NFL quarterback rankings, Week 3: Derek Carr is showing out
Derek Carr has taken plenty of heat, but he’s rolling to start the 2021 season, leading the Las Vegas to a surprising 2-0 start.
Our 2021 FanSided NFL quarterback rankings go live each Tuesday morning throughout the regular season, and we use a sliding scale incorporating current and past performances, with the former meaning more as the year goes on.
QB. Zach Wilson. 32. player. 30. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. New York Jets
2021 stats: 468 yards | 55.7 comp % | 2 TD | 5 INT | 6.7 YPA | 22.6 QBR
LW: 30
Wilson doesn’t have much help, but he’s off to a bad start. His four interceptions on Sunday — three of which were hideous throws — was the week’s low point for quarterback play.
player. 10. 31. QB. Houston Texans. Davis Mills. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 102 yards | 44.4 comp % | 1 TD | 1 INT | 5.7 YPA | 10.0 QBR
LW: NA
Mills is a third-round rookie with absolutely no support. Thursday will be rough.
Pick Analysis. QB. Jacksonville Jaguars. 52. Scouting Report. Trevor Lawrence. 30. player
2021 stats: 450 yards | 50.0 comp % | 4 TD | 5 INT | 5.4 YPA | 24.9 QBR
LW: 27
Lawrence looked great on the opening, scripted drive against Denver. Then he went 9-of-26 for 45 yards with two interceptions.
player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Chicago Bears. Andy Dalton. 29. 57
2021 stats: 262 yards | 73.5 comp % | 1 TD | 1 INT | 5.3 YPA | 52.1 QBR
LW: 31
Dalton is hurting with a knee injury but might start against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. While Justin Fields wasn’t good in his debut, Dalton is clearly a backup, even in Chicago.
Scouting Report. QB. Miami Dolphins. Jacoby Brissett. 28. player. Pick Analysis. 59
2021 stats: 169 yards | 60.0 comp % | 0 TD | 1 INT | 4.2 YPA | 36.3 QBR
LW: NA
Brissett is a good backup and a borderline starter. Against the Buffalo Bills in a 35-0 loss, he looked timid behind an awful line.
58. Washington Football Team. Taylor Heinicke. 27. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. player
2021 stats: 458 yards | 73.8 comp % | 3 TD | 1 INT | 7.5 YPA | 45.7 QBR
LW: 32
Outside of what could have been a game-ending interception, Heinicke played well. Washington can win with him when he avoids mistakes.
Scouting Report. QB. player. Pick Analysis. New York Giants. Daniel Jones. 26. 31
2021 stats: 516 yards | 63.8 comp % | 2 TD | 0 INT | 7.5 YPA | 63.3 QBR
LW: 28
Jones was pedestrian in the first half of Thursday’s loss to Washington, but he ignited in the final 30 minutes. If the Giants didn’t completely fall apart, they would be 1-1.
Indianapolis Colts. 46. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Carson Wentz. 25
2021 stats: 498 yards | 65.2 comp % | 3 TD | 1 INT | 7.2 YPA | 42.6 QBR
LW: 25
Wentz is now dealing with a pair of sprained ankles, putting his status for Week 3 in jeopardy. When he has played, there have been good moments. There have also been shovel passes getting intercepted.
QB. New Orleans Saints. 24. player. 15. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Jameis Winston
2021 stats: 259 yards | 59.5 comp % | 5 TD | 2 INT | 6.2 YPA | 63.1 QBR
LW: 24
Winston went bad to “Bad Jameis” on Sunday. The Saints watched him throw two ill-advised interceptions while barely cracking 100 yards. Now, Bill Belichick.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Pittsburgh Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger. 23. player. 55. QB
2021 stats: 483 yards | 62.5 comp % | 2 TD | 1 INT | 6.7 YPA | 33.8 QBR
LW: 20
It’s over. Like over, over. The Steelers are going to play out the 2021 campaign with Roethlisberger, but there’s no arm strength and the offense is clearly avoiding the deep middle of the field because of it.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. 87. Carolina Panthers. Sam Darnold. 22. player
2021 stats: 584 yards | 68.5 comp % | 3 TD | 1 INT | 8.0 YPA | 66.2 QBR
LW: 26
Darnold has done a nice job so far, largely avoiding mistakes and throwing to his ample weapons. If the Panthers get this version, they can make the playoffs.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Philadelphia Eagles. QB. Jalen Hurts. 21. player. 54
2021 stats: 454 yards | 67.2 comp % | 3 TD | 0 INT | 7.8 YPA | 65.9 QBR
LW: 23
After an amazing opener, Hurts came back to earth a bit. The Eagles should still love what they’re seeing, but on Sunday, the second-year man only threw for 190 yards on 23 attempts. Factoring in a 91-yard bomb to Quez Watkins, Hurts only notched 99 yards on his other 22 throws.
