NFL quarterback rankings, Week 17: Joe Burrow goes off
In a game defining their season, the Cincinnati Bengals watched young quarterback Joe Burrow take wing, destroying the Baltimore Ravens.
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. QB. Ian Book. player. 15. Pick Analysis. New Orleans Saints. 32
2021 stats: 135 yards | 60.0 comp % | 0 TD | 1 INT | 6.8 YPA | 20.2 QBR
LW: NA
It might be time to put Book back on the shelf. I’m so sorry.
QB. New York Giants. 31. player. 31. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Mike Glennon
2021 stats: 766 yards | 55.1 comp % | 4 TD | 8 INT | 4.9 YPA | 18.6 QBR
LW: 32
If the Giants want to win some fans back, they should force Glennon to hold a retirement ceremony at the 50-yard line this week.
Tim Boyle. 30. Scouting Report. Detroit Lions. QB. player. 50. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 264 yards | 68.4 comp % | 1 TD | 3 INT | 4.6 YPA | 17.7 QBR
LW: NA
Boyle somehow kept the Lions in the game in Atlanta, but couldn’t finish the deal. Nice effort, but he’s a backup to the hilt.
Pick Analysis. Drew Lock. 29. player. Denver Broncos. 45. Scouting Report. QB
2021 stats: 380 yards | 59.7 comp % | 1 TD | 2 INT | 6.1 YPA | 12.4 QBR
LW: NA
Remember when Lock was a preseason MVP darkhorse going into 2020? Good times.
QB. New York Jets. 30. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Zach Wilson. 28. player
2021 stats: 2,013 yards | 56.7 comp % | 7 TD | 11 INT | 6.1 YPA | 28.2 QBR
LW: 31
Wilson somehow posted the week’s highest QBR after throwing for 102 yards and a touchdown on 22 attempts.
Cam Newton. 27. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Carolina Panthers. 87
2021 stats: 684 yards | 54.8 comp % | 4 TD | 5 INT | 5.4 YPA | 25.9 QBR
LW: 30
Retirement is looking better by the minute.
26. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Baltimore Ravens. player. QB. Josh Johnson. 26
2021 stats: 638 yards | 67.1 comp % | 5 TD | 2 INT | 7.5 YPA | 52.2 QBR
LW: NA
Johnson has played quite well for two different teams this season as a backup. Well done, even in defeat.
Pick Analysis. QB. Nick Foles. 25. 57. Scouting Report. Chicago Bears. player
2021 stats: 250 yards | 68.6 comp % | 1 TD | 0 INT | 7.1 YPA | 44.5 QBR
LW: NA
Foles did a nice job in his audition for another job in another city in 2022.
QB. Jacksonville Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence. 52. 24. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 3,225 yards | 58.7 comp % | 9 TD | 14 INT | 5.9 YPA | 32.5 QBR
LW: 26
If you can’t do anything against the Jets, it’s a red flag the size of Montana. Lawrence has had an awful situation around him, but this is a nightmare of a rookie season.
player. 10. Scouting Report. QB. Houston Texans. 23. Pick Analysis. Davis Mills
2021 stats: 2,200 yards | 66.6 comp % | 12 TD | 9 INT | 6.7 YPA | 31.9 QBR
LW: 28
Mills has absolutely outplayed most people’s expectations of the third-round rookie. He’s not spectacular, but he’s clearly an NFL quarterback with upside.
Ben Roethlisberger. 22. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Pittsburgh Steelers. player. 55
2021 stats: 3,373 yards | 65.2 comp % | 20 TD | 8 INT | 6.6 YPA | 38.6 QBR
LW: 24
If the Steelers had anybody with an ounce of talent behind Roethlisberger, he’d be ushered onto the field ASAP. It’s hideous football.
