Fantasy Football NFL Week 16 QB Rankings: Aaron Rodgers Is Back

With the news that Aaron Rodgers has been cleared to return to play from the concussion that sidelined him for the last 1.75 games, we wanted to take a look at the early QB rankings for this upcoming fantasy Championship game...

1. Michael Vick - home vs. Minnesota - 8pm Sunday  - There is no one that poses more of a threat on offense than Vick.  The Vikings have allowed 23 passing TDs through 15 weeks (T-8th most), but with Vick, opposing defensive stats really don't apply.  130 rushing yards last week?  Huh?  He needs to be started over everyone. 
2. Drew Brees - at Atlanta - Monday Night Football - The Falcons allow the the 13th most fantasy points to opposing QBs and only Vick has been hotter over the last five weeks.  The Saints offense has been firing on all cylinders and Brees is their engine.
3. Tom Brady - at Buffalo - 1pm Sunday - I had a hunch his game was going to be lean vs. the Packers after five torrid weeks of production, but he still managed two TDs and the win.  The Bills have allowed 22 passing TDs on the season and will be fired up for the intra-division rivalry.  Brady is 4th overall among QBs in fantasy points over the last five weeks.
4. Phillip Rivers at Cincinnati - 4pm Sunday - C'mon, Colt McCoy went for 240+ yards and two TDs vs. this pass defense.  Rivers should get Malcom Floyd back in this one, and already has a surging Vincent Jackson.   The Bengals have good season-long pass defense stats, but are allowing the 10th most over the last five weeks and are likely all checked out from this disappointing season.
5. Peyton Manning at Oakland - 4pm Sunday - The Raiders are allowing the 2nd most fantasy points to opposing QBs over the last five weeks, and with Nnamdi Asomugha's ankle still in question, that figures to continue when the Colts roll into the Bay area.   The Colts pulled into first place last week with their win over the Jags, and they need to close out the season with consecutive wins to guarantee that things stay that way.  It is reasonable to expect Peyton Manning's finest football over these last two weeks. 
6. Aaron Rodgers home vs. NY Giants - 4pm Sunday - To quote him exactly "I'm baaaaaack...".  Kind of cheesy if you ask me.  How fitting?  The wild card stakes in this one are about as rich as they can get.  New Orleans has the best handle on one of the two wild cards with a 10-4 record.  The 2nd one is up for grabs between three teams (technically); Tampa, NY Giants or Philly, and the Packers.   The G-men just got embarrassed by the Eagles in one of the most amazing NFL games in recent history, so it will be interesting to see how they respond.  The winner of this one puts themselves in the best position for that 2nd wild card.  The G-men pass rush is better than any other out there, and their 5-week trend stats are skewed by one Michael Vick.  They have allowed the 16th most fantasy points to QBs on the season, though.

Click here for the rest of the rankings on FFArmory.com.  Click here for up-to-the-minute player news-breakers fed from around the industry!