Fantasy Football Week 16 Quarterback Rankings

The 2021-22 NFL season has only three weeks left. Bye weeks are over which means the fantasy playoffs have begun in most standard leagues. This time of year COVID-19 is running rampant which makes it important to have backup options on your fantasy roster. On top of that injuries are continuing to mount up. It is always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the Fantasy Football Week 16 quarterback rankings.

*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to reserve/COVID-19 list*

(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)

Key:

Must Start- a player who should definitely be in your lineup that week because of the combination of matchup and talent. They will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and could repeat the production most weeks.

Starter- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.

Low-End Starter- a player who should be started in most lineups but can possibly bottom out and finish below average on a given week. A high ceiling play in two-quarterback or superflex leagues.

Streamer- a player who could be a perfect replacement for a starter for a week or two. Starting this player may not win you your lineup but they will make sure that your production out of that position will not lose you your matchup either. Also a viable option in two-quarterback or superflex leagues.

Deep League Streamer- a player who could fill a void at a position in a deeper league. Their ceiling may be close to average point production at the position but their floor is enough to get through the week. A reasonable player to have in your lineup in two-quarterback or superflex leagues.

Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.

Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday

QB6 Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints

Taysom Hill was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. This could leave Ian Book to start for the New Orleans Saints this week against the Miami Dolphins. Book would slot in at QB32 between Jake Fromm and Sam Darnold.

QB7 Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson suffered a low-ankle sprain that held him out of last week’s game against the Green Bay Packers. He missed practice Wednesday because of an injury. Baltimore hasn’t ruled Jackson out but Tyler Huntley would start against Cincinnati if Jackson was inactive. Huntley would slot in at QB14 between Justin Fields and Jimmy Garoppolo.

QB14 Justin Fields, Chicago Bears

Justin Fields was limited in practice because of an ankle injury. It doesn’t sound like anything serious but it is something to monitor throughout the week. Since Andy Dalton is on the Reserve/COVID-19 list Nick Foles would get the start against Seattle if this injury held Fields out of this week’s game. Foles would slot in at QB26 between Derek Carr and Davis Mills.

QB16 Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

Kirk Cousins was limited in practice Wednesday with a rib injury. This is something to pay attention during the week to see if it will affect his status against the Los Angeles Rams. If Cousins was to miss this week’s game against the Rams then it is likely that Sean Mannion would get the start over Kellen Mond. Mannion would slot in at QB31 between Mac Jones and Jake Fromm.

QB20 Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

After their upset victory last week against the Arizona Cardinals the Detroit Lions placed Jared Goff on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. It is unclear who would start in Goff’s absence. If Goff was to miss this week’s game against the Atlanta Falcons it would likely be Tim Boyle starting who would slot in at QB32 between Jake Fromm and Sam Darnold.

QB28 Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns

Last week the Cleveland Browns were without Baker Mayfield because he landed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. There is a chance he can return this week against the Green Bay Packers. If Mayfield misses this game then Case Keenum or Nick Mullens would slot in at QB29 Drew Lock and Taylor Heinicke.

QB30 Taylor Heinicke, Washington Football Team

Taylor Heinicke was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list last week. There is a chance he returns this week against the Dallas Cowboys If both Heinicke and Kyle Allen was to miss this game then Garrett Gilbert would start again and would be the QB32 between Jake Fromm  and Sam Darnold.

QB32 Jake Fromm, New York Giants

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones will miss the rest of the regular season because of a neck injury. At this point, it is unclear whether Jake Fromm or Mike Glennon will start for the Giants this weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles. If Glennon starts instead of Fromm then he would jump into Fromm’s QB32 slot between Mac Jones and Sam Darnold.