NFL quarterback rankings, Week 11: Patrick Mahomes finds his mojo
After languishing for a month, Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes lit up Sunday night with an aerial assault to destroy the Las Vegas Raiders.
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.
player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Carolina Panthers. P.J. Walker. 32. 87. QB
2021 stats: 200 yards | 56.8 comp % | 0 TD | 1 INT | 4.5 YPA | 33.3 QBR
LW: NA
It’s about to be the Cam Newton show, so no need to do a deep dive.
QB. 31. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Arizona Cardinals. Colt McCoy. 32
2021 stats: 356 yards | 71.1 comp % | 1 TD | 1 INT | 7.7 YPA | 28.3 QBR
LW: NA
The Cardinals were living right with McCoy in San Francisco, but last Sunday put the good vibes to bed. Decent backup, nothing more.
QB. Mike White. 30. Scouting Report. New York Jets. 30. player. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 953 yards | 66.7 comp % | 5 TD | 8 INT | 7.2 YPA | 51.5 QBR
LW: 28
White’s game on Sunday is proof the Jets truly can’t have anything fun or nice.
Mason Rudolph. 29. 55. Pittsburgh Steelers. QB. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 242 yards | 60.0 comp % | 1 TD | 1 INT | 4.8 YPA | 36.7 QBR
LW: NA
Rudolph actually did a worse job than Ben Roethlisberger, failing to notch 250 yards on 50 attempts. It was a hideous performance.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. New Orleans Saints. Trevor Siemian. player. 15. 28
2021 stats: 706 yards | 57.7 comp % | 5 TD | 0 INT | 6.8 YPA | 41.1 QBR
LW: 32
Siemian is a high-level backup with a really low ceiling as a starter. New Orleans can win some games with him, but everything will be about structure, running the ball and protection.
Houston Texans. 10. Pick Analysis. QB. Tyrod Taylor. 27. player. Scouting Report
2021 stats: 656 yards | 63.2 comp % | 3 TD | 3 INT | 7.5 YPA | 44.5 QBR
LW: 31
Taylor is an easy guy to root for, and he’s capable of having the occasional good game, but he’s surrounded by a horrific supporting cast.
Scouting Report. Detroit Lions. Jared Goff. player. 50. Pick Analysis. QB. 26
2021 stats: 2,109 yards | 66.1 comp % | 8 TD | 6 INT | 6.3 YPA | 27.3 QBR
LW: 27
Goff isn’ just bad, he’s boring. The Lions don’t try anything downfield, and Goff scans the field like a blind man.
QB. 25. 59. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Miami Dolphins. Tua Tagovailoa. player
2021 stats: 1,198 yards | 65.3 comp % | 7 TD | 5 INT | 7.0 YPA | 53.7 QBR
LW: NA
Tagovailoa has been through it all this year, playing for a franchise which doesn’t believe in him. He’s been sub-par in Miami, but he’s had no chance.
Pick Analysis. 24. Scouting Report. QB. Chicago Bears. Justin Fields. player. 57
2021 stats: 1,282 yards | 59.5 comp % | 4 TD | 8 INT | 6.3 YPA | 23.2 QBR
LW: 26
Really curious how Fields play this week against Baltimore after shredding the Steelers and then getting a bye week. The Ravens have been leaky on defense all year.
Pick Analysis. Jacksonville Jaguars. 23. player. Scouting Report. QB. Trevor Lawrence. 52
2021 stats: 1,983 yards | 58.0 comp % | 8 TD | 9 INT | 6.0 YPA | 34.8 QBR
LW: 24
Lawrence has no help from players or coaches, but the No. 1 overall pick has stunk so far. Against the Colts, he started out 3-of-16. It’s nowhere near good enough.
QB. Washington Football Team. Taylor Heinicke. 22. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 58. player
2021 stats: 2,184 yards | 65.7 comp % | 12 TD | 9 INT | 7.1 YPA | 42.4 QBR
LW: 25
Heinicke outplayed Tom Brady in a 29-19 win, throwing short passes and hitting on all but six attempts. It was his best performance of the year.
player. Scouting Report. 21. New York Giants. Daniel Jones. 31. Pick Analysis. QB
2021 stats: 2,059 yards | 64.8 comp % | 8 TD | 5 INT | 7.0 YPA | 45.4 QBR
LW: 21
Coming out of the bye, Jones takes on a motivated but porous Tampa Bay defense. Can he make the Bucs pay on Monday night?
