The NFL season is nearly entering its second phase, but before we move on, let’s appreciate some of the great (and hideous) quarterback play of 2017.
Ken Dorsey Division
32. QB Browns (Prev: 30)
DeShone Kizer has to rank at the bottom. He’s beyond atrocious.
31. T.J. Yates (Prev: 31)
Yates was beyond awful on Christmas, throwing for 83 yards and an interception in a 34-6 loss. Then again, Yates gave every aspiring young quarterback the gift of hope, so there’s that.
30. Paxton Lynch (Prev: 32)
Lynch is in line to start against the Chiefs on Sunday at Mile High. Denver has struggled through a horrid campaign, but if the second-year, former first-round pick can light it up, that would go a long way toward a good feeling going into January. Unfortunately, there’s nothing to suggest that’s coming.
29. Brett Hundley (Prev: NA)
Hundley should not play another down in the NFL after this season. It’s a legitimate struggle for him to throw for 100 yards.
28. Bryce Petty (Prev: 29)
Petty is completing 47.5 percent of his throws. He has started two games and the yardage total? 312. Time to cut bait.
27. Drew Stanton (Prev: 28)
Tough to get excited about a veteran who is completing 51 percent of his attempts. The Cardinals need to find a young quarterback in the worst way.
26. Mitch Trubisky (Prev: 27)
Trubisky has been getting more accurate with each game. Considering the Bears have no receiving weapons to speak of, it’s not impossible to look at 2,015 yards and be excited about the future.
Byron Leftwich Division
25. Blake Bortles (Prev: 24)
Just when Bortles is getting all kinds of good press, he turns around and throws three interceptions. One could argue not all three were his fault, but it’s also true that the Jaguars need him to be much better than he often is to beat the Patriots and Steelers in January.
24. Jay Cutler (Prev: 26)
Cutler almost threw for 300 yards at Arrowhead, but the Dolphins only produced 13 points. All told, Cutler moves up a few spots because his performance was solid, but for the season, he’s been mediocre at best.
23. Joe Flacco (Prev: 23)
Flacco ranks 56th in yards per attempt at 5.85 yards per attempt (of all players who have thrown a single pass. Leading the way? Mohamed Sanu at 51.00!). He’s barely ahead of Kizer and Hundley. If the Ravens are a viable threat to win a playoff game or two, Flacco has to be much, much better.
22. Nick Foles (Prev: 25)
Foles doesn’t have to be great, he simply has to steer the ship and avoid any icebergs. The Eagles are a very good team with legitimate Super Bowl dreams, and while Foles isn’t Carson Wentz, he’s good enough to keep things rolling.
Erik Kramer Division
21. Andy Dalton (Prev: 21)
The Bengals should clean house and move Dalton either via a release or trade. The 30-year-old has another 3,000-yard season to his name, but the completion rate is down and the interceptions continue to be too high.
20. Jacoby Brissett (Prev: 20)
Brissett is going back to the bench when Andrew Luck is healthy, but he’s shown himself to be a top-end backup. The Colts have a litany of holes on the roster, but should Luck return at full strength, they don’t have an issue at signal-caller.
19. Marcus Mariota (Prev: 19)
Mariota threw another interception and failed to launch a touchdown against the Rams. The Titans are 8-7 and on a three-game losing streak. Tennessee must beat the Jaguars on Sunday to reach the playoffs, and at this point, it’s tough to picture Mariota doing much to help the cause.
18. Jameis Winston (Prev: 22)
Winston moves up a few spots because he was tremendous on Sunday against the Panthers, but it still wasn’t enough. That said, this entire offseason has to be about eliminating his absurd weekly turnovers.
17. Tyrod Taylor (Prev: 18)
Buffalo is going to have a decision to make on Taylor after this year. At this point, we know his story; few mistakes, few big plays, limited upside. Considering the Bills once trotted out Nathan Peterman over Taylor in an important game might tell us all we need.
Danny White Division
16. Derek Carr (Prev: 16)
There’s no movement in this division, and while that’s boring, it feels accurate. Carr has been a league average quarterback this season. He hasn’t made the Raiders worse, but he certainly hasn’t made them better in an incredibly disappointing campaign.
