NFL quarterback rankings, Week 5: Patrick Mahomes gets rolling
In Week 4, it was Patrick Mahomes dicing up the Philadelphia Eagles that caught our eye, throwing five touchdowns in a rollicking victory.
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.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 32. 10. QB. Houston Texans. Davis Mills. player
2021 stats: 357 yards | 56.7 comp % | 2 TD | 5 INT | 5.3 YPA | 17.6 QBR
LW: 29
The man threw four interceptions, didn’t score a point and failed to throw for 100 yards.
31. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. New York Jets. Zach Wilson. 30
2021 stats: 925 yards | 56.8 comp % | 4 TD | 8 INT | 6.7 YPA | 24.9 QBR
LW: 32
Wilson finally won his first game, making some franchise-level throws to beat the Titans in overtime. If he gets some blocking, there’s upside.
Scouting Report. player. 42. Trey Lance. 30. Pick Analysis. QB. San Francisco 49ers
2021 stats: 162 yards | 52.6 comp % | 3 TD | 0 INT | 8.5 YPA | 57.6 QBR
LW: 18
It seems like Lance will start, so we’re putting him in for Jimmy Garoppolo. We’re going to find out how ready the kid is for the NFL with his first start potentially coming this weekend against the Cardinals. His athleticism is off the charts.
Chicago Bears. 29. 57. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Justin Fields. player
2021 stats: 347 yards | 48.1 comp % | 0 TD | 2 INT | 6.7 YPA | 16.9 QBR
LW: 31
Fields has struggled at times, but his arm is absurd and the physical traits are elite. If Matt Nagy benches him for Andy Dalton, Chicago should stage an uprising.
52. Scouting Report. QB. Jacksonville Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence. 28. player. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 873 yards | 57.0 comp % | 5 TD | 7 INT | 6.1 YPA | 36.2 QBR
LW: 30
Lawrence makes mistakes, but he also leaves your jaw on the floor at times. Once he figures out coverages and gets a real head coach, look out.
27. Scouting Report. QB. Pittsburgh Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger. player. 55. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 1,033 yards | 64.1 comp % | 4 TD | 4 INT | 6.1 YPA | 36.9 QBR
LW: 27
No need to pile on. Roethlisberger has been finished for two years now.
QB. Miami Dolphins. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Jacoby Brissett. 26. 59
2021 stats: 583 yards | 63.9 comp % | 2 TD | 1 INT | 4.9 YPA | 52.8 QBR
LW: 28
Brissett is what a game manager would be if he thought a swing pass was a deep ball. It’s about the most boring football imaginable.
player. 46. Scouting Report. QB. Indianapolis Colts. 25. Pick Analysis. Carson Wentz
2021 stats: 920 yards | 63.8 comp % | 5 TD | 1 INT | 6.7 YPA | 49.4 QBR
LW: 26
The Colts finally won on Sunday, and Wentz was solid, throwing for 228 yards and two scores behind a beat-up offensive line. Overall, though, he’s been middling at best.
44. Atlanta Falcons. Matt Ryan. QB. 24. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 990 yards | 67.9 comp % | 8 TD | 3 INT | 6.2 YPA | 40.7 QBR
LW: 22
Ryan is nearing the end of his useful time in Atlanta. He threw four touchdowns against Washington but predictably the Falcons blew the game late. At this point, general manager Terry Fontenot should be thinking exit strategy for his 36-year-old quarterback this offseason.
Taylor Heinicke. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Washington Football Team. 23. 58
2021 stats: 960 yards | 69.5 comp % | 8 TD | 3 INT | 8.1 YPA | 59.3 QBR
LW: 25
Heinicke is unorthodox and puts the ball at risk, but he can also throw some spectacular ones. Against the Falcons, he led Washington back and evened the Football Team’s record. He certainly proven a more-than-capable backup.
