NFL Week 16 schedule: 5 QBs primed for huge games

The NFL Week 16 schedule is chock full of games that have big implications for fantasy owners and the playoff picture.

5. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Ryan hasn’t made ton of appearances on this list, mostly because the Falcons’ offensive line isn’t good and receiver Calvin Ridley has been out for months. Ergo, the Falcons are 6-8 and Ryan is having an average season, but he draws the Detroit Lions at home this week. While the Lions have been feisty in recent weeks, they still have one of the league’s worst secondaries due to injury. Look for Ryan to play well in a must-win game for Atlanta.

4. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Even though it’s a short week for the Rams, Stafford has an opportunity to go nuts in Minnesota against the Vikings on Sunday. Stafford has the league’s most prolific receiver in Cooper Kupp, along with Odell Beckham Jr. and an offensive line that should handle Minnesota’s front. Additionally, the game is, of course, indoors, allowing Stafford perfect conditions against one of the NFL’s more shaky corner groups.

3. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Herbert has been excellent all year, and although he could be without star running back Austin Ekeler (COVID), he has Mike Williams and Keenan Allen on the outside against a horrific Houston Texans team. Houston has only beaten one team not named the Jacksonville Jaguars this year, and Herbert figures to go nuts against them in an important game for the Chargers. He should have a clean pocket and big numbers by the end of it all.

2. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Rodgers is playing on Christmas afternoon, drawing the Cleveland Browns at Lambeau Field. The Packers are 11-3 and trying to wrap up the NFC’s top seed with a few more wins to close out the regular season, and they face what has been a banged-up secondary. Cleveland will be fighting hard considering a loss puts its season on the proverbial brink, but Rodgers has played at an MVP level all year, and that shouldn’t change come Saturday.

1. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Burrow and the Bengals are essentially playing for their lives in the AFC North race, and they welcome in the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore has been one of the league’s worst pass defenses all year having been without corner Marcus Peters, and recently lost Marlon Humphrey as well. Burrow should have an enormous game with Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins going against a depleted secondary with very little experience.