Cleveland Browns. player. QB. Baker Mayfield. 21. 53. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 2,825 yards | 62.4 comp % | 15 TD | 11 INT | 7.3 YPA | 37.9 QBR
LW: 22
You can’t throw four interceptions in a two-point loss. It can’t happen. The Browns are going to be in the market for an upgrade.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 20. player. 58. QB. Washington Football Team. Taylor Heinicke
2021 stats: 3,052 yards | 64.8 comp % | 20 TD | 14 INT | 6.9 YPA | 43.7 QBR
LW: 21
Washington was crushed, Heinicke was benched, and the Football Team is finished after a quick revival following a 2-6 start.
Jalen Hurts. 19. player. 54. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Philadelphia Eagles
2021 stats: 2,930 yards | 61.1 comp % | 16 TD | 9 INT | 7.2 YPA | 46.6 QBR
LW: 20
Hurts was hideous for much of the Giants game, and then torched the NFC’s worst team outside of Detroit. The Eagles win out, and they’re in.
player. Scouting Report. QB. Miami Dolphins. Tua Tagovailoa. 18. Pick Analysis. 59
2021 stats: 2,339 yards | 69.9 comp % | 15 TD | 9 INT | 7.1 YPA | 56.5 QBR
LW: 18
Tagovailoa is improving. He still plays a very vanilla game and will make the ludicrous mistakes, but he’s serviceable and getting better.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Atlanta Falcons. Matt Ryan. 17. player. 44
2021 stats: 3,555 yards | 67.9 comp % | 19 TD | 11 INT | 7.1 YPA | 48.6 QBR
LW: 17
Ryan might be the best quarterback nobody talks about. He has Kyle Pitts and a bunch of hood ornaments, and the Falcons are somehow 7-8.
Pick Analysis. QB. San Francisco 49ers. Jimmy Garoppolo. 16. 42. Scouting Report. player
2021 stats: 3,494 yards | 68.0 comp % | 19 TD | 10 INT | 8.5 YPA | 53.8 QBR
LW: 14
With Garoppolo hurting, the Niners might be turning to Trey Lance in must-win games. Fascinating stuff.
QB. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 35. Tennessee Titans. Ryan Tannehill. 15. player
2021 stats: 3,327 yards | 66.7 comp % | 15 TD | 14 INT | 6.9 YPA | 52.9 QBR
LW: 16
Tannehill came alive in the second half against the Niners, finding A.J. Brown at will against a Niners team that refused to double him all night.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. New England Patriots. Mac Jones. player. 14. 47
2021 stats: 3,313 yards | 67.2 comp % | 18 TD | 12 INT | 7.2 YPA | 51.5 QBR
LW: 12
The Patriots needed Jones’ best game on Sunday, and they got his worst. Tough moment for the rookie.
Scouting Report. Seattle Seahawks. 13. player. 36. Pick Analysis. QB. Russell Wilson
2021 stats: 2,639 yards | 64.9 comp % | 18 TD | 5 INT | 7.6 YPA | 47.7 QBR
LW: 13
Wilson might be playing his final games with the Seahawks over the next two weeks. What an odd scenario for the future Hall of Famer.
12. player. QB. Indianapolis Colts. Carson Wentz. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 46
2021 stats: 3,230 yards | 62.8 comp % | 25 TD | 6 INT | 7.0 YPA | 59.8 QBR
LW: 15
Wentz has some awful moments, but he’s also capable of making any throw on the field. We’ve seen it all from him the past two games, both huge wins for the Colts.
Scouting Report. 11. player. Pick Analysis. QB. Minnesota Vikings. Kirk Cousins. 60
2021 stats: 3,971 yards | 66.4 comp % | 30 TD | 7 INT | 7.4 YPA | 50.8 QBR
LW: 10
Cousins is the master of putting up really quality stats, having enough good games to suck you in, and then playing poorly in far too many big spots.
Derek Carr. 10. player. Scouting Report. QB. Las Vegas Raiders. 28. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 4,363 yards | 68.7 comp % | 20 TD | 12 INT | 7.8 YPA | 54.2 QBR
LW: 11
Carr wasn’t great against the Broncos, but he did enough save for one hideous interception to have the Raiders controlling their own playoff destiny.
