NFL quarterback rankings, Week 18: Dak Prescott’s ceiling
The Dallas Cowboys are a Super Bowl contender, but they’ll only go as far as Dak Prescott will carry … or allow.
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
David Blough. 32. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 32. Last Week: NA. Arizona Cardinals
2022 stats: 222 yards | 60.0 comp % | 1 TD | 0 INT | 5.6 YPA | 42.3 QBR
One of the Hard Knock’s stars got to show his stuff, and it went about as expected. But hey, Blough got his moment.
Last Week: NA. 59. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Skylar Thompson. 31. player. Miami Dolphins
2022 stats: 382 yards | 54.0 comp % | 1 TD | 3 INT | 5.2 YPA | 35.1 QBR
Suddenly, Thompson appears to be in line to start Week 18, and he — potentially, depending on the Patriots — holds the fate of the Dolphins in his hands.
Tennessee Titans. Josh Dobbs. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player. 35. Last Week: NA. 30
2022 stats: 232 yards | 51.3 comp % | 1 TD | 1 INT | 6.0 YPA | 32.3 QBR
Dobbs can play the role of hero on Saturday night. He’d be a legend in Nashville if he engineers a road upset over the favored Jaguars.
Pick Analysis. Indianapolis Colts. player. 46. Scouting Report. Last Week: 30. Nick Foles. 29
2022 stats: 224 yards | 59.4 comp % | 0 TD | 4 INT | 5.3 YPA | 7.4 QBR
Foles has enjoyed a wild NFL ride which includes an improbable Super Bowl ring, but it’s time to walk away.
44. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 28. Atlanta Falcons. Desmond Ridder. player. 28
2022 stats: 484 yards | 63.5 comp % | 0 TD | 0 INT | 5.7 YPA | 40.6 QBR
Ridder played well against the Cardinals and was rewarded with a last-second win. Still, he’s not shown near enough for Atlanta to pass on a quarterback in April’s first-round.
Las Vegas Raiders. player. 28. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: NA. Jarrett Stidham. 27
2022 stats: 437 yards | 66.0 comp % | 3 TD | 2 INT | 9.3 YPA | 75.4 QBR
Stidham was the feel-good story of Week 17, torching the vaunted 49ers defense for 365 yards and three touchdowns. Unfortunately, it came up just short.
player. 10. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 25. Houston Texans. Davis Mills. 26
2022 stats: 2,820 yards | 61.2 comp % | 14 TD | 13 INT | 6.4 YPA | 30.9 QBR
The Texans are going to roll with Mills once more, and then it’s time to draft the future.
Last Week: NA. Mike White. player. 30. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. New York Jets. 25
2022 stats: 1,192 yards | 58.9 comp % | 3 TD | 4 INT | 6.8 YPA | 37.5 QBR
White gave Jets fans some hope this season and a reprieve from Zach Wilson, but it’s hard to make a real case for him in 2023.
Last Week: 26. Tyler Huntley. 24. player. Pick Analysis. Baltimore Ravens. 26. Scouting Report
2022 stats: 528 yards | 67.0 comp % | 1 TD | 2 INT | 5.8 YPA | 42.3 QBR
Huntley would be much lower if not for the buffet of third-stringers and washed vets behind him. His showing against the Steelers left plenty in Baltimore wanting much more.
player. 45. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 27. Denver Broncos. Russell Wilson. 23. Scouting Report
2022 stats: 3,241 yards | 60.8 comp % | 13 TD | 10 INT | 7.1 YPA | 35.6 QBR
Wilson had another underwhelming day on Sunday, throwing for 5.8 yards per attempt in a 27-24 loss to the Chiefs. However, he ran for two scores. So, progress?
Scouting Report. Washington Commanders. 22. Pick Analysis. Last Week: NA. Carson Wentz. player. 58
2022 stats: 1,755 yards | 62.3 comp % | 11 TD | 9 INT | 6.4 YPA | 33.2 QBR
Wentz never should have been named the starter. He showed why on Sunday, tossing three interceptions to eliminate the Commanders from playoff contention.
