2016 Fantasy Football QB Rankings

Fantasy-QBTo begin the 2016 NFL Season, Tom Brady is going to finally serve the four game suspension that began almost two years ago. Peyton Manning finally retired but not before winning one more Super Bowl ring. Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are set for an encore in their second year, and Cam Newton, well, let’s just say the self-proclaimed Superman is heading into another season with plenty of value.

As opening day of the 2016 NFL season quickly approaches, many teams have Quarterback decisions to make heading into the season. Whether the teams are dealing with retirements, replacements, or injuries, a decision for naming a starting QB is one of the biggest a team can make in the off-season.

The Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, and New York Jets are going to struggle this year while they deal with a new player lining up behind center. That is what makes fantasy football one of the most exciting games on the web. Let’s take a look at the 2016 NFL Fantasy Football rankings for Quarterbacks.

25. Robert Griffin III

Washington Redskins v New Orleans Saints

Team: Cleveland Browns

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 3,350
  • Touchdowns: 15
  • Interceptions: 13
  • Rushing Yards: 400
  • Touchdowns: 2

24. Jared Goff

Jared Goff

Team: Los Angeles Rams

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 3200
  • Touchdowns: 15
  • Interceptions: 14
  • Rushing Yards: 115
  • Touchdowns: 1

23. Teddy Bridgewater

Teddy Bridgewater

Team: Minnesota Vikings

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 3500
  • Touchdowns: 22
  • Interceptions: 10
  • Rushing Yards: 250
  • Touchdowns: 1

22. Tom Brady

Tom Brady

Team: New England Patriots

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 3500
  • Touchdowns: 28
  • Interceptions: 8
  • Rushing Yards: 50
  • Touchdowns: 0

21. Brock Osweiler

Brock Osweiler

Team: Denver Broncos

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 3800
  • Touchdowns: 25
  • Interceptions: 12
  • Rushing Yards: 125
  • Touchdowns: 2

20. Joe Flacco

Joe Flacco

Team: Baltimore Ravens

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 4100
  • Touchdowns: 26
  • Interceptions: 12
  • Rushing Yards: 55
  • Touchdowns: 1

19. Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins

Team: Washington Redskins

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 4000
  • Touchdowns: 28
  • Interceptions: 14
  • Rushing Yards: 65
  • Touchdowns: 1

18. Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan

Team: Atlanta Falcons

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 4400
  • Touchdowns: 26
  • Interceptions: 14
  • Rushing Yards: 75
  • Touchdowns: 1

17. Andy Dalton

Andy Dalton

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 3800
  • Touchdowns: 27
  • Interceptions: 14
  • Rushing Yards: 160
  • Touchdowns: 2

16. Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford

Team: Detroit Lions

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 4200
  • Touchdowns: 25
  • Interceptions: 12
  • Rushing Yards: 135
  • Touchdowns: 1

15. Philip Rivers

Philip Rivers

Team: San Diego Chargers

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 4500
  • Touchdowns: 29
  • Interceptions: 14
  • Rushing Yards: 45
  • Touchdowns: 0

14. Eli Manning

New York Giants

Team: New York Giants

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 4400
  • Touchdowns: 30
  • Interceptions: 13
  • Rushing Yards: 45
  • Touchdowns: 0

13. Tyrod Taylor

Tyrod Taylor

Team: Buffalo Bills

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 3400
  • Touchdowns: 22
  • Interceptions: 12
  • Rushing Yards: 575
  • Touchdowns: 3

12. Marcus Mariota

Marcus Mariota

Team: Tennessee Titans

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 3500
  • Touchdowns: 25
  • Interceptions: 15
  • Rushing Yards: 425
  • Touchdowns: 4

11. Jameis Winston

Jameis Winston

Team: Tampa Bay Buccanneers

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 3900
  • Touchdowns: 26
  • Interceptions: 12
  • Rushing Yards: 225
  • Touchdowns: 3

10. Derek Carr

Derek Carr

Team: Oakland Raiders

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 4100
  • Touchdowns: 30
  • Interceptions: 14
  • Rushing Yards: 125
  • Touchdowns: 2

Outlook: The fans in Oakland knew Derek Carr was something special the moment they drafted him in 2014. He has since thrown for 7,257 yards and 53 touchdowns which is the most productive back-to-back season since the days of Rich Gannon. He has also helped turn their offense into a beast with Amari Cooper, Latavius Murray, and Mychal Rivera, a future stud at TE. We are starting to think Derek Carr is ranked too low.

9. Carson Palmer

Carson Palmer

Team: Arizona Cardinals

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 4500
  • Touchdowns: 30
  • Interceptions: 12
  • Rushing Yards: 45
  • Touchdowns: 0

Outlook: At the age of 36 years old (turns 37 in December), Carson Palmer is running out of time to win himself a Super Bowl but he finds himself in a prime position to do so in Arizona. He has David Johnson (NFL’s future star), Michael Floyd, John Brown, and the always dependable Larry Fitzgerald all at his disposal. He played in 16 games last season and threw for 4,671 yards with a TD-INT ratio of 35-11. It was his best season of his career and all signs point towards much of the same in 2016.

