NFL quarterback rankings, Week 4: Matthew Stafford arrives
In Week 3, nobody was more impressive than Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who torched the defending champions all afternoon.
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. New York Jets. Zach Wilson. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 30. 32
2021 stats: 628 yards | 55.2 comp % | 2 TD | 7 INT | 6.0 YPA | 22.1 QBR
LW: 32
There’s no need to pile on. Wilson has no chance with this current iteration of the Jets and he’s off to a brutal start.
Pick Analysis. Chicago Bears. Justin Fields. player. 57. Scouting Report. QB. 31
2021 stats: 138 yards | 40.0 comp % | 0 TD | 1 INT | 3.9 YPA | 7.1 QBR
LW: NA
Fields threw six completions in a full game for 68 yards. Pretty much sums it up. The gameplan was terrible and the offensive line was even worse.
Scouting Report. QB. player. 52. Pick Analysis. Jacksonville Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence. 30
2021 stats: 669 yards | 54.2 comp % | 5 TD | 7 INT | 5.7 YPA | 23.3 QBR
LW: 30
Lawrence has already thrown seven interceptions, some of the comical variety. Still, he flashes the elite talent which made him the No. 1 overall pick in April.
Davis Mills. 10. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Houston Texans. 29. player
2021 stats: 270 yards | 58.7 comp % | 2 TD | 1 INT | 5.9 YPA | 38.0 QBR
LW: 31
Mills doesn’t have any clear top-tier trait, but he avoided making big mistakes and made the throws an NFL quarterback should make. More than most of the rookies can say this year.
59. Pick Analysis. QB. Jacoby Brissett. 28. player. Scouting Report. Miami Dolphins
2021 stats: 384 yards | 62.9 comp % | 0 TD | 1 INT | 4.3 YPA | 53.9 QBR
LW: 28
Brissett has been the epitome of Captain Checkdown, but he’s doing an admirable job filling in for Tua Tagovailoa. Miami had a chance to upset the Raiders in Las Vegas, but fell short in overtime.
QB. Pittsburgh Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger. player. 55. Scouting Report. 27. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 801 yards | 63.8 comp % | 3 TD | 3 INT | 6.2 YPA | 35.7 QBR
LW: 23
Get the rocking chair out. Roethlisberger has been fried since last year, and he continues to struggle doing anything other than a quick dump-off to a back. It’s genuinely tough to watch.
26. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Indianapolis Colts. 46. QB. Carson Wentz
2021 stats: 692 yards | 60.4 comp % | 3 TD | 1 INT | 6.5 YPA | 38.9 QBR
LW: 25
Wentz gutted the game out this weekend in Tennessee, but he’s getting pounded behind an injured offensive line and the receivers are struggling to create much separation.
25. player. 58. Pick Analysis. QB. Taylor Heinicke. Washington Football Team. Scouting Report
2021 stats: 670 yards | 69.4 comp % | 5 TD | 3 INT | 7.9 YPA | 45.7 QBR
LW: 27
Heinicke is a backup quarterback being asked to do too much, mostly because the much-hyped Washington defense has been a disaster. Completing more than 65 percent of his passes for 7.9 yards per attempt is a nice job.
New England Patriots. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 24. player. 47. QB. Mac Jones
2021 stats: 737 yards | 67.5 comp % | 2 TD | 3 INT | 6.1 YPA | 52.3 QBR
LW: 20
It’s been a mediocre three games for Jones, and yet he’s easily the top rookie quarterback at the moment. The Patriots don’t ask much from their youngster, and he’s largely managing the unit. Nothin terrible, nothing special.
New York Giants. Daniel Jones. 23. 31. QB. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 782 yards | 65.4 comp % | 2 TD | 0 INT | 7.5 YPA | 60.6 QBR
LW: 26
For once, the Giants can’t blame all their failings on Jones’ turnovers. He’s without an interception, and frankly, the big issue has been offensive coordinator Jason Garrett’s refusal to innovate. It’s a stale system with no upside.
22. player. Scouting Report. Matt Ryan. Atlanta Falcons. 44. Pick Analysis. QB
2021 stats: 707 yards | 70.9 comp % | 4 TD | 3 INT | 6.0 YPA | 34.1 QBR
LW: 18
Ryan and the Falcons are off to another rough start. One would wonder if this is going to be the last year of this union, except Atlanta is looking at a $40 million dead cap hit in 2022. Yikes.
