NFL quarterback rankings, Week 17: Patrick Mahomes is the MVP
In this week’s NFL quarterback rankings, we make the call. It’s time to recognize Patrick Mahomes as the 2022 NFL MVP once and for all.
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
Last Week: NA. 32. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 35. Tennessee Titans. Malik Willis
2022 stats: 276 yards | 50.8 comp % | 0 TD | 3 INT | 4.5 YPA | 12.0 QBR
Willis may become a great quarterback in the future, but presently, he can’t throw effectively.
player. 31. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: NA. New York Jets. Zach Wilson. 30
2022 stats: 1,688 yards | 54.5 comp % | 6 TD | 7 INT | 7.0 YPA | 37.2 QBR
Wilson is done in New York. It’s Mike White’s job once again now that his ribs have healed.
Pick Analysis. Last Week: NA. Indianapolis Colts. Nick Foles. player. 46. Scouting Report. 30
2022 stats: 143 yards | 58.6 comp % | 0 TD | 3 INT | 4.9 YPA | 3.4 QBR
It’s time to retire. Foles looked incredibly washed against the Chargers.
Arizona Cardinals. 29. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: NA. Trace McSorley. player. 32
2022 stats: 383 yards | 52.7 comp % | 0 TD | 4 INT | 5.2 YPA | 12.0 QBR
McSorley gave his Cardinals a chance against the Bucs, but he’s clearly a low-end backup.
28. Scouting Report. Last Week: 30. Atlanta Falcons. Desmond Ridder. player. 44. Pick Analysis
2022 stats: 315 yards | 59.3 comp % | 0 TD | 0 INT | 5.3 YPA | 42.3 QBR
Ridder isn’t doing anything to make Atlanta think it doesn’t need a quarterback in the first round of next year’s draft.
27. player. Scouting Report. Last Week: NA. Denver Broncos. Russell Wilson. 45. Pick Analysis
2022 stats: 3,019 yards | 60.1 comp % | 12 TD | 9 INT | 7.2 YPA | 34.9 QBR
Not much to say. Just a disastrous season for Wilson and the Broncos.
26. Last Week: 28. Baltimore Ravens. Tyler Huntley. 26. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player
2022 stats: 528 yards | 67.0 comp % | 1 TD | 2 INT | 5.8 YPA | 36.1 QBR
Will Huntley get another start, this time on Sunday night against Pittsburgh? The Ravens still have a shot at winning the AFC North.
Pick Analysis. player. 10. 25. Scouting Report. Last Week: 27. Houston Texans. Davis Mills
2022 stats: 2,618 yards | 61.8 comp % | 14 TD | 13 INT | 6.5 YPA | 33.0 QBR
Mills is about to become a backup for Houston, but he’s got two more starts in him before that happens.
Pick Analysis. Last Week: 24. New England Patriots. 24. Scouting Report. player. 47. Mac Jones
2022 stats: 2,550 yards | 65.6 comp % | 9 TD | 8 INT | 6.9 YPA | 32.3 QBR
Jones has been, much like New England’s offense, underwhelming this season. Too many mistakes and not enough sizzle.
Scouting Report. Last Week: 26. Baker Mayfield. 23. player. 51. Pick Analysis. Los Angeles Rams
2022 stats: 1,884 yards | 61.0 comp % | 10 TD | 7 INT | 6.5 YPA | 27.2 QBR
Mayfield was sensational against the Broncos on Christmas, helping the Rams to 51 points. The question is whether he gets any looks as a starter come 2023.
Sam Darnold. 22. player. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 25. Carolina Panthers. 87. Scouting Report
2022 stats: 759 yards | 61.4 comp % | 4 TD | 0 INT | 8.6 YPA | 59.0 QBR
Darnold has a chance to win the biggest game of his career on Sunday, with the NFC South at stake. Can he handle the Bucs’ defense?
Last Week: 21. Pittsburgh Steelers. Kenny Pickett. 21. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player. 55
2022 stats: 2,041 yards | 65.2 comp % | 5 TD | 9 INT | 6.1 YPA | 46.8 QBR
Pickett has played better than his initial first few games, but he’s not making elite throws. You’d like to see more from an older first-round pick.
Last Week: 20. Taylor Heinicke. 20. player. 58. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Washington Commanders
2022 stats: 1,859 yards | 62.2 comp % | 12 TD | 6 INT | 7.2 YPA | 44.9 QBR
Heinicke or Carson Wentz? The Commanders should stick with the former despite two consecutive losses and some middling play.
Scouting Report. Cleveland Browns. 53. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 18. Deshaun Watson. 19. player
2022 stats: 703 yards | 57.7 comp % | 2 TD | 3 INT | 5.7 YPA | 37.4 QBR
Watson has been downright terrible since coming back. Is he going to rebound, or is Watson never going to be the same after two years away?
42. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 22. player. Scouting Report. San Francisco 49ers. Brock Purdy. 18
2022 stats: 912 yards | 67.0 comp % | 8 TD | 3 INT | 7.9 YPA | 67.1 QBR
Purdy is one of the league’s best stories this year. From unknown to indispensable, the Niners are riding the hot hand to Super Bowl dreams.
Pick Analysis. Last Week: 19. Daniel Jones. Scouting Report. New York Giants. 17. player. 31
2022 stats: 3,028 yards | 66.5 comp % | 13 TD | 5 INT | 6.8 YPA | 56.9 QBR
Jones hasn’t been elite by any stretch, but he’s taking care of the football. If nothing else, that’s a huge step in development.
