Nothing ignites a good NFL discussion quite like quarterbacks. And it makes sense: They're the most important ingredient in a championship recipe. All signal-callers, of course, are at least partially a product of their situations, but that means their current standing can be a good barometer for a team's Super Bowl hopes.
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With that in mind, this is how we'd sort today's starting quarterbacks right now (with some short-term projection baked in). These rankings change as the season unfolds, as they're based more on current standing than the bigger picture, built to tell the story of each quarterback's respective rise and fall.
Without further ado, the Week 10 pecking order:
1 |
Lamar Jackson
Baltimore Ravens QB
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The Ravens might be the class of the AFC, and Jackson is the main reason for it. He's hitting new levels of efficiency, averaging 9.2 yards per throw, and remains a home run threat every time he runs. No one's playing the position with more effortless swagger and production. | |
2 |
Josh Allen
Buffalo Bills QB
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Another week, another highlight-reel effort from Allen, who's elevated every part of his remade supporting cast. When Amari Cooper's healthy again, the Bills should be even scarier. | |
3 |
Joe Burrow
Cincinnati Bengals QB
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The Bengals have been unpredictable this year, but Burrow has not. A year after injuries ruined his season, the Pro Bowler looks as good as ever while firing precision strikes on the move. (+2) | |
4 |
Jayden Daniels
Washington Commanders QB
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The rookie does everything right, from controlling the ball to exploding for first-down runs to instilling weekly confidence in his teammates. He's made the Commanders a legitimate power. | |
5 |
Jared Goff
Detroit Lions QB
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The Lions have been so good lately, they've barely needed him through the air. When called upon alongside their dynamic ground game, though, he's thrown it with precision and confidence. (-2) | |
6 |
Justin Herbert
Los Angeles Chargers QB
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Jim Harbaugh's offense, which features a resurgent J.K. Dobbins, has gradually unlocked a more comfortable version of Herbert, who's back to lasering the ball downfield in big spots. (+2) | |
7 |
Jalen Hurts
Philadelphia Eagles QB
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It's astounding how calm and collected he looks when he's got Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and/or DeVonta Smith upright. He's dealing the ball to every level quickly, and boasts 18 total scores. (+2) | |
8 |
Brock Purdy
San Francisco 49ers QB
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Christian McCaffrey's anticipated return to the lineup should help him ease in rather than rely so much on play-extending scrambles. He's still been quite resilient for a banged-up group. (-2) | |
9 |
Patrick Mahomes
Kansas City Chiefs QB
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Everyone harped on his turnovers, wondering how the Chiefs could be unbeaten with his middling numbers. Yet no one batted an eye after he tossed three scores against Todd Bowles' defense. (+1) | |
10 |
Baker Mayfield
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB
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He fought valiantly against the reigning champion Chiefs in Week 9, keeping the Buccaneers in the mix. Unfortunately, with his top wideouts still hurt, he'll have to string together such efforts. (-1) | |
11 |
Kirk Cousins
Atlanta Falcons QB
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The NFC South looks like the Falcons' to lose, and Cousins' sturdy arm deserves a lot of the credit. He's now hit almost 80% of his throws, with seven scores and zero picks, in his last two wins. (+1) | |
12 |
Sam Darnold
Minnesota Vikings QB
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Vikings fans got the full Darnold experience against the Colts, as the veteran had three ugly turnovers, but finished strong with three scores. Hopefully his shuffled O-line stays strong. (-1) | |
13 |
Matthew Stafford
Los Angeles Rams QB
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Neck and neck with the rival Seahawks in Week 9, Stafford uncorked a signature deep ball to give the Rams a walk-off win, proving that his big-play talent should keep L.A. relevant in the NFC West. (+2) | |
14 |
Jordan Love
Green Bay Packers QB
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Playing through pain to face the rival Lions, Love suffered mostly from self-inflicted wounds, trying to make something out of nothing to the point he aided Detroit. He's a boom-or-bust playmaker. | |
15 |
C.J. Stroud
Houston Texans QB
