Look, I know everyone wants to talk about the young guns. We love the Drake Maye hype train and the Josh Allen "freight train" runs. But if you’re looking at qb rankings week 16, there is one old man in Los Angeles who is basically putting on a masterclass every single Sunday. Matthew Stafford.
At 37, he’s leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns. It’s kinda wild. While most guys his age are looking at retirement homes or broadcasting booths, he’s out here carving up defenses with 4,179 yards and 40 touchdowns through 15 games.
Honestly, the Week 16 loss to Seattle hurt the Rams' seeding, but it didn't really touch Stafford's resume. He threw for 457 yards in that game. 457! You can't ask for much more from a guy.
The MVP Frontrunners and the Week 16 Shuffle
The conversation for the top spot in qb rankings week 16 usually starts and ends with the MVP race. Right now, it’s a two-horse race between the veteran Stafford and the rookie-sensation-turned-sophomore-star Drake Maye.
Maye is currently leading the NFL in completion percentage at 70.9%. That’s essentially unheard of for a second-year player. He just went into Baltimore and threw for a career-high 380 yards to clinch a playoff berth for New England. It was probably the "statement game" of his young career.
Then you have Josh Allen.
Allen is doing Josh Allen things. He’s got 25 passing touchdowns and 12 rushing touchdowns. He’s the only player who can look like a linebacker and a point guard at the same time. After that massive comeback win against the Patriots a couple of weeks ago, he’s firmly back in the Tier 1 conversation. He didn't have to do much against the Browns in Week 16 because James Cook was busy running for 150 yards, but Allen remains the scariest player in the league when the playoffs get close.
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Why the Middle Tier is a Total Mess
If you're looking for consistency, don't look at the middle of the pack.
Jordan Love is the perfect example. One week he’s the second-best quarterback in the league, leading the NFL in EPA against the blitz. The next week? He’s tossing two picks against a mediocre defense and looking human. For qb rankings week 16, he’s sitting around the 8-10 range because you just don't know which version of him is going to show up at Soldier Field.
And what about Dak?
Dak Prescott has been statistically brilliant. He’s got over 3,900 yards and 26 touchdowns, but the Cowboys just keep finding ways to lose games they should win. He was pressured on 55% of his dropbacks against the Vikings recently. You can’t expect anyone to produce under those conditions.
- Tier 1: Stafford, Maye, Allen
- Tier 2: Goff, Prescott, Herbert, Lawrence
- The Wildcards: Love, Purdy, Stroud
The "Get Right" Games of Week 16
Sometimes rankings aren't just about who has the best arm; it's about who has the easiest job that week.
Justin Herbert is basically a miracle worker right now. He’s playing behind a backup offensive line with both Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt sidelined. He’s being pressured on over 42% of his dropbacks. But in Week 16, he gets a Dallas defense that just allowed J.J. McCarthy to look like an All-Pro. If you're a fantasy manager or just a fan of the Chargers, this is the "get right" spot of the year.
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Brock Purdy is in a similar boat.
He’s finally healthy after that turf toe injury and just put up a top-five performance against the Titans. Going into Indy to face a Colts secondary that's missing Sauce Gardner (calf) and Charvarius Ward (IR)? That's a recipe for another 300-yard day.
The Sudden Fall of the Elite
It’s been a rough year for the old guard not named Stafford.
Aaron Rodgers is 42 and still has the juice, but the Steelers' offense is inconsistent at best. He’s sitting at 11th in the rankings, which is respectable, but it’s not the MVP-level Rodgers we’re used to.
Then there’s Patrick Mahomes.
It feels weird to even write this, but the Chiefs' offense was "muck" for most of the year before Mahomes went down with a torn ACL in Week 15. Gardner Minshew is the guy now. It’s a total vibe shift in Kansas City. Minshew is... fine. He’s a bridge. But seeing the Chiefs at 13th or lower in qb rankings week 16 is just a bizarre reality of the 2025-2026 season.
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The Rookie Report: Bo Nix and Caleb Williams
Bo Nix has the Broncos at 14-3 and the #1 seed in the AFC. Think about that for a second. His efficiency isn't eye-popping, but he wins. He’s 12th in the rankings, mostly because he’s a "system plus" guy. He does exactly what Sean Payton wants and doesn't turn the ball over.
Caleb Williams is the opposite.
He’s 14th because he’s a roller coaster. He’ll have three fumbles and a 50% completion rate one half, then lead three unanswered scoring drives the next. The talent is undeniable, but the floor is incredibly low right now.
Actionable Insights for the Final Stretch
If you are tracking these rankings for the playoffs or just trying to win your league, keep these specific factors in mind:
- Watch the O-Line Health: Don't trust Justin Herbert long-term until those tackles return, regardless of the matchup.
- The Stafford Fatigue: Voters might get bored of Stafford, but the stats don't lie. He is the most accurate passer in the league right now.
- Dome vs. Cold: We’re hitting late December. Watch for Goff and the Lions. They play great in the dome but can struggle when they have to go to places like Pittsburgh on short rest.
- The "Lamar" Factor: Lamar Jackson is quietly finding his groove again. He's up to 10th in some rankings and could be the "dark horse" of the postseason if Baltimore gets into the dance.
The reality of qb rankings week 16 is that the gap between the "elite" and the "serviceable" is wider than ever. You have three guys playing at a Hall of Fame level this season, and then you have a massive cluster of talent that depends entirely on who is calling the plays and how much time they have in the pocket.
Stop overthinking the young vs. old debate. Stafford is the best quarterback in football right now. Period. Check the injury reports for the New York Jets secondary before you bet on Tyler Shough, and keep an eye on Drake Maye's "closer" mentality as the Patriots head into the most important stretch of the decade.