Thursday, October 19, 2017

NFL QB power rankings: Where all 32 starters stand heading into Week 7

1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots

1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Ranking after Week 4: 1

Record as starter: 4-2

DYAR rank: 1

QBR rank: 4

One thing to know: While the Patriots continue to struggle on defense, Brady and his weapons have managed to keep them in the driver's seat in the AFC East. But even so, the veteran probably wishes he was playing better heading into a Super Bowl rematch against the Falcons — he completed less than 53% of his passes last Sunday, one of his lowest clips of the season.

2. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans

2. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans

Ranking after Week 4: 7

Record as starter: 3-2

DYAR rank: 4

QBR rank: 1

One thing to know: The Texans haven't had a passer this prolific since the days of Matt Schaub. While Watson ranks well outside of the top 10 in the league in pass attempts, he's still managed to throw for more touchdowns than anyone. He also leads all quarterbacks in rushing yards with 202.

3. Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

3. Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

Ranking after Week 4: 5

Record as starter: 5-1

DYAR rank: 2

QBR rank: 6

One thing to know: Smith had his worst game of the season last Sunday, completing 56% of his passes for 246 yards and a touchdown. Still, the Utah product leads the league with a 119.2 passer rating. The Chiefs are no longer undefeated, but at least their quarterback has yet to throw an interception.

4. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

4. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Ranking after Week 4: 4

Record as starter: 3-2

DYAR rank: 3

QBR rank: 11

One thing to know: The Saints are on a three-game winning streak, and Brees' numbers over that stretch have been outstanding: seven touchdowns, a 71% completion rate, and a 104.1 passer rating. The future Hall of Famer teaches a master class in quarterback play almost every time he takes the field.

5. Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles

5. Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles

Ranking after Week 4: 11

Record as starter: 5-1

DYAR rank: 7

QBR rank: 3

One thing to know: Don't look now, but Wentz is undergoing a transformation into a legitimate star, ranking inside the top 10 in the league in touchdown passes, completion percentage, and passer rating. Bovada lists him as the favorite to be named MVP of the league.

6. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

6. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Ranking after Week 4: 2

Record as starter: 3-2

DYAR rank: 11

QBR rank: 10

One thing to know: While he's remained solid, Ryan's MVP-winning performance from last season will probably go down as the best campaign of his career. He threw for 38 touchdowns and seven interceptions last year, but his totals for this season are six and six.

7. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

7. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Ranking after Week 4: 10

Record as starter: 2-3

DYAR rank: 15

QBR rank: 2

One thing to know: The Cowboys were one of the most run-happy teams in the NFL last season, but they've changed their approach this year, ranking outside the top 20 in rushing attempts. Prescott, meanwhile, has thrown for six touchdowns in his last two games.

8. Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins

8. Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins

Ranking after Week 4: 12

Record as starter: 3-2

DYAR rank: 10

QBR rank: 5

One thing to know: Last Sunday's game was a big one for Cousins: he faced 49ers head coach and former Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who helped invent the scheme that propelled Washington to a division title in 2015. The Michigan State product defeated his old coach in a 26-24 thriller, completing over two-thirds of his passes along the way.

9. Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans

9. Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans

Ranking after Week 4: N/A (replacing Matt Cassel, No. 32)

Record as starter: 3-2

DYAR rank: 12

QBR rank: 9

One thing to know: After suffering a hamstring injury in Week 4, Mariota was limited to the pocket against the Colts last Sunday. He still excelled, completing over 70% of his passes for 306 yards.

10. Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams

10. Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams

Ranking after Week 4: 6

Record as starter: 4-2

DYAR rank: 6

QBR rank: 15

One thing to know: Goff attempted just 21 passes last Sunday, leaving Todd Gurley and the special teams unit to shoulder most of the load in a 27-17 win over Jacksonville. This season still counts as a major breakout for the second-year signal caller, but his completion rate over his last three games — just 52% — isn't a good sign.

11. Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers

11. Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers

Ranking after Week 4: 15

Record as starter: 2-4

DYAR rank: 8

QBR rank: 22

One thing to know: Inconsistency remains a problem for Rivers, but the Chargers will take what they can get as long as they're winning football games. After an 0-4 start to the season, Rivers has led Los Angeles to back-to-back victories, including a fourth-quarter comeback over the Raiders last Sunday.

12. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

12. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Ranking after Week 4: 8

Record as starter: 4-2

DYAR rank: 14

QBR rank: 13

One thing to know: It's been more than a decade since the last time Roethlisberger finished a season with more interceptions than touchdowns, but he's on pace to do just that in 2017. His five-pick performance in Week 5 will probably stand as an outlier once the year is over, but even so, he's sporting his worst completion rate since 2010.

13. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

13. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Ranking after Week 4: 19

Record as starter: 4-2

DYAR rank: 19

QBR rank: 12

One thing to know: Newton threw three interceptions last Sunday, but it was his legwork that made him stand out. After a slow start to the year on the ground, he rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown, his best performance since the 2015 season.

14. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

14. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

Ranking after Week 4: 9

Record as starter: 3-2

DYAR rank: 21

QBR rank: 14

One thing to know: Wilson is still a competent game manager and the leader of one of the NFL's better teams, and he's completed over 70 percent of his passes over his last two starts. But even so, he has yet to rediscover the form he showed in 2015, and at nearly 29 years old, that could be a cause for long-term concern.

15. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

15. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Ranking after Week 4: 13

Record as starter: 3-3

DYAR rank: 24

QBR rank: 17

One thing to know: Given his enviable combination of arm strength and veteran experience, it certainly feels like Stafford should be having a better season than he is. He couldn't get out of his own way last Sunday, offsetting three touchdown passes with three interceptions in a 52-38 loss to New Orleans. At least he's in the middle of his bye week, giving him a chance to rest his sprained ankle.

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ranking after Week 4: 14

Record as starter: 2-3

DYAR rank: 13

QBR rank: 23

One thing to know: Winston was forced out of last Sunday's game with a shoulder injury, but he has maintained that he expects to play in Week 7 against the Bills. The Florida State product's injury history is nearly spotless.

17. Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders

17. Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders

Ranking after Week 4: N/A (replacing EJ Manuel, No. 30)

Record as starter: 2-3

DYAR rank: 17

QBR rank: 24

One thing to know: The Raiders will go only as far as Carr takes them, and it looks like they could be in for a long second half of the season. The Fresno State product completed 70% of his passes in his first game back from a back injury, but a pair of interceptions spoiled his day in the 17-16 loss.

18. Case Keenum, Minnesota Vikings

18. Case Keenum, Minnesota Vikings

Ranking after Week 4: 20

Record as starter: 2-2

DYAR rank: 5

QBR rank: 7

One thing to know: It looks like Keenum will get another start in Week 7, but the Vikings' already unclear quarterback situation got even murkier this week. Teddy Bridgewater, sidelined by a horrific knee injury since last summer, was recently cleared to practice with the team.

19. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals

19. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals

Ranking after Week 4: 23

Record as starter: 3-3

DYAR rank: 16

QBR rank: 19

One thing to know: Palmer had his best game of the season last Sunday, hitting 18 out of 22 targets for a passer rating of 139.4. Despite that small number of attempts, he continues to be the most heavily-used passer in the league.

20. Eli Manning, New York Giants

20. Eli Manning, New York Giants

Ranking after Week 4: 17

Record as starter: 1-5

DYAR rank: 18

QBR rank: 20

One thing to know: Manning won his first game of the season last Sunday, but don't expect fans to stop clamoring for the Giants to draft a young signal caller. With a stacked quarterback class, next year's draft should provide an excellent opportunity to retool, and the team's 0-5 start was simply too ugly to ignore.

21. Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills

21. Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills

Ranking after Week 4: 16

Record as starter: 3-2

DYAR rank: 20

QBR rank: 18

One thing to know: T-Mobile hasn't actually been that mobile in recent weeks. After averaging over 35 rushing yards per game in his first three games of the season, he's put up just 15 total in two contests since then. Luckily for Bills fans, last week's bye may have given him a chance to rest his legs.

22. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

22. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

Ranking after Week 4: 18

Record as starter: 2-3

DYAR rank: 25

QBR rank: 27

One thing to know: Dalton was cruising along nicely before throwing two picks against Buffalo in Week 5, but the Bengals still came away with a 20-16 win. The Steelers' tough defense should be even less forgiving of mistakes, so the TCU product will need to be fired up coming off of his bye week.

