2023 Fantasy Football: Week 16 Quarterback Rankings

The quarterback carousel continues as we head into the fantasy football semifinals. Mason Rudolph and Taylor Heinicke are new additions to Week 16 after their team’s starters got benched. On the injury front, Trevor Lawrence, C.J. Stroud, and Zach Wilson are all in the league’s concussion protocol. If you’ve managed to get this far with all the shuffling, congratulations! Continue doing what you’ve been doing to get this far. If you need help during the final stretch, I have you covered with my Week 16 quarterback rankings and notes. Let’s get to it!

Injury Notes for Week 16

• Trevor Lawrence cleared concussion protocol but is still questionable for Week 16. C.J. Beathard will get the start against Tampa Bay if Lawrence can’t suit up.
• C.J. Stroud‘s Week 16 status is unclear after he missed last week with a concussion. Case Keenum should continue to fill in if Stroud misses more time. UPDATE: Stroud is OUT for Sunday’s game.
• Zach Wilson suffered a concussion in Week 15. If he’s unable to clear the league’s concussion protocol, Trevor Siemian will likely start against Washington this week. UPDATE: Wilson has been ruled OUT for Sunday’s game. Siemian will get the start.
• Will Levis is dealing with a high-ankle sprain and is questionable to start in Week 16. Ryan Tannehill will likely get the start against Seattle if Levis is sidelined.

Quarterback Notes

• Baker Mayfield is coming off his best game of the season. He completed 22 of 28 pass attempts for 381 yards and four scores, finishing as the week’s QB2. Mayfield has thrown multiple touchdowns in six of his last eight games, and his 16 touchdowns in that span are tied for fourth-most at the position. Up next is a favorable home matchup against Jacksonville. The Jaguars have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. They’ve also given up the fifth-most passing yards and are tied for the fifth-most touchdowns allowed to the position. The Buccaneers are looking for their fourth-straight win, and Mayfield should continue to pile up fantasy points in the process. He ranks as the QB10 in my Week 16 quarterback rankings.
• Don’t sleep on Jake Browning. In the last three weeks, he’s quietly racked up the most passing yards (953) and third-most fantasy points among quarterbacks. He also totaled multiple touchdowns in each of those three starts. In Week 16, Browning faces a Pittsburgh defense that isn’t the softest but has been vulnerable lately. In the last two weeks, the Steelers have allowed Gardner Minshew and Bailey Zappe to throw three touchdowns each and post season-best performances against them. Browning should be able to make some noise as well. He’s a top-tier QB2 with upside for me in Week 16.
• In three weeks as the Browns’ starting quarterback, Joe Flacco has led the position in pass attempts (133) and has thrown for the second-most yards (939). He also scored the 10th-most fantasy points in that period. Flacco should continue to deliver for fantasy managers in Week 16. He faces a Texans defense that has allowed the seventh-most passing yards and ninth-most fantasy points to the position. Flacco attempted at least 44 passes in each game and should continue slinging the ball this week. Trust in Flacco in Week 16.
• If you’re in a jam at the quarterback position, consider Nick Mullens. He’s coming off a solid Week 15 performance where he completed 26-of-33 passes for 303 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks. This week, he gets a favorable home matchup against the division-rival Lions. Detroit has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points and sixth-most passing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season. Minnesota needs a win, and Mullens has some of the league’s best pass catchers at his disposal. He’s a solid streamer this week and is likely available in shallower leagues.

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Week 16 Quarterback Rankings