QB. Arizona Cardinals. Kyler Murray. 9. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 32
2021 stats: 3,284 yards | 69.1 comp % | 21 TD | 10 INT | 8.1 YPA | 55.4 QBR
LW: 6
Either Murray is still hurt, or he’s having a horrific three-game stretch. The Cardinals need him to figure it out, and fast.
QB. Dak Prescott. 8. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Dallas Cowboys. player. 123
2021 stats: 3,928 yards | 68.7 comp % | 29 TD | 10 INT | 7.4 YPA | 49.0 QBR
LW: 9
After playing through a mini-slump, Prescott exploded for more than 300 yards and four touchdowns in the first half against Washington. Slump over.
13. Pick Analysis. QB. Justin Herbert. 7. player. Scouting Report. Los Angeles Chargers
2021 stats: 4,394 yards | 67.1 comp % | 33 TD | 14 INT | 7.6 YPA | 65.3 QBR
LW: 5
The truly great quarterback can’t lose to the Texans in Week 16 with everything on the line. Herbert is phenomenal, but it can’t happen. Quarterback wins aren’t a real stat, but he wears a huge portion of that debacle.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Cincinnati Bengals. Joe Burrow. player. QB. 6. 56
2021 stats: 4,165 yards | 69.9 comp % | 30 TD | 14 INT | 8.7 YPA | 52.7 QBR
LW: 8
Burrow was out of his mind Sunday, propelling the Bengals to within one win of the AFC North title. The second-year star threw for 525 yards — fourth-most all time — while hanging 41 points on the outmatched Ravens.
51. 5. Matthew Stafford. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Los Angeles Rams
2021 stats: 4,339 yards | 66.9 comp % | 36 TD | 13 INT | 8.1 YPA | 63.7 QBR
LW: 3
Stafford was great on Monday night a few weeks ago against the Cardinals, and then has a mediocre game against the Seahawks before a brutal showing this weekend. He needs to be more consistent.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen. player. 16. QB. 4
2021 stats: 4,048 yards | 65.0 comp % | 34 TD | 12 INT | 7.0 YPA | 60.5 QBR
LW: 7
Allen has put the Bills completely on his back. Completely. Buffalo’s pass rush is poor, the offensive line is hurting, the weapons are scattershot outside of Stefon Diggs and none of it matters because Allen is the best one-man show in the NFL.
3. player. Scouting Report. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tom Brady. 48. Pick Analysis. QB
2021 stats: 4,580 yards | 66.8 comp % | 37 TD | 11 INT | 7.2 YPA | 65.6 QBR
LW: 1
Brady had to fall a few spots. Yes, the Buccaneers hammered the Panthers, but he hasn’t done much in recent weeks. He’s still incredible and an MVP candidate, but the two men ahead of him are playing at a higher level right now.
Kansas City Chiefs. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Patrick Mahomes. 2. 124
2021 stats: 4,310 yards | 66.1 comp % | 33 TD | 13 INT | 7.4 YPA | 59.1 QBR
LW: 4
Mahomes went for three touchdowns and better than 200 yards in the first half before being shut down in a blowout win over the Steelers. Twice in the past three games, Mahomes has been pulled very early. He could easily be at 4,500 yards and 35 touchdowns already.
Pick Analysis. QB. Green Bay Packers. player. Scouting Report. Aaron Rodgers. 1. 49
2021 stats: 3,689 yards | 68.0 comp % | 33 TD | 4 INT | 7.8 YPA | 67.8 QBR
LW: 2
Rodgers isn’t leading the league in any counting stat save for fewest interceptions, and yet he’s the MVP through 16 weeks. He’s leading the Packers to what appears to be the No. 1 seed and doing it with one true receiving threat. Another phenomenal year.