Last Week: 16. New Orleans Saints. player. 15. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Andy Dalton. 16
2022 stats: 2,495 yards | 66.2 comp % | 17 TD | 8 INT | 7.5 YPA | 52.5 QBR
Dalton couldn’t do much in the impossible Cleveland climate. Still, on the season, he’s done a solid job.
15. player. Last Week: 13. Las Vegas Raiders. Derek Carr. 28. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
2022 stats: 3,522 yards | 60.8 comp % | 24 TD | 14 INT | 7.0 YPA | 55.6 QBR
Carr has a disastrous night in Pittsburgh, throwing three interceptions. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to think he’ll return in 2023.
Tom Brady. 14. player. Scouting Report. Last Week: 14. 48. Pick Analysis. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2022 stats: 4,178 yards | 66.0 comp % | 21 TD | 9 INT | 6.2 YPA | 49.5 QBR
Brady and the Bucs are doing nothing offensively, but somehow they’re in the lead for a home playoff game. Regardless, ugly year.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 15. 13. 49. Green Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers. player
2022 stats: 3,331 yards | 64.8 comp % | 24 TD | 11 INT | 6.8 YPA | 39.6 QBR
Could the Packers run the table and win their last five to make the playoffs? If they do, no NFC team will be lining up to face Rodgers, even with his diminished numbers.
12. player. 57. Scouting Report. Last Week: 10. Chicago Bears. Justin Fields. Pick Analysis
2022 stats: 2,167 yards | 62.3 comp % | 16 TD | 10 INT | 7.3 YPA | 55.5 QBR
Fields has been awesome to watch this year. Considering the lack of talent around him, he’s been downright excellent.
Last Week: 9. Tua Tagovailoa. player. Pick Analysis. Miami Dolphins. 11. 59. Scouting Report
2022 stats: 3,548 yards | 64.8 comp % | 25 TD | 8 INT | 8.9 YPA | 68.7 QBR
Put Tagovailoa’s struggles aside. Now in concussion protocol once more, it’s time to sit him down if you’re the Dolphins. This is bigger than football.
player. 60. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Minnesota Vikings. Kirk Cousins. 10. Last Week: 12
2022 stats: 4,117 yards | 65.7 comp % | 27 TD | 11 INT | 7.0 YPA | 51.1 QBR
Cousins earned his fourth Pro Bowl berth this year, and rightfully so. The Vikings are 12-3, and it’s solely because of their offense.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Detroit Lions. 9. player. Last Week: 8. Jared Goff. 50
2022 stats: 3,959 yards | 64.5 comp % | 26 TD | 7 INT | 7.6 YPA | 61.9 QBR
Goff has quietly done a terrific job in Detroit this year. The Lions are in the playoff hunt, and Goff has helped lead the proverbial charge over the last two months.
Pick Analysis. Last Week: 6. Seattle Seahawks. 8. Scouting Report. Geno Smith. player. 36
2022 stats: 3,886 yards | 70.7 comp % | 27 TD | 9 INT | 7.6 YPA | 63.3 QBR
Smith has regressed a bit over the past month, but he’s still enjoying one of the biggest surprise seasons in recent memory.
Pick Analysis. Dak Prescott. 7. player. Scouting Report. Last Week: 11. Dallas Cowboys. 123
2022 stats: 2,450 yards | 69.0 comp % | 20 TD | 12 INT | 7.8 YPA | 60.3 QBR
Prescott was tremendous after the Josh Sweat pick-six against the Eagles, putting Dallas on his back for 40 points. Also, the 3rd and 30 to T.Y. Hilton? Epic.
52. Jacksonville Jaguars. 6. player. Trevor Lawrence. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 7
2022 stats: 3,749 yards | 65.9 comp % | 24 TD | 7 INT | 7.1 YPA | 56.5 QBR
Lawrence has ascended into elite territory. Imagine how great he’s already be if he had a head coach in his rookie season?
Pick Analysis. Los Angeles Chargers. 5. player. Scouting Report. Last Week: 5. Justin Herbert. 13
2022 stats: 4,254 yards | 68.0 comp % | 21 TD | 10 INT | 6.7 YPA | 56.0 QBR
Herbert was limited against the Colts, but he’s finally in the playoffs. His legacy can finally add some pivotal moments.
Pick Analysis. Last Week: 4. Josh Allen. 4. player. Scouting Report. Buffalo Bills. 16
2022 stats: 4,029 yards | 63.4 comp % | 32 TD | 13 INT | 7.5 YPA | 70.6 QBR
Allen had two more turnovers against the Bears, but Chicago couldn’t take advantage. Buffalo needs Allen to clean up the errors.
Pick Analysis. Philadelphia Eagles. Last Week: 3. Jalen Hurts. 3. player. Scouting Report. 54
2022 stats: 3,472 yards | 67.3 comp % | 22 TD | 5 INT | 8.2 YPA | 68.7 QBR
Hurts should be back this weekend after missing a week with a sprained shoulder. The Eagles are trying to wrap up the NFC East and the No. 1 seed.
player. Last Week: 2. Cincinnati Bengals. 56. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Joe Burrow. 2
2022 stats: 4,260 yards | 69.0 comp % | 34 TD | 12 INT | 7.6 YPA | 61.4 QBR
Burrow saw his performance break into a tale of two halves in New England. The first was incredible, the second was a mess. Still, he’s playing elite football since the first few weeks of the year.
Patrick Mahomes. player. 1. 124. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 1. Kansas City Chiefs
2022 stats: 4,720 yards | 66.9 comp % | 37 TD | 11 INT | 8.1 YPA | 78.5 QBR
Mahomes is the MVP. Stop the fight. He’s leading the NFL in total yards, passing yards, total touchdowns, passing touchdowns and QBR. He’s the best player on earth.