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Sunday Debate: Aaron Rodgers Top Fantasy Quarterback in 2016

By Brendan Pignataro

Nov 8, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) with Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) after the game. The Panthers defeated the Packers 37-29 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) with Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) after the game. The Panthers defeated the Packers 37-29 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Brendan Pignataro and Mark Morales-Smith will be debating a different topic each Sunday. This week will feature a highly debated fantasy football question. Who will be the top quarterback in 2016?

It’s Sunday Debate time once again.

While I always advise fantasy football fans to wait on quarterbacks in their draft, it is still important to be prepared in case one of the studs happen to fall a couple rounds. Barring injury, it seems the consensus across most platforms is that Cam Newton and Aaron Rodgers will be the first two quarterbacks selected this year.

Related Story: Sunday Debate: Cam Newton Top Fantasy Quarterback in 2016

It is never too early to debate fantasy football, and it is never not fun to defeat my fellow writer Mark in these Sunday debates. He has decided to put on his Superman cape and follow the masses with his choice of Newton as the top fantasy football quarterback this season. I will put on my heavyweight championship belt of debating and go with Rodgers as the right choice for 2016.

What would happen to Eli Manning’s stats if Odell Beckham went down? How about Matt Ryan’s stats if Julio Jones got injured? (No Mark, Kelvin Benjamin is not in this category.) Well unfortunately for Packers fans and Rodgers owners, his stats weren’t immune to a down year when losing a star receiver.  Jordy Nelson had to miss the entire season in 2015. Nelson is back and healthy, and I expect Rodgers to once again become the top fantasy quarterback scorer just like he was two years ago.

Not only does Rodgers get back his favorite target, he gets a new running back…sort of. He gets a slimmer Eddie Lacy. Remember that Lacy looked tremendous as a receiving back in 2014 with 427 yards at 10.2 YPC. Additionally, the Packers got Rodgers another much-needed vertical threat in Jared Cook. With Nelson, Cook, a slimmer Lacy, plus Randall Cobb back at his more natural number two spot, Rodgers has a full arsenal of weapons at his disposal. Also, keep an eye on third year receiver Jeff Janis as a potential sleeper this season. He has looked very impressive at OTA’s.

Please go ahead and take a few seconds and google the Packers schedule this year. It’s no shock that they have the easiest schedule in the NFL. Which of those teams scares you defensively? Besides the Texans and Seahawks late in the year (which are both at home by the way) Rodgers will be going nuts week after week.

While it is not a guarantee, I thought this was an interesting quote from Mike McCarthy in regards to going to going for two point conversions in 2016.  He told Jason Wilde of ESPN “I think especially with Aaron being our quarterback, I would have zero issue as an offensive coach going for it every single time.” Now, it may be a small amount of points in your league, but hey…every point counts!

Jan 10, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws the ball over Washington Redskins defensive end Preston Smith (94) during the first half in a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws the ball over Washington Redskins defensive end Preston Smith (94) during the first half in a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

I urge you to not bank on Newton throwing for over 35 touchdowns this season. The Panthers play a much, much tougher schedule this year.  After their 2015 fluff schedule was complete, the Panthers ended up playing the easiest schedule in the league per team records. This offseason their division has gotten better, particularly the Saints and Buccaneers . They also face the toughest defenses in the league with the Broncos, Cardinals, Seahawks and Chiefs on tap during the fantasy season.

No matter what type of scoring your fantasy football league uses, Rodgers will be the right choice this year. Even in a down season for his own standards, he and Newton had almost an identical of passing yards and completion percentage. Rodgers yards and completion percentage will go back up to his norm this year, while Newton may never have a season like that again. It will more than offset the rushing yards Newton will put up. Rodgers is no slouch in that category either (over 344 rushing yards in 2016.

So if you do decide you would like to select a quarterback early in your fantasy draft, don’t listen to my fellow writer Mark. He’s famous for his hilarious blunders of predictions.

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Please check out Mark’s opposing article, and feel free to join in on the debate in the comments!

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