Fantasy Football Week 16 quarterback rankings: COVID absences, injuries, underperformance take their toll

As we prep for Week 16, COVID remains one of the defining features of the football landscape, with Jared Goff, Tyler Huntley, and Taysom Hill among those on the COVID list at the QB position. And, with Lamar Jackson also ruled out with an ankle injury, it leaves the position continuing to look quite shallow. 

Week 15 saw just 38 passing touchdowns thrown in 32 QB games, the lowest total in a week with a full schedule since Week 15 of 2018. Passing production accounted for just 14.17 Fantasy points per QB game last week, the lowest total of the season and, again, the lowest total since Week 15 of 2018. In an era where passing production has basically consistently increased year over year, the second half of this season has seen a steep decline, and it’s impacted elite quarterbacks just as much as the lower tiers, with a few key exceptions. 

Which makes it hard to know who you can trust in this Fantasy playoff week. For instance, Dak Prescott is averaging just 12.6 points per game over his past five, while Kyler Murray hasn’t topped 20 in either of his past two games. Patrick Mahomes has been wildly inconsistent, and, oh yeah, Tom Brady just lost his top three targets from this season. 

Here are my QB rankings for Week 16. To see the rankings from Jamey Eisenberg, Dave Richard, and Heath Cummings, make sure you head here.  

Week 16 QB Rankings

1. Justin Herbert @HOU
2. Tom Brady @CAR
3. Josh Allen @NE
4. Jalen Hurts vs. NYG
5. Patrick Mahomes vs. PIT
6. Aaron Rodgers vs. CLE
7. Kyler Murray vs. IND
8. Matthew Stafford @MIN
9. Dak Prescott vs. WAS
10. Russell Wilson vs. CHI
11. Joe Burrow vs. BAL
12. Tua Tagovailoa @NO
13. Kirk Cousins vs. LAR
14. Matt Ryan vs. DET
15. Ben Roethlisberger @KC
16. Cam Newton vs. TB
17. Derek Carr vs. DEN
18. Trevor Lawrence @NYJ
19. Carson Wentz @ARI
20. Ian Book vs. MIA
21. Nick Foles @SEA
22. Mac Jones vs. BUF

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