NFL quarterback rankings, Week 18: Aaron Rodgers is the MVP
After 17 weeks of the 2021 NFL season, it’s clear: Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers should win his fourth MVP award.
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. Mike Glennon. 32. player. 31. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. New York Giants
2021 stats: 790 yards | 53.9 comp % | 4 TD | 10 INT | 4.7 YPA | 11.9 QBR
LW: 31
If Glennon ever starts another NFL game, there should be an investigation.
Drew Lock. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Denver Broncos. 31. 45
2021 stats: 625 yards | 63.2 comp % | 2 TD | 2 INT | 7.2 YPA | 13.6 QBR
LW: 29
Lock is ready for his second act as a journeyman who randomly starts a game every two years.
Pick Analysis. Detroit Lions. 30. player. 50. Scouting Report. QB. Tim Boyle
2021 stats: 526 yards | 64.9 comp % | 3 TD | 6 INT | 5.6 YPA | 25.9 QBR
LW: 30
Boyle is a borderline backup quarterback. That’s the extent of it.
Pick Analysis. QB. Carolina Panthers. 29. 87. Scouting Report. Sam Darnold. player
2021 stats: 2,308 yards | 58.8 comp % | 7 TD | 12 INT | 6.3 YPA | 34.2 QBR
LW: 27
Remember when Darnold was the MVP of the league after three weeks? Yeah, that was cute.
QB. 42. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. San Francisco 49ers. Trey Lance. 28. player
2021 stats: 603 yards | 57.7 comp % | 5 TD | 2 INT | 8.5 YPA | 35.4 QBR
LW: NA
Lance got better as the game went along against Houston. It was rough early, but he got his footing.
Zach Wilson. player. 30. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 27. QB. New York Jets
2021 stats: 2,247 yards | 56.7 comp % | 8 TD | 11 INT | 6.2 YPA | 29.6 QBR
LW: 28
Wilson has played a bit better in recent weeks. He needs to take a huge leap in 2022, but there’s reason to believe it can happen.
26. Scouting Report. QB. New Orleans Saints. Taysom Hill. player. 15. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 871 yards | 56.8 comp % | 3 TD | 5 INT | 7.0 YPA | 39.4 QBR
LW: NA
The Saints will be in the market for a starting quarterback this offseason, because Hill isn’t the answer.
player. 57. Chicago Bears. Andy Dalton. 25. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB
2021 stats: 1,190 yards | 61.7 comp % | 7 TD | 7 INT | 6.3 YPA | 36.4 QBR
LW: NA
Only one more game, and the Bears can move on from Dalton and Nick Foles for good.
Jacksonville Jaguars. Pick Analysis. QB. Trevor Lawrence. 24. player. 52. Scouting Report
2021 stats: 3,418 yards | 58.9 comp % | 10 TD | 17 INT | 6.0 YPA | 32.3 QBR
LW: 24
Lawrence is dealing with a horrid organization, but this has been a disaster of a rookie season.
10. QB. Houston Texans. Davis Mills. 23. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 2,363 yards | 65.5 comp % | 13 TD | 10 INT | 6.5 YPA | 32.0 QBR
LW: 23
Mills has done an admirable job with the limited Texans, but tough to see him as a good option next year.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Baltimore Ravens. Tyler Huntley. 22. player. 26
2021 stats: 940 yards | 67.5 comp % | 3 TD | 2 INT | 6.0 YPA | 57.2 QBR
LW: NA
What are the Ravens going to do with Huntley? He’s not Lamar Jackson, but he’s an asset with upside.
Scouting Report. QB. Cleveland Browns. Baker Mayfield. Pick Analysis. 21. player. 53
2021 stats: 3,010 yards | 62.4 comp % | 17 TD | 13 INT | 7.3 YPA | 37.9 QBR
LW: 21
The Browns can’t move into 2022 with Mayfield and fancy themselves contenders.
20. player. 55. Scouting Report. QB. Pittsburgh Steelers. Pick Analysis. Ben Roethlisberger
2021 stats: 3,496 yards | 65.2 comp % | 21 TD | 9 INT | 6.6 YPA | 38.6 QBR
LW: 22
Roethlisberger’s final game at Heinz Field was hideous, and was essentially like every other contest he’s played over the past two years. At least it was a win.
58. Scouting Report. QB. player. 19. Pick Analysis. Washington Football Team. Taylor Heinicke
2021 stats: 3,299 yards | 65.5 comp % | 20 TD | 15 INT | 6.9 YPA | 43.4 QBR
LW: 20
We’re very likely seeing the Heinicke era in Washington wind down. He’s a good backup, but a very limited starter.
Miami Dolphins. Tua Tagovailoa. 18. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. 59
2021 stats: 2,544 yards | 67.8 comp % | 15 TD | 10 INT | 7.0 YPA | 49.0 QBR
LW: 18
When the Dolphins need Tagovailoa to make plays, the entire offense goes sideways. They need far more explosiveness.
Pick Analysis. Jalen Hurts. 54. 17. player. Scouting Report. QB. Philadelphia Eagles
2021 stats: 3,144 yards | 61.3 comp % | 16 TD | 9 INT | 7.3 YPA | 48.9 QBR
LW: 19
Hurts has been a dynamic threat for the Eagles this season, and should get another look going into the future. He’s taken an offense short on weapons and taken it to the playoffs.
Pick Analysis. Matt Ryan. 16. player. 44. Scouting Report. QB. Atlanta Falcons
2021 stats: 3,752 yards | 67.4 comp % | 19 TD | 11 INT | 7.1 YPA | 47.3 QBR
LW: 17
Ryan is a good quarterback, but his cap hit is huge, and the Falcons have done a horrendous job giving him support.