San Francisco 49ers. Jimmy Garoppolo. 20. player. 42. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB
2021 stats: 1,936 yards | 65.3 comp % | 10 TD | 5 INT | 8.2 YPA | 48.9 QBR
LW: 20
Garoppolo was virtually asked to do nothing on Monday night, save for a few third-down conversions. San Francisco knows not to ask for much.
Scouting Report. Denver Broncos. Teddy Bridgewater. 45. Pick Analysis. QB. 19. player
2021 stats: 2,389 yards | 69.2 comp % | 14 TD | 5 INT | 7.4 YPA | 47.9 QBR
LW: 19
Bridgewater is accurate and safe, but that’s the extent of the positives. There’s not enough on third down or in the deep passing game.
54. Pick Analysis. QB. Philadelphia Eagles. 18. player. Scouting Report. Jalen Hurts
2021 stats: 2,159 yards | 62.2 comp % | 13 TD | 5 INT | 7.3 YPA | 50.4 QBR
LW: 22
Hurts is quietly playing solidly for the Eagles. Philadelphia has three first-round picks and could move on this offseason, but the second-year pro has a strong arm, great mobility and good touch.
Cleveland Browns. player. 53. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Baker Mayfield. 17. QB
2021 stats: 1,990 yards | 65.4 comp % | 9 TD | 4 INT | 8.1 YPA | 42.9 QBR
LW: 18
If the Browns shell out $40 million annually for Mayfield, they’ll regret it. He’s average, that’s it.
QB. 16. player. Pick Analysis. New England Patriots. Mac Jones. 47. Scouting Report
2021 stats: 2,333 yards | 69.0 comp % | 13 TD | 7 INT | 7.2 YPA | 51.1 QBR
LW: 17
Jones has clearly been the best of the rookie quarterbacks. While his numbers aren’t gaudy, the Alabama product is excellent at executing Josh McDaniels’ offense with precision.
Atlanta Falcons. Matt Ryan. 15. Pick Analysis. QB. player. 44. Scouting Report
2021 stats: 2,274 yards | 67.7 comp % | 15 TD | 8 INT | 7.1 YPA | 55.5 QBR
LW: 14
Ryan, like the Falcons, was a mess in a 43-3 loss to the Cowboys, throwing two interceptions in defeat. All year, Ryan has kept Atlanta afloat without much around him. Is it becoming too much?
QB. Indianapolis Colts. Carson Wentz. player. 14. 46. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 2,378 yards | 63.5 comp % | 17 TD | 3 INT | 7.1 YPA | 55.4 QBR
LW: 12
Wentz’s numbers don’t reflect it, but the hero ball has started becoming a problem. The Colts need Wentz to return to previous form where he’s throwing accurately and keeping the ball in safe places.
player. 35. Pick Analysis. QB. Tennessee Titans. Ryan Tannehill. 13. Scouting Report
2021 stats: 2,358 yards | 66.5 comp % | 12 TD | 8 INT | 7.5 YPA | 60.8 QBR
LW: 16
Without Julio Jones and Derrick Henry, Tannehill has managed the offense well while using his legs to extend drives. He’s not flashy, but Tannehill is getting the job done on the AFC’s top team.
Scouting Report. QB. Joe Burrow. 56. Pick Analysis. Cincinnati Bengals. 12. player
2021 stats: 2,497 yards | 68.2 comp % | 20 TD | 11 INT | 8.7 YPA | 48.8 QBR
LW: 13
Coming out of the bye, Burrow and the Bengals try to snap a two-game losing streak against the Raiders. If Las Vegas takes away Ja’Marr Chase, Burrow needs to connect with his secondary options more often.
QB. Kirk Cousins. 11. 60. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Minnesota Vikings. player
2021 stats: 2,434 yards | 68.1 comp % | 18 TD | 2 INT | 7.2 YPA | 56.9 QBR
LW: 15
Cousins is having a very solid year, but his coaching staff is doing him no favors. The Vikings have some of the most perplexing play-calling in football, often putting him in tough spots.