Philadelphia Eagles. Jalen Hurts. 21. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 54. QB. player
2021 stats: 780 yards | 65.9 comp % | 5 TD | 2 INT | 8.0 YPA | 65.9 QBR
LW: 21
The Eagles got hammered on Monday night, and Hurts didn’t help. He was under duress most of the evening, but he made a litany of poor throws, including a pair of interceptions. The accuracy on throws downfield must improve.
player. 50. Pick Analysis. Detroit Lions. 20. Scouting Report. QB. Jared Goff
2021 stats: 801 yards | 69.9 comp % | 5 TD | 2 INT | 6.5 YPA | 40.1 QBR
LW: 19
Goff really has no chance. The Lions have the worst receivers in the league, and while the offensive line has promise, it’s an offense without much direction at this stage of the rebuild.
15. Pick Analysis. New Orleans Saints. 19. player. Jameis Winston. Scouting Report. QB
2021 stats: 387 yards | 60.3 comp % | 7 TD | 2 INT | 6.1 YPA | 65.4 QBR
LW: 24
Winston has started three games and hasn’t thrown for 400 yards. It’s impossible to believe this is a man who threw for over 5,000 yards only two years. Different guy, and so far, different results.
QB. 42. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. San Francisco 49ers. Jimmy Garoppolo. 18. player
2021 stats: 760 yards | 67.4 comp % | 4 TD | 1 INT | 8.0 YPA | 56.2 QBR
LW: 15
Garoppolo wasn’t bad on Sunday, but he certainly didn’t do much to help the Niners win. There were too many inaccurate throws, forced throws and questionable pocket presence.
17. player. 56. Pick Analysis. QB. Cincinnati Bengals. Scouting Report. Joe Burrow
2021 stats: 640 yards | 70.7 comp % | 7 TD | 4 INT | 8.5 YPA | 41.5 QBR
LW: 14
Burrow is loving having Ja’Marr Chase on his side, finding him for a trio of touchdowns already. However, too many mistakes that Cincinnati can’t afford with an improving but suspect defense.
Carolina Panthers. Sam Darnold. 16. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. 87
2021 stats: 888 yards | 68.2 comp % | 3 TD | 1 INT | 8.3 YPA | 66.8 QBR
LW: 22
Get out of New York, prosper. Darnold has been solid in his first three weeks wearing blue, throwing for almost 300 yards per game. Now with Christian McCaffrey sidelined, he’ll be more under the spotlight.
Teddy Bridgewater. Pick Analysis. 15. player. 45. Scouting Report. QB. Denver Broncos
2021 stats: 827 yards | 76.8 comp % | 4 TD | 0 INT | 8.7 YPA | 78.0 QBR
LW: 17
Bridgewater keeps slowly climbing the ranks. After playing the Giants, Jaguars and Jets, he now faces the Ravens, Steelers, Raiders and Browns. If he continues playing near this level, he’ll be one heck of a headline this year.
QB. Tennessee Titans. Ryan Tannehill. 35. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 14. player
2021 stats: 756 yards | 64.7 comp % | 4 TD | 3 INT | 7.4 YPA | 56.5 QBR
LW: 13
Tannehill struggled some against the Colts, throwing two interceptions. Still, he managed to make enough plays while Indianapolis sputtered, putting Tennessee in the AFC South driver’s seat.
53. Scouting Report. QB. 13. player. Pick Analysis. Cleveland Browns. Baker Mayfield
2021 stats: 780 yards | 73.8 comp % | 2 TD | 2 INT | 9.8 YPA | 49.9 QBR
LW: 12
Mayfield really didn’t have to do much against the Bears. That’s what happens when your defense holds the opponent to 47 total yards. Look for him to air it out more against the high-powered Vikings attack this weekend.
QB. player. 60. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Minnesota Vikings. Kirk Cousins. 12
2021 stats: 918 yards | 73.9 comp % | 8 TD | 0 INT | 7.7 YPA | 78.2 QBR
LW: 16
Cousins is quietly playing really, really well. The former Michigan State star has Minnesota back from the dead after a big win over Seattle, and on the year has numbers comparable to anybody. Really well done.