23. Josh McCown, New York Jets

23. Josh McCown, New York Jets

Ranking after Week 4: 25

Record as starter: 3-3

DYAR rank: 28

QBR rank: 16

One thing to know: McCown has been what the Jets needed him to be: a veteran locker room presence with the ability to run an offense and shut down any whiff of a quarterback controversy. All of that helps his ranking on this list, but not by much.

24. Trevor Siemian, Denver Broncos

24. Trevor Siemian, Denver Broncos

Ranking after Week 4: 21

Record as starter: 3-2

DYAR rank: 22

QBR rank: 25

One thing to know: Siemian briefly left last week's game against the Chargers with a shoulder injury, but he returned to finish a performance that included 376 passing yards and two interceptions. While he's not the worst quarterback in the league by any stretch, he hasn't shown a whole lot of improvement from last year.

25. Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars

25. Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars

Ranking after Week 4: 22

Record as starter: 3-3

DYAR rank: 23

QBR rank: 26

One thing to know: This year's Jaguars team looks like it could be the best in years, but Bortles has been as frustrating as ever, posting a career-low completion percentage of just 57.1, second-to-last among those who have started four or more games under center. Still, he could be in for a big game against the Colts this Sunday.

26. Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts

26. Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts

Ranking after Week 4: 26

Record as starter: 2-3

DYAR rank: 26

QBR rank: 21

One thing to know: Brissett will never be the most skilled quarterback in the league, but he's done an adequate job in a caretaker role made necessary by Andrew Luck's slow recovery from surgery. The Colts may sit at 2-4, but with a combined margin of just six points in those two wins, things could certainly be worse.

27. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

27. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Ranking after Week 4: 24

Record as starter: 3-3

DYAR rank: 31

QBR rank: 28

One thing to know: Flacco has now thrown twice as many interceptions as he has touchdowns, and at this point, with a 66.1 passer rating over six games, it's more than just a slow start. His upcoming matchups against Minnesota and Miami won't do him any favors.

28. Mitch Trubisky, Chicago Bears

28. Mitch Trubisky, Chicago Bears

Ranking after Week 4: 27

Record as starter: 1-1

DYAR rank: N/A

QBR rank: N/A

One thing to know: Trubisky has been far from perfect through his first two games as a pro — with a 48.8 completion percentage, he's even more inaccurate than DeShone Kizer, who ranks last in the league among qualified quarterbacks. Even so, the rookie has flashed his potential on a number of occasions, including this trick play on a two-point conversion.

29. Jay Cutler, Miami Dolphins

29. Jay Cutler, Miami Dolphins

Ranking after Week 4: 28

Record as starter: 3-2

DYAR rank: 29

QBR rank: 29

One thing to know: Cutler has led the Dolphins to back-to-back wins, but at this point in his career, his reputation as a negative locker room presence is set in stone. In an ESPN survey of over 150 NFL players, the 34 year old dominated the "Who is the one QB you would not want as a teammate?" category, earning a whopping 42% of the vote. No one else got more than 6%.

30. C.J. Beathard, San Francisco 49ers

30. C.J. Beathard, San Francisco 49ers

Ranking after Week 4: N/A (replacing Brian Hoyer, No. 29)

Record as starter: N/A (first career start)

DYAR rank: N/A

QBR rank: N/A

One thing to know: Sunday's game could be rough sailing for this Iowa product, but at least he has football in his blood. Beathard's grandfather, Bobby Beathard, served as general manager of the Redskins and Chargers for over 20 years, winning a pair of Super Bowls along the way.

31. DeShone Kizer, Cleveland Browns

31. DeShone Kizer, Cleveland Browns

Ranking after Week 4: 31

Record as starter: 0-5

DYAR rank: 32

QBR rank: 32

One thing to know: Kizer rode the bench during Week 6, but he'll get another crack at the starting job against the Tennessee Titans this Sunday. The Notre Dame product still leads the league with nine interceptions, so head coach Hue Jackson will hope that the week off reenergized his rookie signal caller.

32. Brett Hundley, Green Bay Packers

32. Brett Hundley, Green Bay Packers

Ranking after Week 4: N/A (replacing Aaron Rodgers, No. 3)

Record as starter: N/A (first career start)

DYAR rank: N/A

QBR rank: N/A

One thing to know: Hundley didn't perform as poorly as he could have last Sunday, but he still threw three interceptions in a 23-10 loss to a division rival. Packers fans will be anxiously awaiting the return of Aaron Rodgers, but there's no guarantee that day will come before the end of the season.


Source: Business Insider India