QB. Las Vegas Raiders. Derek Carr. player. 28. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 10
2021 stats: 2,826 yards | 67.7 comp % | 15 TD | 8 INT | 8.1 YPA | 54.6 QBR
LW: 10
Carr was under siege against the Chiefs, and responded by throwing up a trio of arm punts. Without Henry Ruggs, the Raiders need Carr to be special if they want to win a playoff game for the first time in 19 years.
Pick Analysis. 9. 36. Scouting Report. QB. Seattle Seahawks. Russell Wilson. player
2021 stats: 1,357 yards | 66.7 comp % | 10 TD | 3 INT | 8.2 YPA | 50.5 QBR
LW: 4
Maybe Wilson should have taken another week off. Completing 50 percent of his throws with two interceptions in a 17-0 loss to Green Bay, the Seahawks and their quarterback appeared toothless.
Justin Herbert. 8. 13. Scouting Report. Los Angeles Chargers. Pick Analysis. QB. player
2021 stats: 2,545 yards | 65.4 comp % | 19 TD | 7 INT | 7.2 YPA | 63.4 QBR
LW: 7
Herbert isn’t taking many shots downfield, and it’s something offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi needs to fix. His quarterback is too great, and too powerful to be shackled like that.
Pick Analysis. Lamar Jackson. 7. Scouting Report. QB. Baltimore Ravens. player. 26
2021 stats: 2,447 yards | 64.4 comp % | 14 TD | 8 INT | 7.9 YPA | 54.1 QBR
LW: 5
Jackson has struggled throwing the ball over the past month. In the last four games, Jackson has totaled 928 yards with six touchdowns against five interceptions. He needs to be better.
6. 124. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Kansas City Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes
2021 stats: 2,940 yards | 65.8 comp % | 25 TD | 10 INT | 7.1 YPA | 58.5 QBR
LW: 11
Now that’s what we’re used to seeing. In a must-win against the Raiders, Mahomes went berserk with 406 yards and five touchdowns, and did so without a turnover for the second straight week. The confidence was there, the result was there, and Kansas City is in first place.
QB. 5. Pick Analysis. Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen. player. 16. Scouting Report
2021 stats: 2,602 yards | 66.3 comp % | 19 TD | 6 INT | 7.5 YPA | 60.5 QBR
LW: 9
Allen was surgical against the Jets, throwing for more than 300 yards in a 45-17 blowout win. This week, Buffalo plays a critical game against the Colts as the Wyoming product tries to keep the Bills atop the AFC East.
Aaron Rodgers. 4. Scouting Report. QB. Green Bay Packers. player. 49. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 2,186 yards | 66.4 comp % | 17 TD | 4 INT | 7.4 YPA | 61.2 QBR
LW: 6
Rodgers struggled early but surged late in the win over Seattle. The Packers’ quarterback hasn’t been asked to do a ton for Green Bay, but when needed, he delivered.
Matthew Stafford. player. QB. Los Angeles Rams. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 3. 51
2021 stats: 3,013 yards | 68.2 comp % | 24 TD | 8 INT | 8.6 YPA | 69.8 QBR
LW: 3
Stafford holds because Kyler Murray was removed from the list ahead of him, otherwise he would be sliding a spot. He had a second dreadful game in a row.
Dallas Cowboys. 123. Pick Analysis. QB. Dak Prescott. 2. player. Scouting Report
2021 stats: 2,341 yards | 70.3 comp % | 20 TD | 5 INT | 8.2 YPA | 58.7 QBR
LW: 8
Prescott bounced back from his worst performance of the season to torch the Falcons, throwing darts from all angles. Watching him and Mahomes face off this weekend will be a blast.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers. player. 48. Pick Analysis. QB. Tom Brady. 1. Scouting Report
2021 stats: 2,870 yards | 67.4 comp % | 27 TD | 7 INT | 7.6 YPA | 65.6 QBR
LW: 1
Brady stays atop the list, but his hold is tenuous. He hasn’t looked good the past two games, but with the Giants coming to town, a chance to get right.