Aaron Rodgers Fantasy News and Statistics

Heading into the 2005 NFL Draft, the big debate was Alex Smith from the University of Utah vs. Aaron Rodgers from the University of California-Berkely. Smith was selected first overall, while Rodgers plummeted down the draft board to the Green Bay Packers at the 24th pick. Rodgers was devastated that his hometown 49ers passed over him and determined to prove the doubters wrong.

During his first three seasons in the league, Rodgers carried the clipboard for Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre. Rodgers only played in blowouts, throwing 59 passes across seven appearances. However, he gained valuable experience learning from offensive guru Mike McCarthy, developing skills that would serve him later in his career.

Before the 2008 season, Brett Favre retired, opening the door for Rodgers. Favre tried to un-retire and retake his job, but the Packers traded him to the New York Jets to allow Rodgers the chance to start. He took that opportunity and ran with it, throwing for over 4,000 yards with 28 touchdowns and thirteen interceptions, though the team missed the playoffs.

Rodgers continued his exceptional play in 2009, increasing his TD:INT ratio to an astounding 30:7. Rodgers led the team to a Wild Card berth in the playoffs and earned his first Pro Bowl appearance.

The next season, Rodgers took the Pack to the next level, making it to Super Bowl XLV, where he threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns in the victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rodgers was named the Super Bowl MVP for his exceptional play.

As great as Rodgers was on the road to the Super Bowl, he was even better during the 2011 regular season. Rodgers threw for a career high 4,643 yards and 45 touchdowns against only six interceptions. The Packers started the season 13-0, finishing 15-1 and entering the postseason as the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Unfortunately, the Packers were upset by the eventual Super Bowl Champion Giants in their first playoff game.

Rodgers kept rolling along as one of the best regular season quarterbacks in NFL history until he broke his collarbone in Week 9 of the 2013 season against the Bears. After missing eight games, Rodgers returned in time to win the division, though the team once again lost in its first game in the playoffs. In that game against the 49ers, Rodgers threw for a playoff career-low 177 yards.

2014 started off rough for the former Cal Bear, as the team started 1-2. After holding his infamous R-E-L-A-X press conference, the Rodgers led the team to an 11-2 record in its final 13 games and the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. Along the way, Rodgers earned his second MVP trophy.

2015 was a slow season by Rodgers’ lofty standards. He threw for fewer yards than any other season in which he started 15 or more games. Without top target Jordy Nelson, Rodgers saw his touchdown total drop from 38 to 31 and increased his interceptions from five to eight. Even in a down year, Rodgers was better than almost any other quarterback in the league.

Rodgers was once again at the top of his game in 2016, though Green Bay sputtered out to a 4-6 start. Rodgers predicted they would win every game the rest of the season, and that is what they did. The Packers kept rolling in the playoffs, beating the Giants in the Wild Card round and the Cowboys in the Divisional round. The magic ran out against the Falcons in the NFC Championship Game and they lost 44-21.

Heading into 2017, Rodgers should be as excellent as ever. He will be in the conversation for league MVP honors, and the Packers will be favorites to win the NFC North with an outside chance at making it back to another Super Bowl. If he retired tomorrow, Rodgers would probably be a Hall of Fame player.