QB. 22. 50. Pick Analysis. Detroit Lions. Jared Goff. player. Scouting Report
2021 stats: 1,100 yards | 68.3 comp % | 7 TD | 2 INT | 6.8 YPA | 40.5 QBR
LW: 20
Goff can’t complete the big ball, and the Lions have zero ability to consistently move without a few shots plays. It’s an arranged and yet poor marriage.
player. Pick Analysis. Jalen Hurts. Philadelphia Eagles. 21. 54. Scouting Report. QB
2021 stats: 1,167 yards | 66.2 comp % | 7 TD | 2 INT | 8.0 YPA | 38.4 QBR
LW: 21
Hurts lit up the Chiefs — who doesn’t? — on Sunday, throwing for 387 yards and two touchdowns. When he has time, the second-round pick can be dangerous with his arms and legs. Under pressure, he crumbles quick.
Pick Analysis. QB. Mac Jones. 20. player. 47. Scouting Report. New England Patriots
2021 stats: 1,012 yards | 70.0 comp % | 4 TD | 4 INT | 6.3 YPA | 48.5 QBR
LW: 24
Jones got ample praise on the Sunday night telecast, but the truth is he rarely makes a tough throw. He’s very smart and accurate, so there’s a future as a starting quarterback in this league, but is there upside?
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. New York Giants. 31. QB. Daniel Jones. 19. player
2021 stats: 1,184 yards | 66.7 comp % | 4 TD | 1 INT | 8.2 YPA | 59.8 QBR
LW: 23
So why does Jones move up the board five spots? He’s taking care of the football. Only one interception in four games, and he’s still hitting some big plays.
15. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Jameis Winston. player. QB. New Orleans Saints. 18
2021 stats: 613 yards | 64.0 comp % | 8 TD | 2 INT | 7.1 YPA | 65.9 QBR
LW: 19
Winston is somehow averaging 153 yards per game and the Saints are 2-2. He’s avoiding mistakes but the offense has no punch.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Denver Broncos. Teddy Bridgewater. 17. QB. player. 45
2021 stats: 892 yards | 72.1 comp % | 5 TD | 0 INT | 8.0 YPA | 65.6 QBR
LW: 15
Bridgewater and the Broncos faced their first real team this year and got pummeled. Unfortunately, the former first-round pick was concussed in the second quarter.
87. Pick Analysis. QB. Carolina Panthers. Sam Darnold. player. Scouting Report. 16
2021 stats: 1,189 yards | 67.8 comp % | 5 TD | 3 INT | 8.1 YPA | 62.6 QBR
LW: 16
Darnold fell into turnover trouble against the Cowboys, throwing two interceptions. Without Christian McCaffrey, he’ll have more responsibility and therefore, more risk.
Scouting Report. Baker Mayfield. player. Pick Analysis. QB. Cleveland Browns. 15. 53
2021 stats: 935 yards | 65.5 comp % | 2 TD | 2 INT | 8.3 YPA | 39.7 QBR
LW: 13
Mayfield needs to be better. The Browns are a championship contender but not with a quarterback playing replacement-level football. Too many missed opportunities.
56. Pick Analysis. Cincinnati Bengals. 14. player. Scouting Report. QB. Joe Burrow
2021 stats: 988 yards | 72.9 comp % | 9 TD | 4 INT | 9.2 YPA | 53.7 QBR
LW: 17
Burrow has done a terrific job bouncing back from a horrid knee injury. The Bengals are 3-1 and Burrow is driving the offense, completing passes and for big yardage.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Tennessee Titans. 35. QB. Ryan Tannehill. 13. player
2021 stats: 1,054 yards | 63.6 comp % | 5 TD | 3 INT | 7.0 YPA | 53.7 QBR
LW: 14
The Titans just lost to the Jets, but it wasn’t on Ryan Tannehill. Without A.J. Brown or Julio Jones, Tannehill was sacked seven times and still threw for 298 yards.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Minnesota Vikings. Kirk Cousins. 12. player. 60. QB
2021 stats: 1,121 yards | 68.8 comp % | 9 TD | 1 INT | 7.1 YPA | 61.8 QBR
LW: 12
Cousins has been terrific this year, but he struggled along with the Vikings offense on Sunday. Throwing 38 passes for 203 yards is a mess to the tune of a 9.9 QBR.
Pick Analysis. QB. Los Angeles Chargers. Justin Herbert. player. Scouting Report. 11. 13
2021 stats: 1,178 yards | 68.9 comp % | 9 TD | 3 INT | 7.1 YPA | 59.9 QBR
LW: 11
Herbert found the end zone three times Monday, and although he went for less than 6.0 YPA, he constantly affected the game with quality throws on big downs. He’s an elite talent.
