NFL quarterback rankings, Week 6: Geno Smith vs. Russell Wilson
The Seattle Seahawks traded Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, receiving five picks and three players. Somehow, they now have better quarterback play.
Our 2022 FanSided NFL quarterback rankings go live each Wednesday 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.
NFL quarterback rankings
Pick Analysis. Last Week: NA. Skylar Thompson. 32. player. Scouting Report. 59. Miami Dolphins
2022 stats: 166 yards | 57.6 comp % | 0 TD | 1 INT | 5.0 YPA | 29.4 QBR
Thompson did his best filling in for Teddy Bridgewater, but the performance was what you’d expect from a seventh-round rookie.
87. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 29. Baker Mayfield. 31. player. Scouting Report. Carolina Panthers
2022 stats: 962 yards | 54.9 comp % | 4 TD | 4 INT | 6.3 YPA | 16.6 QBR
Mayfield is now out 2-6 weeks with a high ankle sprain. The Panthers are in full-blown tank mode, but to be fair, they’ve played that way all season.
Last Week: 32. New England Patriots. Bailey Zappe. 30. player. 47. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
2022 stats: 287 yards | 75.0 comp % | 2 TD | 1 INT | 8.0 YPA | 18.3 QBR
Zappe creating a quarterback controversy with Mac Jones is fun, but it also says plenty about what people really think Jones’ ceiling is.
Justin Fields. player. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 31. Chicago Bears. 29. 57. Scouting Report
2022 stats: 679 yards | 55.7 comp % | 3 TD | 4 INT | 7.7 YPA | 37.1 QBR
Fields was allowed to play like a normal quarterback, throwing 21 times. And guess what? He had a terrific day, completing 15 passes for 208 yards on 9.9 yards per attempt.
Scouting Report. 28. Kenny Pickett. player. 55. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 30. Pittsburgh Steelers
2022 stats: 447 yards | 67.7 comp % | 0 TD | 4 INT | 6.9 YPA | 46.1 QBR
Pickett had absolutely no chance to succeed against Buffalo. He made some nice throws, had some rough moments, but ultimately needs some time in the pocket.
Jacoby Brissett. Pick Analysis. Cleveland Browns. 53. Scouting Report. Last Week: 27. 27. player
2022 stats: 1,060 yards | 64.0 comp % | 5 TD | 3 INT | 6.6 YPA | 65.9 QBR
Brissett is solid at times, but then he’ll throw a hideous pick like the one he tossed in the fourth quarter against the Chargers.
Last Week: 25. Houston Texans. Davis Mills. 26. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player. 10
2022 stats: 1,048 yards | 62.7 comp % | 5 TD | 4 INT | 6.3 YPA | 32.3 QBR
Mills was an intriguing prospect after his rookie season, but thus far in 2022, there hasn’t been much to be excited about.
New York Jets. Zach Wilson. 25. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 28. 30
2022 stats: 462 yards | 56.1 comp % | 1 TD | 2 INT | 8.1 YPA | 54.5 QBR
Wilson has played well for the most part in his two starts this year. The Jets are 2-0 in those games, and in each, Wilson has been nails in the fourth quarter.
Pick Analysis. Last Week: 26. New York Giants. Daniel Jones. Scouting Report. 24. player. 31
2022 stats: 848 yards | 66.7 comp % | 3 TD | 2 INT | 6.4 YPA | 52.0 QBR
Jones was terrific against the Packers, fighting a gimpy ankle to complete 21-of-27 attempts for 217 yards. Gutsy effort.
Last Week: 21. 23. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Atlanta Falcons. Marcus Mariota. 44
2022 stats: 926 yards | 57.7 comp % | 4 TD | 4 INT | 7.5 YPA | 49.9 QBR
Throwing for 147 yards on 5.9 yards per attempt isn’t getting it done. For the second straight week, Mariota was underwhelming.
Scouting Report. Carson Wentz. 22. player. 58. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 22. Washington Commanders
2022 stats: 1,390 yards | 62.9 comp % | 10 TD | 6 INT | 6.6 YPA | 38.2 QBR
It’s the same story with Wentz. He hits some big throws, he makes some brutal decisions. It’s a never-ending cycle.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 24. player. 15. New Orleans Saints. Andy Dalton. 21
2022 stats: 423 yards | 69.2 comp % | 2 TD | 1 INT | 8.1 YPA | 53.6 QBR
Dalton has done a nice job filling for Jameis Winston. After almost beating the Vikings in London, Dalton was steady against the Seahawks with 187 yards and a touchdown.
45. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player. 20. Last Week: 13. Denver Broncos. Russell Wilson
2022 stats: 1,254 yards | 59.4 comp % | 4 TD | 3 INT | 7.4 YPA | 36.5 QBR
What else can be said? The Broncos can’t score, Wilson’s process is a mess, and the attitude — see the bizarre press conference ending — seems very off-key.
Cooper Rush. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 20. Dallas Cowboys. 123. 19
2022 stats: 839 yards | 61.0 comp % | 4 TD | 0 INT | 7.1 YPA | 66.9 QBR
Rush should go back to the bench once Dak Prescott is healthy, because he’s a caretaker. That said, the Cowboys are 4-0 with Rush, and he’s doing his job by avoiding mistakes.
18. Scouting Report. Last Week: 19. Indianapolis Colts. Matt Ryan. player. 46. Pick Analysis
2022 stats: 1,376 yards | 65.6 comp % | 5 TD | 7 INT | 7.1 YPA | 35.7 QBR
Ryan has thrown for a bunch of yardage, but his performance has been ugly. Of course, he’s behind the worst offensive line in football with few weapons.
player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 18. San Francisco 49ers. Jimmy Garoppolo. 17. 42
2022 stats: 857 yards | 60.7 comp % | 5 TD | 1 INT | 8.0 YPA | 41.4 QBR
Garoppolo just needs to play point guard. Don’t throw interceptions, find Deebo Samuel and George Kittle, hand off and profit.