Tennessee Titans. 15. 35. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Ryan Tannehill. player
2021 stats: 3,447 yards | 66.9 comp % | 17 TD | 14 INT | 6.9 YPA | 52.9 QBR
LW: 15
Tannehill and the Titans are likely to have the AFC’s top seed. If they’re going to reach the Super Bowl, the veteran needs to be better than what we’ve seen this season.
player. 47. Scouting Report. QB. New England Patriots. Mac Jones. 14. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 3,540 yards | 67.6 comp % | 21 TD | 12 INT | 7.2 YPA | 54.3 QBR
LW: 14
Jones and the Patriots put up 50 points on the Jaguars, but what happens when a good team puts the rookie in a tough spot? We’re going to soon find out.
Pick Analysis. QB. Indianapolis Colts. 13. player. Scouting Report. 46. Carson Wentz
2021 stats: 3,378 yards | 62.6 comp % | 26 TD | 6 INT | 6.9 YPA | 58.4 QBR
LW: 12
The Colts need Wentz to become a factor in the playoffs, and frankly, that might be the issue for a talented Indy team.
Minnesota Vikings. player. 60. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. Kirk Cousins. 12
2021 stats: 3,971 yards | 66.4 comp % | 30 TD | 7 INT | 7.4 YPA | 50.8 QBR
LW: 11
Cousins missed Sunday’s tilt with the Packers due to COVID, and with that, the Vikings are officially eliminated from the playoffs.
36. Seattle Seahawks. Russell Wilson. QB. 11. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 2,875 yards | 65.2 comp % | 22 TD | 5 INT | 7.7 YPA | 51.7 QBR
LW: 13
One wonders if this Sunday is the last time we’ll see Wilson in a Seahawks uniform. If so, the end of a tremendous era.
Pick Analysis. 10. player. 28. Scouting Report. QB. Las Vegas Raiders. Derek Carr
2021 stats: 4,618 yards | 69.2 comp % | 21 TD | 14 INT | 7.8 YPA | 54.1 QBR
LW: 10
Carr has a chance to be a hero to Raiders Nation with a win on Sunday, earning his team an improbable playoff berth.
Pick Analysis. Dak Prescott. player. 123. Scouting Report. QB. Dallas Cowboys. 9
2021 stats: 4,154 yards | 68.4 comp % | 32 TD | 10 INT | 7.3 YPA | 50.3 QBR
LW: 8
Prescott has enjoyed a terrific year, but the Cowboys have had a very tough time beating the league’s best teams.
32. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Kyler Murray. player. QB. Arizona Cardinals. 8
2021 stats: 3,547 yards | 69.0 comp % | 23 TD | 10 INT | 8.0 YPA | 58.5 QBR
LW: 9
Murray scored a huge victory for the Cardinals on Sunday, going for more than 300 total yards to spring the upset.
Los Angeles Rams. Matthew Stafford. 7. Scouting Report. player. 51. Pick Analysis. QB
2021 stats: 4,648 yards | 67.3 comp % | 38 TD | 15 INT | 8.2 YPA | 63.6 QBR
LW: 5
Stafford has to stop throwing interceptions at this rate. If he doesn’t curb the issue, the Rams won’t be long for the postseason.
Josh Allen. 6. 16. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player. QB. Buffalo Bills
2021 stats: 4,168 yards | 64.1 comp % | 34 TD | 15 INT | 6.9 YPA | 61.0 QBR
LW: 4
Allen threw three interceptions and did all he could to keep Atlanta in the game. Still, it’s the Falcons, so the Bills won.
5. Scouting Report. Los Angeles Chargers. Justin Herbert. player. 13. Pick Analysis. QB
2021 stats: 4,631 yards | 67.3 comp % | 35 TD | 14 INT | 7.6 YPA | 66.3 QBR
LW: 7
Herbert has enjoyed a spectacular sophomore year, but without a win over the Raiders on Sunday, it’s all for naught. Still, a special young talent.
Scouting Report. Cincinnati Bengals. Joe Burrow. player. 56. Pick Analysis. QB. 4
2021 stats: 4,611 yards | 70.4 comp % | 34 TD | 14 INT | 8.9 YPA | 53.9 QBR
LW: 6
Burrow has thrown for near 1,000 yards over the last two weeks, leading the Bengals to their first division title since 2015. He’s taken the leap into superstardom, and it’s a wonderful time to be a Cincinnati fan.
48. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. QB. Tom Brady. 3. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
2021 stats: 4,990 yards | 66.9 comp % | 40 TD | 12 INT | 7.3 YPA | 66.9 QBR
LW: 3
Brady has enjoyed an incredible year. He’s 44 years old and has thrown for 40 touchdowns and will eclipse 5,000 yards. It’s impossible, and yet almost effortless.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Kansas City Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes. 2. player. QB. 124
2021 stats: 4,569 yards | 66.6 comp % | 35 TD | 13 INT | 7.4 YPA | 61.3 QBR
LW: 2
Mahomes was terrific against the Bengals in defeat, although he was fortunate to have a few dropped interceptions. That said, Mahomes has played phenomenal ball down the stretch, and should be a major problem in the AFC playoffs.
49. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. QB. 1. player. Green Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers
2021 stats: 3,977 yards | 68.6 comp % | 35 TD | 4 INT | 7.8 YPA | 67.7 QBR
LW: 1
Rodgers is once again the best quarterback in football. He’s thrown for 35 touchdowns and only four interceptions. His accuracy is superb, his ability to manipulate defenses without peer. It’s utterly brilliance.