Las Vegas Raiders. 10. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Derek Carr. 28
2021 stats: 1,399 yards | 64.1 comp % | 8 TD | 3 INT | 8.2 YPA | 61.1 QBR
LW: 9
For the first time this season, Carr was slowed down. The Raiders only managed 14 points while the Fresno State product went for 196 yards. Let’s see how he rebounds against the Bears.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson. 9. QB. player. 26
2021 stats: 1,077 yards | 60.5 comp % | 4 TD | 3 INT | 8.7 YPA | 59.3 QBR
LW: 10
Jackson unloaded on the Broncos last weekend, throwing for 316 yards in a 23-7 win. If the Ravens can throw the ball downfield consistently, they’re back to being a top contender.
Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen. player. Pick Analysis. QB. 8. 16. Scouting Report
2021 stats: 1,055 yards | 63.5 comp % | 9 TD | 2 INT | 6.8 YPA | 57.5 QBR
LW: 8
The Bills are 3-1 and rolling. Allen, however, has been somewhat inconsistent. After being poor the first two weeks, Allen was great in Week 3 to beat Washington but was average against the absurdly-bad Houston Texans. This week, the Chiefs at Arrowhead.
player. Scouting Report. 7. 49. Pick Analysis. QB. Green Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers
2021 stats: 897 yards | 64.5 comp % | 8 TD | 2 INT | 7.2 YPA | 55.8 QBR
LW: 4
Rodgers isn’t falling because he’s playing poorly, but simply his numbers are average. The Packers haven’t relied heavily on the passing game, but when it’s been needed — see the ending of the 49ers game — Rodgers has been there and then some.
51. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Los Angeles Rams. Matthew Stafford. player. QB. 6
2021 stats: 1,222 yards | 68.1 comp % | 11 TD | 2 INT | 9.1 YPA | 76.6 QBR
LW: 6
The Rams lost Sunday and Stafford was average, throwing for 280 yards with two touchdowns and an interception on 6.8 YPA. With a quick turnaround against the Seahawks coming on Thursday night, Stafford has a chance to get right.
QB. 123. Scouting Report. Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott. 5. player. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 1,066 yards | 75.2 comp % | 10 TD | 2 INT | 8.0 YPA | 58.3 QBR
LW: 5
The Cowboys scored 36 points and Prescott didn’t need to throw for 200 yards. That’s progress for Dallas as a whole, which can suddenly win without having the quarterback overstressed.
Pick Analysis. Kyler Murray. 4. player. 32. Scouting Report. QB. Arizona Cardinals
2021 stats: 1,273 yards | 76.1 comp % | 9 TD | 4 INT | 9.5 YPA | 74.5 QBR
LW: 7
Murray is playing elite football. He’s throwing to every blade of grass on the field, and on Sunday lit up the Rams for 268 passing yards while running for 39 more. It was a tour de force.
Seattle Seahawks. Russell Wilson. Scouting Report. QB. player. 36. Pick Analysis. 3
2021 stats: 1,044 yards | 72.5 comp % | 9 TD | 0 INT | 9.6 YPA | 60.8 QBR
LW: 3
Wilson had a torrid start to 2020, and he’s off to another fast beginning this year. Already with nine touchdowns and no interceptions, the Seahawks’ signal-caller is in the running for MVP as we head towards mid-October.
48. Pick Analysis. Tom Brady. player. QB. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 2. Scouting Report
2021 stats: 1,356 yards | 64.7 comp % | 10 TD | 2 INT | 7.4 YPA | 61.4 QBR
LW: 1
Brady might be ancient, but he plays like a man in his prime. He wasn’t at his best against the Patriots in tough conditions, but he’s been nothing short of excellent and has a soft schedule ahead.
player. 124. Kansas City Chiefs. Pick Analysis. QB. Patrick Mahomes. 1. Scouting Report
2021 stats: 1,218 yards | 72.3 comp % | 14 TD | 4 INT | 8.6 YPA | 82.8 QBR
LW: 2
After five touchdown tosses against the Eagles, Mahomes climbs to the top spot for the first time this year. He’s leading the NFL in touchdown passes and QBR while ranking top-five in yardage. He’s incredible.