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Fantasy Football 2016: Top 50 quarterback rankings led by Aaron Rodgers

By Alex Butler
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers throws a pass as he warms up for the Packers-Arizona Cardinals game at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on January 16, 2016. Photo by Art Foxall/UPI
1 of 3 | Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers throws a pass as he warms up for the Packers-Arizona Cardinals game at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on January 16, 2016. Photo by Art Foxall/UPI | License Photo

Quarterback is a very intriguing position in fantasy football circles. Are you an early QB guy or a late QB guy?

Fantasy football veterans know that drafting one early brings huge risk. Even if the pick somewhat pays off with a successful season, it might not be enough to compensate for weaknesses at other positions. Drafting a quarterback as early as round one or two immediately puts you at a disadvantage to other teams in your league at running back and wide receiver. The art of waiting on a quarterback is a tricky one, so you are best suited to think of a group of able signal-callers instead of having your heart set at just one. That way, you can pay attention to what the positional needs are of the teams around you, while knowing how many of 'your guys' are still available, before and after 'the turn.'

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That is why, at UPI, we have ranked our top 50 quarterbacks, in standard format, for your 2016 fantasy football draft kit. You can also view our favorite players in fantasy football this season before you draft, by checking out UPI's top 150 players.

SCROLL DOWN FOR TOP 50

For clarity, here are some of the best quarterbacks to look out for in five separate tiers, as well as some unheralded sleepers.

HALL OF FAME

1. Aaron Rodgers, 2. Cam Newton

While many experts predict Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton to be the best fantasy football quarterback this season, I like Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers as the best option at that slot.

Rodgers, 32, had a 'down season' while passing for 31 touchdowns and 3,821 yards against only eight interceptions. Look for Rodgers to return to form this season with a healthy Jordy Nelson and a revived Eddie Lacy. This Packers offense could prove to be the most explosive in fantasy football if everyone can stay on the field.

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Newton is the quintessential do-everything quarterback. The 2015 NFL MVP might not have won the Super Bowl, but he did remind everyone why he was the top pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and a three-time Pro Bowl selection. If you did go quarterback very early, Newton might be able to better compensate for your team's weakness, due to his running ability. Last season, Newton threw for 3,837 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. He rushed for 636 yards and 10 scores. Look for the 27-year-old to again near 45 total touchdowns in 2016.

ALL-PRO

3. Andrew Luck, 4. Carson Palmer, 5. Russell Wilson, 6. Drew Brees

Injury kept Andrew Luck from living up to his high average draft position in 2015. When he did play for the Indianapolis Colts, he was uncharacteristically sloppy. In seven starts last season, Luck completed just 55 percent of his throws for 1,881 yards, 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also fumbled three times. Those numbers were highly disappointing from a quarterback who threw for 4,761 yards and 40 touchdowns one year earlier. Luck drops down to the second tier of elite quarterbacks because of his high ceiling and dramatically low floor. If you are drafting Luck at his current average draft position, it should be because you believe he can reach that 40 to 45 total touchdown plateau.

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Carson Palmer made the Arizona Cardinals go last season and that sports car still has plenty of gas. With an elite running back and a cast of speedy and gritty wide receivers, look for Palmer to match, if not surpass his dynamite 2015 numbers. Although some see injury risk with the 36-year-old, Palmer did start all 16 games last season, and has started at least 15 games in all but one season since 2012. Palmer completed 63.7 percent of his passes for a career-high 35 touchdown passes against just 11 interceptions last season. With David Johnson having an increased role and Chris Johnson back healthy, Palmer should have an array of options every time he takes a snap. The best thing about Palmer right now could be his price point. Palmer is lasting late, even in the deepest of fantasy drafts. If you load up on talent at all other positions, he can still be had after the fifth round in leagues with 12 or more teams.

Does it get any more consistent than Drew Brees. The New Orleans Saints great has passed for more than 4,300 yards and 26 touchdowns in 10 consecutive seasons. He has thrown 32 or more touchdown passes in eight straight seasons. Brees has led the league in passing yards for four of the past five seasons. Don't expect the streak to stop now. Brees has some young and emerging receivers. The Saints also added tight end Coby Fleener in the offseason as another option for the veteran gunslinger.