15. Eli Manning (Prev: 15)
Manning gets criticism for going downhill in recent years, and there’s some justification to that. Still, he remains a decent quarterback saddled with a horrendous roster. Get some help up front and in the running game, and Manning can still play.
14. Cam Newton (Prev: 14)
The panthers won again on Sunday to clinch a playoff spot for the fourth time in five years, so Newton gets credit for that. He’s been a driving force behind an offense short on perimeter playmakers. Still, throwing for 3,122 yards while completing 60.5 percent of your throws doesn’t put you in the elite category.
13. Case Keenum (Prev: 13)
Keenum has a terrific defense helping him along in Minnesota, but the Vikings wouldn’t be playing with real Super Bowl aspirations without him. It’s hard to complain about 21 touchdowns against seven interceptions, helping Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs become household names.
Ken Anderson Division
12. Dak Prescott (Prev: 12)
Prescott — and the Cowboys — have taken a step back this year. Still, Prescott ranks high because his talent is evident and his future is bright. There’s no reason to believe the former Mississippi State star won’t bounce back strong in 2018.
11. Jimmy Garoppolo (Prev: 17)
Garoppolo has had a meteoric rise both in the NFL and these rankings, but it’s earned. Garoppolo is now 6-0 in his career and 4-0 with the 49ers, who were a brutal 1-10 before he took over under center. He has the look of a true superstar.
10. Jared Goff (Prev: 11)
Goff has 3,804 passing yards with 28 touchdowns against seven interceptions. Along with Todd Gurley and Sean McVay, Goff is the biggest reason the Rams went from 7-9 BS to 11-4 and NFC West champs.
9. Kirk Cousins (Prev: 10)
Cousins might be playing his final game with the Redskins on Sunday. His contract is up afterwards, and there is rampant speculation that he’ll move on to the highest bidder. Washington will rue the day if he gets away.
Norm Van Brocklin Division
8. Matt Ryan (Prev: 8)
Ryan had to play a great game for the Falcons to beat the Saints on Sunday, and it didn’t happen. Atlanta has not gotten a great year out of the MVP, throwing for 3,778 yards with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
7. Alex Smith (Prev: 9)
Smith went over 4,000 yards passing for the first time in his career. He’s averaging a cool 8.00 YPA with 26 touchdowns against five interceptions. I’ve alternatively praised and bashed Smith throughout his turbulent year (he was A.W.F.U.L. for a month-long stretch) but overall, he’s been very good.
6. Matthew Stafford (Prev: 6)
Stafford often gets very preferential treatment in these rankings for two reasons. He has no coach, and no running game. Still, he has to beat the Bengals. It doesn’t matter if that means throwing for 400 yards. If that’s what it takes, get the job done.
5. Philip Rivers (Prev: 7)
Rivers was able to deliver a win in Gotham over the Jets. Now, can Rivers and the Chargers find a way into the playoffs with a win and some help in Week 17? If Los Angeles earns that ticket, Rivers makes it extremely dangerous.
Joe Montana Division
4. Russell Wilson (Prev: 4)
Wilson might have the weakest offensive line in the league, and yet the Seahawks are 9-6 and still in playoff contention. Somehow, Wilson has thrown 32 touchdowns and has a good chance of going over 4,000 yards on Sunday.
3. Ben Roethlisberger (Prev: 5)
Roethlisberger started extremely slow this season, to the point that many (including yours truly) believed he was shot. Fast forward to the present, and Roethlisberger is in the Pro Bowl, has thrown for 4,251 yards and 28 touchdowns. Not bad.
Next: Best NFL player from each state
2. Drew Brees (Prev: 3)
Brees is aging, but he remains one of the league’s great players — and people. The Super Bowl champion and former Purdue star ranks fifth in the NFL with 4,089 yards to go with 22 touchdowns.
1. Tom Brady (Prev: 1)
Simply put, Brady is the best quarterback of his era, and you can make a strong argument, any era.