11. Los Angeles Chargers. Justin Herbert. QB. player. 13. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 956 yards | 69.8 comp % | 6 TD | 3 INT | 7.6 YPA | 53.1 QBR
LW: 11
Herbert’s early career saw its signature win on Sunday, out-dueling Patrick Mahomes at Arrowhead for a 30-24 victory. Los Angeles will be in every game with Herbert, who can threaten every blade of grass.
player. 26. Scouting Report. Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson. 10. Pick Analysis. QB
2021 stats: 761 yards | 66.1 comp % | 3 TD | 3 INT | 8.7 YPA | 53.4 QBR
LW: 7
Jackson moved down a few spots, really because of the excellence from a few guys above him. The Ravens have been odd this season, sitting at 2-1 but within a whisker of 0-3. Still, Jackson remains the most unique talent in the NFL.
28. QB. player. Las Vegas Raiders. Derek Carr. 9. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 1,203 yards | 64.7 comp % | 6 TD | 2 INT | 8.8 YPA | 60.6 QBR
LW: 10
I can hear Raiders fans screaming through the screen for this ranking. Look, if this was based solely on the first three games of the season, Carr would be ranked first. However, to put him above guys like Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes is non-sensical right now. He’s playing like this midway through the year, he’ll be there.
Pick Analysis. QB. 8. player. Scouting Report. Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen. 16
2021 stats: 807 yards | 62.2 comp % | 7 TD | 1 INT | 6.4 YPA | 59.3 QBR
LW: 9
Allen finally stepped up after a hideous first two games. He went for more than 300 yards in a drubbing of Washington. When Allen plays that well, Buffalo is going to win every week.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. 32. Arizona Cardinals. Kyler Murray. 7. player
2021 stats: 1,005 yards | 76.5 comp % | 7 TD | 4 INT | 9.9 YPA | 71.2 QBR
LW: 6
Murray has the league’s fifth-best QBR. On Sunday, the former No. 1 overall pick completed 82.5 percent of his attempts to beat the Jaguars while already eclipsing 1,000 passing yards on the year.
Pick Analysis. Matthew Stafford. 6. player. Scouting Report. QB. Los Angeles Rams. 51
2021 stats: 942 yards | 70.2 comp % | 9 TD | 1 INT | 10.0 YPA | 82.8 QBR
LW: 8
Stafford gets the shine this week. When you torch the defending champs for 343 yards and four touchdowns in an emphatic win, you move up the list. Stafford has always had elite talent. Now he’s also surrounded by it.
5. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott. 123
2021 stats: 878 yards | 77.4 comp % | 6 TD | 2 INT | 7.9 YPA | 61.6 QBR
LW: 5
Prescott looks phenomenal thus far. He’s moving well, throwing accurately and on time, and putting some heat on the ball as well. The Cowboys need the offense to be great to contend, and so far, so good.
Green Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers. 4. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. 49
2021 stats: 649 yards | 68.2 comp % | 6 TD | 2 INT | 7.4 YPA | 61.1 QBR
LW: 4
After a clunker against the Saints to open the season, Rodgers has looked great. He toyed with the Niners on Sunday night, going for 261 yards and two touchdowns. The numbers aren’t overwhelming, but his play has dramatically improved every week.
Seattle Seahawks. player. 36. Scouting Report. QB. Russell Wilson. 3. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 895 yards | 73.3 comp % | 7 TD | 0 INT | 10.4 YPA | 55.9 QBR
LW: 3
What else can Wilson do? Look at the numbers. He’s putting up MVP-caliber stats and it doesn’t matter because the Seahawks might have the NFL’s worst defense.
QB. Patrick Mahomes. 124. Pick Analysis. Kansas City Chiefs. 2. player. Scouting Report
2021 stats: 940 yards | 70.3 comp % | 9 TD | 3 INT | 8.5 YPA | 76.3 QBR
LW: 2
Read the paragraph on Wilson, and copy for Mahomes. Now, Mahomes has thrown three interceptions over the past two weeks, although one of them on Sunday should have been caught for a touchdown. Instead, it goes against him. Overall, he’s been terrific, but needs to curtail a few hero-ball throws.
Scouting Report. QB. 1. player. Pick Analysis. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tom Brady. 48
2021 stats: 1,087 yards | 68.8 comp % | 10 TD | 2 INT | 7.7 YPA | 64.5 QBR
LW: 1
No reason to bump Brady from the top spot. Yes, the Buccaneers lost, but the 44-year-old was excellent, avoiding turnovers while throwing for 432 yards and a score, running his count to a league-best 10 touchdowns.