NFL Week 16 QB Power Rankings: Aaron Rodgers back on top as Kyler Murray, Ryan Tannehill slide

Ranking every starting quarterback, from 1-32

As goes the quarterback, so goes the team. It's not always true in the NFL, but it usually is. And it makes sense: In a passing league, the passers are like royalty -- the biggest influences on whether a team is destined more for a Super Bowl title or a No. 1 draft pick.

It's with that in mind that we come to you with the most important pecking order outside of traditional team power rankings: QB Power Rankings. Consider this your cut-and-dry guide to the best and worst of the NFL's signal-callers -- a weekly 1-to-32 rundown of every starter under center.

How are the QBs ranked? We try to factor in both current standing and future upside. So a long resume doesn't always guarantee an edge over untapped potential, just as a cold streak doesn't always erase a history of success. At the end of the day, we're simply trying to sort the QBs based on 2021 value, both now and in the near future.

Now, without further ado, let's get to our Week 16 rankings:

Week 16 QB Power Rankings

1	Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers QB
He should be the MVP front-runner right now. The Packers are on the verge of a third straight 13-win season, chiefly because he hasn't lost even a little bit of his magnificent touch. (+1)
2	Tom Brady Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB
The Saints just really have his number, huh? The bigger question is: how many growing pains will accompany the losses of Leonard Fournette and Chris Godwin? At least Antonio Brown is returning. (-1)
3	Patrick Mahomes Kansas City Chiefs QB
Is he still dependent on off-script plays? Sure. But you don't throw 4,000+ yards and 30 TDs by accident. He appears to be getting hot at the right time. (+3)
4	Justin Herbert Los Angeles Chargers QB
Put him on the Chiefs , and you're getting similar, if not better, numbers than with present-day Mahomes, no? (-1)
5	Josh Allen Buffalo Bills QB
It's a minor miracle when the Bills find a way to take the entirety of their run-game responsibilities off his shoulders. (+1)
6	Matthew Stafford Los Angeles Rams QB
Can anyone defend his connection with Cooper Kupp ? He made some tough, pinpoint throws on Tuesday in yet another pivotal divisional win. Playoffs, here we come. (+2)
7	Kyler Murray Arizona Cardinals QB
Is a total collapse really around the corner? Murray's athleticism will prevent the Cardinals from flailing down the stretch, but DeAndre Hopkins ' loss doesn't help. The MVP campaign is probably over. (-3)
8	Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens QB
Tyler Huntley did a mighty fine job filling in for him against the Packers, but the Ravens could really use his game-breaking dynamism for this tight AFC North finish. (+1)
9	Joe Burrow Cincinnati Bengals QB
He goes hot and cold, but again, the hot stuff is some of the best. He and Ja'Marr Chase, while quieter against Denver, are the biggest reason the Bengals find themselves in first place. (+1)
10	Russell Wilson Seattle Seahawks QB
Just when it looked like he might be rounding back into form for a surprise playoff run, we're back to square one. It's probably safe to start looking at the offseason in Seattle. (-3)
11	Dak Prescott Dallas Cowboys QB
He should be thankful the Cowboys defense has been making plays lately. Soon enough, the time will come for him to prove he's actually all there mentally, physically, etc.
12	Kirk Cousins Minnesota Vikings QB
He's been bailed out by total team wins a few times lately, but he's also shown enough times this year that he can sling it when he needs to. He'll have to if the Vikings wanna make noise as a wild card contender.
13	Carson Wentz Indianapolis Colts QB
Who knows where he'd be without Jonathan Taylor , but that's not really the point. Wentz, despite an iffy outing against New England, has mostly put the Colts in a position to win this year.
14	Derek Carr Las Vegas Raiders QB
He's as mercurial as they come under center -- a true mid-tier starter who'll threaten to blow the game one drive, then win your heart back the next. What a ride he's had in Vegas. (+1)
15	Mac Jones New England Patriots QB
He should be permitted a few games of slip-ups (he is a rookie, after all), but the Pats aren't built to handle more than one or two big mistakes. So he must be more efficient to make a real run. (-1)
16	Jimmy Garoppolo San Francisco 49ers QB
As long as Kyle Shanahan's run game is working (and it sure has been), he tends to be a reliable figurehead. (+2)
17	Baker Mayfield Cleveland Browns QB
Nick Mullens played well enough as his emergency fill-in, all things considered, but the Browns could really use some familiarity back under center after this latest COVID whirlwind. (+3)
18	Ryan Tannehill Tennessee Titans QB
He looked legitimately dejected by the end of the Titans ' latest loss, and you can understand why, considering the beating he and his supporting cast have taken. But he'd better shape up quickly, for Tennessee's sake. (-2)
19	Tua Tagovailoa Miami Dolphins QB
Six straight for his Dolphins , and he's completing almost 70 percent of his throws on the year. (+2)
20	Justin Fields Chicago Bears QB
It's not all his fault the Bears don't have the plans or personnel to play good situational football. It'll be very interesting to see who's coaching him up in 2022. (-3)
21	Matt Ryan Atlanta Falcons QB
It's been slow going for Ryan and Co. much of the year, particularly against evenly matched or superior teams, but we have to believe his numbers would look better in brighter scenery (a la Matthew Stafford ). (-2)
22	Jalen Hurts Philadelphia Eagles QB
His game has a ceiling, but he's hung tough all year and was a big reason the Eagles survived Washington on Tuesday, sealing a key win with some money throws in crunch time. (+1)
23	Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh Steelers QB
Ugly but tough. That description pretty much fits the entire Steelers team this year. (-1)
24	Taylor Heinicke Washington Football Team QB
As soon as he's ready to go off COVID reserve, Washington will rush him back. Not because Garrett Gilbert was horrible as emergency relief Tuesday, but because they need bodies like nobody.
25	Jared Goff Detroit Lions QB
He may not be long for Detroit (or a starting job), but give this guy some credit for battling with a bunch of other castoffs on a team already eliminated from the playoffs. (+4)
26	Trevor Lawrence Jacksonville Jaguars QB
At this point, he's probably ready to take a week off and just hit the reset button. What a much-maligned year. (+1)
27	Taysom Hill New Orleans Saints QB
If he keeps throwing the way he has, the Saints aren't gonna be making any real playoff run. But he and the offense can't be much more of a non-factor than they were against the Bucs, despite getting the win. (-2)
28	Cam Newton Carolina Panthers QB
Call it a career? Not even Matt Rhule is committing to Cam anymore, and why should he?
29	Davis Mills Houston Texans QB
Good for him, standing tall and actually creating some big plays for an otherwise motionless franchise. (+1)
30	Drew Lock Denver Broncos QB
With Teddy Bridgewater in concussion protocol, he could get an extended shot at redemption. Buckle up.
31	Zach Wilson New York Jets QB
It's fitting he slots in right behind Drew Lock , because both guys -- despite talented arms -- have a knack for wild inaccuracies. (+1)
32	Jake Fromm New York Giants QB
This job might be his to lose now that Daniel Jones is done for the year. Get pumped, Giants fans.

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