NFL Week 4: Quarterback rankings
With Week 4 of the NFL season upon us, it’s time to separate the men from the boys.
It’s almost the quarter poll of the NFL regular season, which is insane. It feels like yesterday that the season just got rolling, and yet here we are.
Of course, you didn’t come here for me to give you some long, rambling spiel. Let’s get right into the quarterback rankings. As always, it’s based about 75/25 off this season, with career perspective mixed in. Here are last week’s for a guide to where we came from.
Matt Kemp Division
32. Cody Kessler
Kesller played well, throwing for 244 yards and completing more than 60 percent of his throws. So why last? He’s only played one game. Prove it, kid.
31. Blaine Gabbert
Gabbert is terrible. Like, the kind of terrible that makes you wonder how he’s in the league. On the season, he has three picks and a 55.2 completion percentage.
30. Jacoby Brissett
Brissett got the job done in Week 3, throwing for 195 yards. It wasn’t the most flashy performance, but it was enough.
29. Case Keenum
Keenum is meant to be a backup, but because Jared Goff is rancid, the Rams are letting him play.
28. Brian Hoyer
Hoyer is only keeping the seat warm until Jay Cutler comes back. He was fine on Sunday night, but the Bears need a hell of a lot better than fine to win a game.
Stan Humphries Division
27. Tyrod Taylor
Taylor simply doesn’t throw for much yardage. He’s 527 yards in three games, showcasing minimal skills.
26. Ryan Tannehill
Tannehill has the tools to be so much better, but it just doesn’t happen. He was atrocious against the Browns, and is very lucky to have escaped with the win.
25. Trevor Siemian
Siemian threw four touchdowns on Sunday, but he was lucky with a few throws. He also made some poor attempts that were bailed out by horrid coverage. Better than expected, but still not good.
24. Brock Osweiler
Osweiler is not getting the job done. There have already been four interceptions and a 59.6 completion percentage. Yikes.
23. Marcus Mariota
Mariota only has 723 yards and four picks. He needs to do more with a decent supporting cast around him.
22. Ryan Fitzpatrick
The man threw six interceptions in one game. He’s lucky to have been this high on the list.
Mark Rypien Division
21. Blake Bortles
At some point, Bortles has to win some games. The Jaguars have talent, but the results are lacking and Bortles has to shoulder some of that load.
20. Kirk Cousins
Cousins finally played well against the Giants, leading a comeback to keep hope alive in D.C. He’s also thrown for 989 yards, which is downright impressive.
19. Jameis Winston
Winston looked poor for most of that game against the Rams. He has incredible talent, but the play has to be better consistently.
18. Sam Bradford
Bradford has only hit on three touchdowns but he has a completion percentage of 67.8. He’s getting the job done for the Vikings.
Jim Plunkett Division
17. Dak Prescott
Prescott just keeps playing solid football. Nobody is going to confuse him with Warren Moon at this juncture, but his play has been sublime.
16. Matthew Stafford
Stafford should be so much better than average, and maybe he would be if the Lions could run the ball. We may never know.
15. Carson Wentz
Some will argue this is too low, but Wentz’s career is only three games old. That said, the kid has been unreal. He’s already amassed five touchdowns without an interception.
Drew Bledsoe Division
14. Carson Palmer
Palmer is great one week, miserable the next. We’re giving him the benefit of the doubt, but he needs to pick up his play.
13. Eli Manning
Manning has already thrown for 925 yards, but the three interceptions is too high. This would be the tombstone of Manning’s career if not for those two rings.
12. Alex Smith
Smith has a very Smithian effort on Sunday, throwing for 237 yards with a touchdown and no turnovers. He’s basically the anti Ryan Fitzpatrick.
11. Joe Flacco
Baltimore is 3-0, and Flacco is getting a good ranking in large part because of it. He’s thrown three touchdowns to four interceptions. Have to be better.
10. Derek Carr
Carr is a really, really good young quarterback. If he can get a bit better going through progressions and have his receivers stop dropping passes, the sky is the limit.
Brett Favre Division
9. Russell Wilson
Wilson is getting banged around this season, but he’s still a stud. If the Seahawks can keep him upright, they have a shot at another title.
8. Cam Newton
Newton has been bad so far, so this ranking is based off his career as a whole. In 2016, Newton has five picks and a 58.3 completion percentage.
7. Andy Dalton
Dalton was great the first two weeks before getting knocked around against Denver. If the Bengals are ever going to become a contender, he has to beat the best.
6. Philip Rivers
You ahve to feel for Rivers. He’s getting older and may never reach a Super Bowl, despite being a Hall-of-Fame level quarterback.
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Troy Aikman Division
5. Andrew Luck
Luck has some of the best arm talent the league has ever seen. If he could learn to cut down on the interceptions, he would be in the argument for best in the league.
4. Ben Roethlisberger
Roethlisberger has completed less than 60 percent of his throws in two straight games, but expect him to bounce back in a huge way. Most underrated QB in the league.
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3. Matt Ryan
Ryan is off to an incredible start to the season. Can he join the 5,000-yard club? It’s not a stretch considering Julio Jones is a juggernaut.
Joe Montana Division
2. Aaron Rodgers
Four touchdowns in the first half? Yeah, he’s still pretty damn good.
1. Drew Brees
The Saints aren’t going anywhere, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t appreciate Brees. He’s one of the greatest we will ever see.