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The bumps and bruises of his supporting cast might finally be taking a toll. The Texans lead the AFC South, but Stroud's had a few clunkers while trying to compensate for lofty expectations. (-2) | |
16 |
Kyler Murray
Arizona Cardinals QB
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Arizona is arguably best suited when Murray has to throw it less, leaning instead on the James Conner ground game. Still, the dual threat has been more protective of the ball this year. (-2) | |
17 |
Tua Tagovailoa
Miami Dolphins QB
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He took another step forward in his second game back from a concussion, making quick-reaction darts to keep the Dolphins close with the Bills. Miami is practically asking him to be perfect. (+1) | |
18 |
Russell Wilson
Pittsburgh Steelers QB
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Resting up on the Steelers' bye after two mildly encouraging wins as the starter, Wilson will return with an added deep threat at his disposal in Mike Williams, another contested-catch specialist. (+2) | |
19 |
Geno Smith
Seattle Seahawks QB
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The guy never stops airing it out, for better and worse. Three picks helped put Seattle in a hole in an important divisional game, but his late strikes to Jaxon Smith-Njigba also kept them alive. (+3) | |
20 |
Aaron Rodgers
New York Jets QB
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It's still fair to wonder if he can hold up down the stretch, with New York trying to claw out of a hole. But his connection with Davante Adams looked more normal in the Jets' win over the Texans. (+8) | |
21 |
Trevor Lawrence
Jacksonville Jaguars QB
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Almost every positive Lawrence play or game seems to be sandwiched between head-scratching gaffes this year, which is an extension of 2023 woes. He can sling it, but the system is a mess. (-5) | |
22 |
Derek Carr
New Orleans Saints QB
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He was back on the field against the Panthers, but it didn't stop Carolina from pulling off the upset, and prompting New Orleans' dismissal of coach Dennis Allen. Carr's own time may be up soon. (-1) | |
23 |
Drake Maye
New England Patriots QB
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The first-round rookie has been predictably uneven when throwing it deep. But at least he has the skill set to push the ball, bringing some much-needed energy to a rebuilding Patriots group. | |
24 |
Caleb Williams
Chicago Bears QB
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It's been an awfully streaky year for the No. 1 pick. Sitting at 4-2 not long ago, Williams has endured back-to-back duds in which his frequent scrambling left some layups on the field. (-7) | |
25 |
Bo Nix
Denver Broncos QB
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Faced with a legitimate contender in the Ravens, the rookie had predictably few answers, struggling to elevate Sean Payton's unit. His athleticism still makes him an intriguing prospect. (-2) | |
26 |
Joe Flacco
Indianapolis Colts QB
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Inserted as the new QB1 following Anthony Richardson's understandable demotion, the 39-year-old got little ground support, and, of course, offered none, in a wholly middling loss to the Vikings. (-2) | |
27 |
Jameis Winston
Cleveland Browns QB
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One week after chucking it deep to upset the rival Ravens, Winston's characteristically zealous approach got the best of him, bringing the Browns back to earth against the Chargers. (-2) | |
28 |
Daniel Jones
New York Giants QB
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It's possible Jones might be on his last legs as the Giants' starter. While he protects the ball well enough, and can move the chains as a runner, Brian Daboll doesn't seem to trust him airing it out. | |
29 |
Desmond Ridder
Las Vegas Raiders QB
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Raiders coach Antonio Pierce hasn't committed to a starter for after the club's Week 10 bye, but the newly acquired Ridder finished the last outing, replacing the repeatedly benched Gardner Minshew. | |
30 |
Mason Rudolph
Tennessee Titans QB
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Coach Brian Callahan is "hopeful" Will Levis will return this week, but until we see the youngster back under center, Rudolph is the man. Either way, Tennessee lacks a trustworthy starter. (+2) | |
31 |
Cooper Rush
Dallas Cowboys QB
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Dak Prescott will miss at least four games, thanks to a hamstring injury, which means the veteran backup Rush is on track to make his first start in two years. He went 4-1 as a fill-in in 2022. | |
32 |
Bryce Young
Carolina Panthers QB
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The Panthers may or may not turn back to Andy Dalton, but does it really matter? Young probably warrants another go after shepherding a close win over the Saints in Week 9. |