JUMP TO:
- Week 16 QB Rankings
- QB injuries to monitor Week 16
- Top fantasy QBs this week
- Best QB Week 16 sleepers
- Week 16 QB bust candidates
In most league formats, the fantasy football playoffs start in Week 16. For the quarterback position, all starters are in play -- for better or worse.
Well, except for Patrick Mahomes, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL as the Chiefs' playoff hopes for this season also ended.
Luckily, in most fantasy games, quarterback replacements from the waiver wire at least have a high weekly floor compared to other positions, and Mahomes managers have plenty of replacements.
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Fantasy QB Rankings Week 16: Start-sit quarterback lineup advice for your league playoffs
These Week 16 quarterback rankings are based on 4-point passing touchdowns and one point for every 25 passing yards.
↕️ Fantasy Rankings for Week 16: RB | WR | TE | D/ST | PK | Flex Cheat Sheet
| Rk | Tr | Name | TM | OPP |
| 1 | 1 | Jared Goff | DET | PIT |
| 2 | 1 | Jalen Hurts | PHI | @WAS |
| 3 | 1 | Trevor Lawrence | JAX | @DEN |
| 4 | 2 | Drake Maye | NE | @BAL |
| 5 | 2 | Josh Allen | BUF | @CLE |
| 6 | 2 | Lamar Jackson | BAL | NE |
| 7 | 2 | Brock Purdy | SF | @IND |
| 8 | 2 | Matthew Stafford | LAR | @SEA |
| 9 | 3 | Sam Darnold | SEA | LAR |
| 10 | 3 | Jacoby Brissett | ARI | ATL |
| 11 | 3 | Joe Burrow | CIN | @MIA |
| 12 | 4 | Aaron Rodgers | PIT | @DET |
| 13 | 4 | Justin Herbert | LAC | @DAL |
| 14 | 4 | J.J. McCarthy | MIN | @NYG |
| 15 | 5 | Caleb Williams | CHI | GB |
| 16 | 5 | Jordan Love | GB | @CHI |
| 17 | 5 | Bo Nix | DEN | JAX |
| 18 | 5 | Dak Prescott | DAL | LAC |
| 19 | 5 | Jaxson Dart | NYG | MIN |
| 20 | 6 | Gardner Minshew | KC | @TEN |
| 21 | 6 | Bryce Young | CAR | TB |
| 22 | 6 | Kirk Cousins | ATL | @ARI |
| 23 | 6 | Tua Tagovailoa | MIA | CIN |
| 24 | 6 | Tyler Shough | NO | NYJ |
| 25 | 7 | C.J. Stroud | HOU | LV |
| 26 | 7 | Shedeur Sanders | CLE | BUF |
| 27 | 7 | Baker Mayfield | TB | @CAR |
| 28 | 7 | Cam Ward | TEN | KC |
| 29 | 7 | Marcus Mariota | WAS | PHI |
| 30 | 8 | Kenny Pickett | LV | @HOU |
| 31 | 8 | Brady Cook | NYJ | @NO |
| 32 | 8 | Philip Rivers | IND | SF |
| 33 | 9 | Riley Leonard | IND | SF |
| 34 | 9 | Jameis Winston | NYG | MIN |
| 35 | 9 | Dillon Gabriel | CLE | BUF |
| 36 | 10 | Davis Mills | HOU | LV |
| 37 | 10 | Joe Flacco | CIN | @MIA |
| 38 | 10 | Mason Rudolph | PIT | @DET |
| 39 | 11 | Max Brosmer | MIN | @NYG |
| 40 | 11 | Teddy Bridgewater | TB | @CAR |
| 41 | 11 | Tanner McKee | PHI | @WAS |
| 42 | 11 | Trey Lance | LAC | @DAL |
| 43 | 11 | Malik Willis | GB | @CHI |
| 44 | 11 | Jake Browning | CIN | @MIA |
| 45 | 11 | Nick Mullens | JAX | @DEN |
| 46 | 11 | Kedon Slovis | ARI | ATL |
| INJ | -- | Jayden Daniels | WAS | PHI |
| INJ | -- | Geno Smith | LV | @HOU |
| INJ | -- | Tyrod Taylor | NYJ | @NO |
| INJ | -- | Justin Fields | NYJ | @NO |
| IR | -- | Patrick Mahomes | KC | @TEN |
| IR | -- | Daniel Jones | IND | SF |
| IR | -- | Kyler Murray | ARI | ATL |
| IR | -- | Michael Penix Jr. | ATL | @ARI |
📋 BEST PLAYOFF PICKUPS: Week 16 waiver wire pickups
Which QB injuries should I monitor for fantasy Week 16?