8. Ryan Tannehill

Miami Dolphins vs New England Patriots

Team: Miami Dolphins

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 4200
  • Touchdowns: 28
  • Interceptions: 12
  • Rushing Yards: 200
  • Touchdowns: 2

Outlook: Jay Ajayi didn’t start playing until week 8 of his rookie season and is now set to be the starter in a questionable Miami offense heading into the 2016 season. That doesn’t help Ryan Tannehill’s projections. He was supposed to have a breakout season in 2015 but failed to do so, but not by much. So with Adam Gase, the mastermind that turned Tim Tebow into a superstar in Denver and also turned Jay Cutler into a $126 million dollar man, is now the head coach and will get to help turn Ryan into that next level QB. The offense is going to be up-tempo and fast-paced but without an experienced RB, the wins might come far and few between. As far as fantasy goes, however, the lack of depth at RB equals more throws from Tannehill. He will have the best season of his short career so plan accordingly. Just don’t expect too many wins. (Note: We are assuming Arian Foster isn’t going to be very useful, if not at all this season, at least early on. By the time he is ready for action, Ajayi could own the role.)

7. Ben Roethlisberger

Baltimore Ravens v Pittsburgh Steelers

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 4600
  • Touchdowns: 30
  • Interceptions: 14
  • Rushing Yards: 75
  • Touchdowns: 1

Outlook: Big Ben struggled last season because of constant battles with injuries. But he still managed to average 328.2 yards per game, the most in his career, leaving us to think that if he goes 16 games, he finishes with over 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns, at least, that is what many were expecting out of him last year. If Leveon Bell can find a way to stop getting suspended, the Steelers offense could be the best in the league. If there is any time to expect big things from Ben Roesthlisberger, it is in 2016.

6. Blake Bortles

Blake Bortles

Team: Jacksonville Jaguars

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 4200
  • Touchdowns: 28
  • Interceptions: 18
  • Rushing Yards: 350
  • Touchdowns: 2

Outlook: Fans in Jacksonville were hoping Blake Bortles would eventually become their star at QB, they just didn’t expect it to happen so fast. In only his second season, first full year as their starter, he passed for 4,428 yards, 35 touchdowns, third most by a second year QB in NFL history, and only 18 interceptions. With Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Rashad Greene, Marquise Lee, and Julius Thomas at his disposal, Blake Bortles has the best chance of anyone to finish higher on this list.

5. Drew Brees

Atlanta Falcons v New Orleans Saints

Team: New Orleans Saints

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 4800
  • Touchdowns: 35
  • Interceptions: 13
  • Rushing Yards: 25
  • Touchdowns: 0

Outlook: Sean Payton and Drew Brees both came to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina back in 2006, brought New Orleans their first ever Super Bowl championship, and have won 7 or more games every season in the Big Easy. However, they have struggled on defense the last few seasons and were dead last in 2015. Drew Brees turns 38 in January of 2017 and is in the final year of a contract he wants to get an extension on. His numbers have declined over the past four seasons but even then, he is averaging 5,040 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. He missed a game last season but his average yards per game was the highest in four seasons meaning if he goes 16 games, he might be the most valuable passing QB in the NFL for fantasy and in real life.

4. Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson

Team: Seattle Seahawks

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 3700
  • Touchdowns: 27
  • Interceptions: 11
  • Rushing Yards: 520
  • Touchdowns: 3

Outlook: The Seahawks have grown accustomed to winning, thanks to an incredible defense. Last season, however, they struggled in the first six games losing four of them and sitting in an ugly spot. With the help of Russell Wilson, they turned things around and finished 8-2 to find themselves at 10-6 and heading into the playoffs. What people forget is that the struggles they dealt with helped turn Mr. Wilson into an elite fantasy QB. He has become a more accurate running QB that learned how to win without Marshawn Lynch. Their defense will be the best in the NFL and he will have a slew of future star RBs in his backfield this season to work with. He is worthy of a 2nd round selection in 2016.

3. Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers

Team: Green Bay Packers

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 4300
  • Touchdowns: 34
  • Interceptions: 6
  • Rushing Yards: 250
  • Touchdowns: 1

Outlook: The Packers finished 10-6 in 2015 earning their seventh consecutive playoff appearance in Aaron Rodgers 8th season as the QB. Unlike most of the league’s best QBs, Aaron Rodgers does something better than just about anyone ever, in the history of the game, and that’s throw a football. His accuracy and decision-making has turned him into a sure-fire stud in fantasy, even in bad seasons like 2013 when he missed 7 games. He will give you 30+ touchdowns, 4,000+ passing yards, and less than 8 picks, guaranteed. If not for Luck, Rodgers would be the clear number two choice in this league.

2. Andrew Luck

Andrew Luck

Team: Indianapolis Colts

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 4400
  • Touchdowns: 33
  • Interceptions: 12
  • Rushing Yards: 300
  • Touchdowns: 4

Outlook: 2015 is over and done with. There is no more second guessing yourself about choosing Andrew Luck anymore, he is going to be just fine. He started the season dealing with a bad shoulder and ended it with a lacerated kidney and partially torn abdominal muscle, an injury that is extremely painful. Many aren’t sure if he will return to his 2014 self or if he might need another year to reach those numbers again, well, if you look at his schedule, you might want to assume he will be great. His first five games include home games against Detroit, San Diego, and Chicago with two away games sending them to Denver and Jacksonville. He will have ample of chances to go off in 2016.

1. Cam Newton

Cam Newton

Team: Carolina Panthers

2016 Stat Projections:

  • Passing Yards: 3800
  • Touchdowns: 28
  • Interceptions: 12
  • Rushing Yards: 650
  • Touchdowns: 6

Outlook: Last season, Cam Newton beat the odds and led the Carolina Panthers and their top-rated defense to an incredible 15-1 record and his first career Super Bowl appearance. His offensive production was more than enough to win him the coveted MVP of the league too. He might not match the same level as he did in 2015 this year but since he has the ability to run, he is the best fantasy QB available.