NFL Quarterbacks Have Changed

We added a 17th game to the schedule. And somehow quarterbacks are throwing for fewer yards. And the numbers are worse than you think. In 2016, 13 NFL quarterbacks threw for over 4,000 yards. Drew Brees went for over 5,000 that year. Matt Ryan almost hit 5,000. Rogers, Rivers, Eli, Luck, and Stafford all cleared 4,000 passing yards. Then all of a sudden, the league flipped. Only six quarterbacks reached 4,000 yards in 2024, and only six again in 2025. And they had an extra game. They had 17 games to get there. So where did all the passing yards go? Well, defenses stopped giving quarterbacks the matchups they wanted.

We're seeing way more zone. There's fewer deep shots, and these defenses are forcing these teams to play underneath and force longer drives. But that adjustment opened up a new opportunity. Teams started drafting smaller coverage defenders to take away explosive plays, and offenses answered that with heavier formations and a stronger run game. We're seeing tighter sets, extra tight ends, rotating running backs that can handle volume, and short area receivers who can win underneath all day. That's why I think rushing volume, running back rotations, and these underneath target hogs are going to matter even more in 2026 because the NFL has already changed.

That's one of the biggest trends I'll be tracking on Data Streak this season. If you want to try it out, links in my bio.

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