Tennessee Titans. 16. player. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 16. Ryan Tannehill. 35. Scouting Report
2022 stats: 965 yards | 65.1 comp % | 6 TD | 3 INT | 7.7 YPA | 40.6 QBR
Tannehill was rough against Washington, but the Titans won anyway. Tennessee doesn’t have much in the way of passing weapons, and it’s showing.
15. Last Week: 15. Arizona Cardinals. Kyler Murray. player. 32. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
2022 stats: 1,241 yards | 65.6 comp % | 6 TD | 3 INT | 5.8 YPA | 52.1 QBR
Murray needs to be better throwing the ball downfield. The YPA is the worst of any regular starting quarterback.
Detroit Lions. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 12. Jared Goff. 14. 50
2022 stats: 1,355 yards | 59.7 comp % | 11 TD | 4 INT | 7.3 YPA | 54.7 QBR
Goff has enjoyed a good season, but both he and the Lions were smacked down in New England. The Lions, unfortunately, look like the Lions.
Scouting Report. Los Angeles Rams. Matthew Stafford. 13. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 10. player. 51
2022 stats: 1,015 yards | 69.8 comp % | 5 TD | 7 INT | 6.9 YPA | 48.0 QBR
Stafford is under constant duress, and has one receiver in Cooper Kupp. The rest of the offense is a disaster, and Stafford’s numbers show that.
Pick Analysis. Jacksonville Jaguars. player. 52. Scouting Report. Last Week: 11. Trevor Lawrence. 12
2022 stats: 1,232 yards | 62.4 comp % | 8 TD | 4 INT | 6.8 YPA | 52.6 QBR
After having a nice start to the season, Lawrence has endured two really rough games, including seven turnovers.
11. player. 36. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 17. Seattle Seahawks. Geno Smith
2022 stats: 1,305 yards | 75.2 comp % | 9 TD | 2 INT | 8.3 YPA | 74.8 QBR
Nobody is a better story this season. Smith has been phenomenal. He’s making throws to all portions of the field, and leading Seattle to a top-flight offense. It’s genuinely awesome to watch.
Last Week: 14. Kirk Cousins. Pick Analysis. Minnesota Vikings. 10. player. 60. Scouting Report
2022 stats: 1,327 yards | 66.2 comp % | 7 TD | 5 INT | 6.7 YPA | 51.9 QBR
Cousins completed his first 17 passes on Sunday, and while his overall numbers are largely average, he’s played solid football.
Scouting Report. Last Week: 8. Cincinnati Bengals. Joe Burrow. Pick Analysis. 9. player. 56
2022 stats: 1,316 yards | 64.9 comp % | 9 TD | 5 INT | 6.9 YPA | 46.4 QBR
Burrow has to avoid the big mistakes, and start finding a few big plays against Cover 2. He’s not making team pay for facing Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase.
Scouting Report. Last Week: 9. Las Vegas Raiders. player. 28. Pick Analysis. Derek Carr. 8
2022 stats: 1,279 yards | 61.4 comp % | 8 TD | 4 INT | 7.0 YPA | 57.2 QBR
Carr played really well against the Chiefs, and he’s been solid most of the year. The Raiders are going to make a run at some point.
player. 49. Scouting Report. Last Week: 6. Green Bay Packers. 7. Pick Analysis. Aaron Rodgers
2022 stats: 1,157 yards | 67.9 comp % | 8 TD | 3 INT | 6.9 YPA | 44.6 QBR
Rodgers has to be better. The Packers traded away Davante Adams, but Adams’ absence doesn’t mean Rodgers should be posting lousy numbers.
48. Pick Analysis. player. 6. Scouting Report. Last Week: 7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tom Brady
2022 stats: 1,409 yards | 68.1 comp % | 7 TD | 1 INT | 6.8 YPA | 51.6 QBR
Brady isn’t having a typical year. He’s not throwing for many yards per attempt, and the touchdowns are also down. Not bad, by any means, but middling by his measure.
26. Scouting Report. Last Week: 4. Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson. 5. player. Pick Analysis
2022 stats: 1,067 yards | 63.8 comp % | 12 TD | 5 INT | 7.2 YPA | 63.6 QBR
Jackson has a rough night against the Bengals, but when Baltimore needed him most, Jackson drove the Ravens right down the field. A job well done.
player. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 3. 4. Philadelphia Eagles. Jalen Hurts. 54. Scouting Report
2022 stats: 1,359 yards | 67.9 comp % | 4 TD | 2 INT | 8.5 YPA | 59.4 QBR
Hurts is in the MVP discussion, largely because he’s the best dual-threat in the NFC. He dominates games with his legs, right arm and intellect.
13. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 5. Justin Herbert. Los Angeles Chargers. 3. player
2022 stats: 1,478 yards | 66.5 comp % | 10 TD | 2 INT | 7.4 YPA | 65.2 QBR
Herbert is playing through pain, with injuries galore around him, with a bad coaching staff, and he’s still putting up elite numbers.
Pick Analysis. player. Josh Allen. 2. Scouting Report. Last Week: 2. Buffalo Bills. 16
2022 stats: 1,651 yards | 66.8 comp % | 14 TD | 4 INT | 8.3 YPA | 78.5 QBR
We’re all privileged to see Josh Allen play Patrick Mahomes next weekend.
1. 124. Pick Analysis. Kansas City Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes. player. Scouting Report. Last Week: 1
2022 stats: 1,398 yards | 66.7 comp % | 15 TD | 2 INT | 7.4 YPA | 78.5 QBR
See above. Best game of the season.