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SCROLL DOWN FOR TOP 50

PRO-BOWL

7. Eli Manning, 8. Tom Brady, 9. Philip Rivers

Now begins the group of able, yet risky performers. Eli Manning has the perk of playing with arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL in Odell Beckham Jr. He also could have a healthy Victor Cruz back for an entire season. The New York Giants also drafted Sterling Shepard in April and now have a plethora of talent around the younger Manning brother. If Manning can keep the turnovers down and the Giants' newly acquired defensive talent can produce, he could be quarterbacking right into your fantasy playoffs and the NFL playoffs.

Tom Brady will not help your fantasy team until October. Remember that. But when he comes back, Brady shouldn't take long to shake off the rust. Although the New England Patriots still have the best tight end in the game in Rob Gronkowski, it did watch running back Dion Lewis to an ACL injury. Lewis was huge for Brady last season. Look to temper your expectations for Brady, who has started 16 games in 13 of his previous 14 seasons. If you do pick up the future hall of famer, be sure to grab a back up quarterback with an easy schedule for the first few weeks of the 2016 campaign.

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JUST NAPPING [EARLY TO MID-ROUND SLEEPERS]

10. Ben Roethlisberger, 11. Andy Dalton, 12. Blake Bortles

Ben Roethlisberger has a habit of sliding up draft boards. Most of this is based on the potential of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. When everything is right, the Steelers have the league's most productive wide receiver and its most dynamic running back. The problem for the Steelers, is that most of the time everything is not right. This year the Steelers will miss Le'Veon Bell for the first three games of the season and be without speedster Martavis Bryant for the entire season. Those factors alone could ding Big Ben's numbers.

Andy Dalton has high upside but also faces adversity to begin the 2016 season. With free agent wide receivers Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones departing during the offseason and tight end Tyler Eifert nursing a lingering ankle injury, the Bengals are likely to lean on its running game early. If Dalton plays all 16 games, he should be able to slide into the top-10, and maybe even top-6.

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DRIFTING OFF [MID TO LATE-ROUND SLEEPERS]

14. Tyrod Taylor, 15. Jameis Winston, 16. Ryan Fitzpatrick, 17. Matthew Stafford, 32. Tony Romo

RANK NAME TEAM BYE WEEK
1 Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers 4
2 Cam Newton Carolina Panthers 7
3 Andrew Luck Indianapolis Colts 10
4 Carson Palmer Arizona Cardinals 9
5 Russell Wilson Seattle Seahawks 5
6 Drew Brees New Orleans Saints 5
7 Eli Manning New York Giants 8
8 Tom Brady New England Patriots 9
9 Philip Rivers San Diego Chargers 11
10 Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh Steelers 8
11 Andy Dalton Cincinnati Bengals 9
12 Blake Bortles Jacksonville Jaguars 5
13 Tyrod Taylor Buffalo Bills 10
14 Jameis Winston Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6
15 Ryan Fitzpatrick New York Jets 11
16 Matthew Stafford Detroit Lions 10
17 Kirk Cousins Washington Redskins 9
18 Marcus Mariota Tennessee Titans 13
19 Matt Ryan Atlanta Falcons 11
20 Ryan Tannehill Miami Dolphins 8
21 Derek Carr Oakland Raiders 10
22 Joe Flacco Baltimore Ravens 8
23 Brock Osweiler Houston Texans 9
24 Colin Kaepernick San Francisco 49ers 8
25 Robert Griffin III Cleveland Browns 13
26 Jay Cutler Chicago Bears 9
27 Alex Smith Kansas City Chiefs 5
28 Sam Bradford Philadelphia Eagles 4
29 Trevor Siemian Denver Broncos 11
30 Jared Goff Los Angeles Rams 8
31 Paxton Lynch Denver Broncos 11
32 Tony Romo Dallas Cowboys 7
33 Mark Sanchez Denver Broncos 11
34 Carson Wentz Philadelphia Eagles 4
35 Dak Prescott Dallas Cowboys 7
36 Case Keenum Los Angeles Rams 8
37 Jimmy Garoppolo New England Patriots 9
38 Blaine Gabbert San Francisco 49ers 8
39 Brian Hoyer Chicago Bears 9
40 Shaun Hill Minnesota Vikings 6
41 Geno Smith New York Jets 11
42 Chase Daniel Philadelphia Eagles 4
43 E.J. Manuel Buffalo Bills 10
44 Christian Hackenberg New York Jets 11
45 A.J. McCarron Cincinnati Bengals 9
46 Josh McCown Cleveland Browns 13
47 Cardale Jones Buffalo Bills 10
48 Drew Stanton Arizona Cardinals 9
49 Mike Glennon Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6
50 Bruce Gradkowski Pittsburgh Steelers 8
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