Last Week: NA. Philadelphia Eagles. 21. 54. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Gardner Minshew. player
2022 stats: 663 yards | 57.9 comp % | 3 TD | 3 INT | 8.7 YPA | 38.2 QBR
Minshew is a good backup, but he was awful against the Saints, throwing a crushing pick-six when trailing by three in the fourth quarter.
55. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 21. Kenny Pickett. Scouting Report. Pittsburgh Steelers. 20. player
2022 stats: 2,041 yards | 65.2 comp % | 5 TD | 9 INT | 6.1 YPA | 49.9 QBR
Pickett was ho-hum all night in Baltimore, before driving the Steelers for a game-winning score in the final minute, capped by a tremendous throw to Najee Harris.
New England Patriots. Mac Jones. 47. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 24. 19. player
2022 stats: 2,753 yards | 65.2 comp % | 11 TD | 8 INT | 6.8 YPA | 32.5 QBR
Well, Jones has his chance. Week 18, win-and-in against Buffalo. Get it done, kid.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 18. player. 51. Last Week: 23. Los Angeles Rams. Baker Mayfield
2022 stats: 2,016 yards | 60.8 comp % | 10 TD | 7 INT | 6.5 YPA | 27.0 QBR
Mayfield has had some high and lowlights with the Rams. Can he knock off the Seahawks and turn the Packers-Lions game into an elimination bout?
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Carolina Panthers. 17. Last Week: 22. Sam Darnold. player. 87
2022 stats: 1,100 yards | 61.8 comp % | 7 TD | 1 INT | 8.8 YPA | 57.5 QBR
Darnold has played very well since coming back from injury. The Panthers fell on Sunday, but Darnold threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 19. Cleveland Browns. Deshaun Watson. 16. player. 53
2022 stats: 872 yards | 56.7 comp % | 5 TD | 3 INT | 6.2 YPA | 36.7 QBR
Watson has been awful since coming off his suspension. The Browns have to be very nervous during every game, praying it gets better.
player. 15. Scouting Report. New Orleans Saints. 15. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 16. Andy Dalton
2022 stats: 2,699 yards | 67.1 comp % | 17 TD | 9 INT | 7.6 YPA | 51.0 QBR
Dalton did a nice job against the Eagles, going 18-of-22 for 204 yards. Plenty of short, efficient passes with some yards after catch.
player. San Francisco 49ers. 14. Last Week: 18. Brock Purdy. 42. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
2022 stats: 1,196 yards | 66.0 comp % | 10 TD | 4 INT | 8.0 YPA | 67.8 QBR
Purdy might be for real. The Niners are winners of nine straight, and the former seventh-round pick continues to make tight-window, anticipatory throws.
Last Week: 17. Daniel Jones. 13. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 31. New York Giants. player
2022 stats: 3,205 yards | 67.2 comp % | 15 TD | 5 INT | 6.8 YPA | 60.4 QBR
Four touchdowns and a playoff berth? Not a bad day, Mr. Jones. He’s making a real case to stick around for Big Blue in 2023.
Pick Analysis. Last Week: 12. Chicago Bears. 12. 57. Scouting Report. Justin Fields. player
2022 stats: 2,242 yards | 60.4 comp % | 17 TD | 11 INT | 7.0 YPA | 53.9 QBR
Let’s be honest about Fields on Sunday. His passing was horrific, going 7-of-21 against the Lions. Running for 132 yards is great, but his top priority this offseason must be more consistency from the pocket.