QB. 20. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. New England Patriots. Mac Jones. 47
2021 stats: 467 yards | 73.9 comp % | 1 TD | 0 INT | 6.8 YPA | 53.4 QBR
LW: 21
Jones is the epitome of a game manager to this point. Everything has been underneath, with only one target of more than 20 yards against the Jets. Still, the Patriots have a great defense, so game-manning is enough.
QB. Jared Goff. 19. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Detroit Lions. player. 50
2021 stats: 584 yards | 68.8 comp % | 5 TD | 2 INT | 6.2 YPA | 43.5 QBR
LW: 19
Goff was competent against the Packers, throwing well and keeping Detroit in the game through the better part of three quarters. However, once the Lions fell behind by multiple scores, things fell apart. Nobody needs to be comfortable more than Goff.
QB. Atlanta Falcons. 44. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Matt Ryan. 18. player
2021 stats: 464 yards | 69.1 comp % | 2 TD | 3 INT | 5.7 YPA | 28.8 QBR
LW: 15
Ryan has been awful to start the year. Of course, it doesn’t help he’s constantly trailing and the offensive line stinks, but a pair of pick-sixes on Sunday weren’t ideal.
Scouting Report. Teddy Bridgewater. Denver Broncos. 17. player. 45. Pick Analysis. QB
2021 stats: 592 yards | 77.1 comp % | 4 TD | 0 INT | 8.5 YPA | 83.2 QBR
LW: 22
Bridgewater’s play has him deserving a higher ranking. He’s going downfield, avoiding mistakes and nabbing wins. So why isn’t he soaring? Because the Broncos have played the Giants and Jaguars, and there’s mounds of evidence saying this is an aberration. Let’s see Weeks 4 and 5 against the Ravens and Steelers.
Kirk Cousins. player. 60. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 16. QB. Minnesota Vikings
2021 stats: 595 yards | 71.6 comp % | 5 TD | 0 INT | 7.3 YPA | 62.2 QBR
LW: 17
Cousins was very good against the Cardinals, throwing three touchdowns and hitting chunk plays. Unfortunately, the Vikings can’t kick a field goal or stop anybody, so they’re 0-2.
42. Pick Analysis. QB. 15. Scouting Report. San Francisco 49ers. Jimmy Garoppolo. player
2021 stats: 503 yards | 70.9 comp % | 2 TD | 0 INT | 9.1 YPA | 62.4 QBR
LW: 16
Garoppolo is doing enough to hold off Trey Lance for now. The veteran is utilizing a good defense and solid rushing attack to his advantage, taking few risks and staying within his abilities.
player. 56. Pick Analysis. 14. Cincinnati Bengals. Joe Burrow. Scouting Report. QB
2021 stats: 468 yards | 68.4 comp % | 4 TD | 3 INT | 8.2 YPA | 32.8 QBR
LW: 14
Burrow played great on Sunday, if you erase three consecutive throws being intercepted. The Bengals don’t have a defense to bail the former No. 1 overall pick out, so any mistakes — let alone three straight — are a death sentence.
QB. Tennessee Titans. Ryan Tannehill. Pick Analysis. player. 35. Scouting Report. 13
2021 stats: 559 yards | 64.0 comp % | 1 TD | 1 INT | 7.5 YPA | 46.5 QBR
LW: 13
Tannehill struggled early and the Titans appeared destined for 0-2. Then, suddenly, Tannehill came alive, going for more than 300 yards in a comeback overtime win. For Tennessee, the key to winning is deep balls and avoiding turnovers. Job well done in Seattle.
Cleveland Browns. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. 53. Baker Mayfield. 12. player
2021 stats: 534 yards | 81.6 comp % | 1 TD | 2 INT | 10.9 YPA | 59.3 QBR
LW: 11
Mayfield wasn’t great against the Texans, throwing an interception and getting hurt while making the tackle. However, he ran for a score and largely distributed the ball to his undermanned offense, which operated without Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr.
Los Angeles Chargers. Justin Herbert. 11. player. Pick Analysis. QB. 13. Scouting Report
2021 stats: 675 yards | 70.5 comp % | 2 TD | 3 INT | 7.7 YPA | 43.2 QBR
LW: 7
Herbert needs to drop a few spots. Throwing two interceptions in a one-score game is devastating, and a horrid sack (should have been intentional grounding) in the fourth turned a potential touchdown into a field goal. Can’t make those errors.