- Click to read about the Chiefs' fantasy outlook after Patrick Mahomes' injury. Gardner Minshew is expected to step in as KC's new starting quarterback as the team plays out the string on its first non-playoff season since 2014-15.
- Jayden Daniels (elbow) continues to be a weekly decision, and even though the Commanders have been eliminated from playoff contention since their Week 14 loss, head coach Dan Quinn is leaving the door open for Daniels to play if healthy.
- Kenny Pickett passed for an astounding 64 yards in the Raiders' 31-0 loss to the Eagles. For as tepid as Geno Smith (shoulder) has been for fantasy players, Pickett's presence under center shouldn't inspire optimism for any Raiders skill player.
- With five interceptions in his first two NFL starts, Brady Cook would cede Jets starting duties to whichever of Tyrod Taylor (groin) and Justin Fields (knee) is deemed healthy and ready.
Who are the best Week 16 fantasy QBs?
Following a historic Week 15 fantasy performance, Trevor Lawrence vaults into must-start territory -- even against the lauded Broncos pass defense. The Jaguars offense is rolling, and Lawrence still may be available in shallow leagues as a Patrick Mahomes replacement.
Jared Goff (338 passing yards, 3 TDs) sits atop the rankings before a matchup with the Steelers, generally a top-10 friendliest fantasy matchup for QBs and wide receivers for most of the season.
🐐 See where Trevor Lawrence ranks among QBs: Who has the most fantasy points in a game?
Who are the best Start 'Em QBs for Week 16?
While calling them "sleepers" is a stretch, the fact that every healthy QB is available shouldn't keep us from giving these names a boost:
- Aaron Rodgers gets the Detroit Lions, who are allowing a league-high 29.2 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the last month. Check on whether the Steelers quarterback makes it out of Monday Night Football before using him.
- Justin Herbert vs. The Cowboys: Every quarterback's dream, especially if Quentin Johnston (groin) returns and Herbert remembers TE Oronde Gadsden II exists.
- Superflex/2QB options and deep-league 1QB streamers include: Yes, Gardner Minshew (at Titans); Bryce Young (vs. Buccaneers); Kirk Cousins (at Cardinals); Tua Tagovailoa (vs. Bengals); Tyler Shough (vs. Jets), and CJ Stroud (vs. Raiders).
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Who are the riskiest Sit 'Em QBs for Week 16?
Just as the sleeper territory is weird, those who live the streamer life can be picky with everyone available.
The offenses of the Bears' Caleb Williams and the Packers' Jordan Love may each elect to lean on the run games, who have carried the action for at least Chicago recently in D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. The Josh Jacobs Show in Chicago during December sounds logical, too, especially if Soldier Field's weather becomes a factor as it did for Bears-Browns.
Though I'm keeping Jaxson Dart in top-20 territory, the Vikings are literally the toughest matchup for fantasy QBs all season and over the past four weeks. Don't drop Dart in deep leagues, but this is where a streamer could leapfrog his production easily for one-QB lineups.
Which fantasy QBs are on bye this week?
The NFL has no more weekly byes for the 2025 regular season. All active fantasy players are available for lineups.