, Aaron Rodgers returns to Pittsburgh, and lays out their own coaching landing spots.