Derek Carr. 28. Pick Analysis. QB. Las Vegas Raiders. 10. player. Scouting Report
2021 stats: 817 yards | 66.7 comp % | 4 TD | 1 INT | 8.8 YPA | 61.3 QBR
LW: 12
Nobody has enjoyed a better start to the season. Carr is leading the NFL in passing yards by more than 100, despite playing good defenses in the Ravens and Steelers. Left for dead by most pundits — including yours truly — Carr and the Raiders look terrific.
Scouting Report. QB. 9. player. Pick Analysis. Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen. 16
2021 stats: 449 yards | 56.0 comp % | 3 TD | 1 INT | 5.3 YPA | 44.5 QBR
LW: 6
Allen has been, in a word, awful. The ’20 Second-Team All-Pro has struggled mightily against the Steelers and Dolphins, missing hoards of open receivers while checking down far too often. Buffalo needs the Allen of a year ago to show up.
51. Scouting Report. QB. Los Angeles Rams. Matthew Stafford. 8. Pick Analysis. player
2021 stats: 599 yards | 69.6 comp % | 5 TD | 1 INT | 10.7 YPA | 77.9 QBR
LW: 8
Stafford was solid against the Colts. Nothing that was otherworldly like a few throws against the Bears in Week 1, but quality play which has the Rams 2-0 leading into their tilt with the Buccaneers this weekend.
Pick Analysis. QB. Lamar Jackson. 7. player. Scouting Report. Baltimore Ravens. 26
2021 stats: 474 yards | 66.1 comp % | 2 TD | 2 INT | 8.5 YPA | 59.8 QBR
LW: 10
Jackson put on a masterpiece performance against the Chiefs, accounting for more than 300 total yards with three scores. Yes, he tossed two interceptions — one was because Sammy Watkins slipped — but he took Baltimore down time and again. Phenomenal work.
32. Pick Analysis. Arizona Cardinals. player. Kyler Murray. 6. Scouting Report. QB
2021 stats: 689 yards | 73.5 comp % | 7 TD | 3 INT | 10.1 YPA | 71.5 QBR
LW: 9
Murray had some YOLO moments against the Vikings, leading him into two ugly interceptions. However, he’s largely been brilliant this season, generating chunk plays with his arm and legs.
Dallas Cowboys. 123. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Dak Prescott. 5. player
2021 stats: 640 yards | 76.5 comp % | 3 TD | 2 INT | 7.5 YPA | 61.6 QBR
LW: 5
Prescott played great ball against the Chargers, save for one Asante Samuel Jr. interception. The Cowboys are only going as far as their talented quarterback can take them. The good news? Prescott looks healthy and better than ever.
QB. Aaron Rodgers. 4. 49. Pick Analysis. Scouting Report. Green Bay Packers. player
2021 stats: 388 yards | 67.2 comp % | 4 TD | 2 INT | 7.0 YPA | 46.2 QBR
LW: 4
Rodgers needed a huge game, and he produced one. The Packers put up 35 points in the Monday night win, with the future Hall of Famer throwing four touchdowns to handle the Lions. Now, a tough test out west against the 49ers.
QB. Seattle Seahawks. Russell Wilson. 3. Pick Analysis. player. 36. Scouting Report
2021 stats: 597 yards | 74.1 comp % | 6 TD | 0 INT | 11.1 YPA | 63.2 QBR
LW: 3
Wilson can’t be happy with the Seahawks’ second-half performance, including his own. While the overall statline was solid, Wilson only helped generate seven points over the final 30 minutes and overtime.
Scouting Report. Patrick Mahomes. 124. Pick Analysis. QB. Kansas City Chiefs. 2. player
2021 stats: 680 yards | 76.1 comp % | 6 TD | 1 INT | 10.1 YPA | 79.3 QBR
LW: 1
Mahomes has been playing spectacular ball, but he drops one spot. Ultimately, he threw a hideous pick against the Ravens that contributed to blowing an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter. It happens.
Pick Analysis. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. player. 48. Scouting Report. QB. Tom Brady. 1
2021 stats: 655 yards | 65.1 comp % | 9 TD | 2 INT | 7.6 YPA | 64.8 QBR
LW: 2
How is this possible? Brady has already thrown nine touchdowns against two interceptions (one Hail Mary, one ball through Leonard Fournette’s hands). He’s playing at an MVP level.