Minnesota Vikings. Kirk Cousins. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 10. 11. player. 60. Scouting Report
2022 stats: 4,322 yards | 65.3 comp % | 28 TD | 14 INT | 6.9 YPA | 48.9 QBR
Cousins was hideous on Sunday, matching the rest of his teammates. Three interceptions — and there could have been more — in a 41-17 loss to the Packers for a guy who most of the season, has been quite good.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 13. player. 49. Green Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers. 10
2022 stats: 3,490 yards | 64.7 comp % | 25 TD | 11 INT | 6.8 YPA | 39.6 QBR
Rodgers isn’t throwing for a big yardage total, failing to hit 300 yards once. He’s throwing more interceptions than usual, as well. But over the past month, he’s complimenting the offense, making a few great throws every week and understanding Green Bay’s situation.
9. player. 48. Scouting Report. Last Week: 14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tom Brady. Pick Analysis
2022 stats: 4,610 yards | 66.6 comp % | 24 TD | 9 INT | 6.4 YPA | 51.9 QBR
Brady had his best game of the year on Sunday. Trailing 14-0, the Bucs put on a furious rally behind Brady, who threw for 432 yards and three scores. The old man still has it.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 9. Detroit Lions. 8. Jared Goff. player. 50
2022 stats: 4,214 yards | 64.9 comp % | 29 TD | 7 INT | 7.6 YPA | 62.6 QBR
Goff has endured deserved criticism over the years, but he’s putting forth an elite campaign. The Lions are alive in Week 18, and he’s the chief reason.
Pick Analysis. Last Week: 7. 123. Scouting Report. Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott. 7. player
2022 stats: 2,732 yards | 69.2 comp % | 22 TD | 14 INT | 7.6 YPA | 63.2 QBR
Prescott needs to eliminate the turnovers. He’s made some tremendous throws, but too many errors. If he plays great, the Cowboys can win the Super Bowl. If he has a two-turnover game, Dallas can be one-and-done.
36. Scouting Report. Geno Smith. Seattle Seahawks. 6. player. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 8
2022 stats: 4,069 yards | 70.2 comp % | 29 TD | 9 INT | 7.5 YPA | 62.6 QBR
Smith is having a dream campaign. The Seahawks are 8-8 in a season most believed would end with 3-5 wins. He’s a Pro Bowler, and should hit the 30-touchdown mark.
Pick Analysis. Jacksonville Jaguars. Scouting Report. Last Week: 6. Trevor Lawrence. 5. player. 52
2022 stats: 3,901 yards | 66.5 comp % | 24 TD | 8 INT | 7.1 YPA | 55.1 QBR
Lawrence is one win away from capping an unbelievable surge to put Jacksonville in the playoffs. Now, a date with Tennessee on Saturday night.
player. 13. Pick Analysis. Justin Herbert. 4. Last Week: 5. Los Angeles Chargers. Scouting Report
2022 stats: 4,426 yards | 68.3 comp % | 23 TD | 10 INT | 6.8 YPA | 56.8 QBR
Herbert has answered the call from skeptics who believed he was a stat-stuffer and nothing more. In the playoffs, Herbert will have his say.
16. Scouting Report. Josh Allen. 3. player. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 4. Buffalo Bills
2022 stats: 4,029 yards | 63.4 comp % | 32 TD | 13 INT | 7.5 YPA | 70.6 QBR
For obvious reasons, there’s no movement or analysis of Allen or Burrow this week.
Cincinnati Bengals. Joe Burrow. Last Week: 2. 2. player. 56. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
2022 stats: 4,260 yards | 69.0 comp % | 34 TD | 12 INT | 7.6 YPA | 61.4 QBR
For obvious reasons, there’s no movement or analysis of Allen or Burrow this week.
124. Pick Analysis. 1. player. Scouting Report. Last Week: 1. Kansas City Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes
2022 stats: 5,048 yards | 67.0 comp % | 40 TD | 12 INT | 8.1 YPA | 77.8 QBR
Mahomes is the clear MVP. On Sunday, he went over 5,000 passing yards and 40 passing touchdowns, doing so for the second time in his career on both counts. He’s the best.