NFL Quarterback Rankings: The Best Five And Worst Five Of The Season Through Three Weeks

The first three weeks of the NFL season have revealed some wild quarterback drama. These rankings, focusing only on current starters, evaluate performance based on stats, gameplay, and the specific demands placed on each quarterback.

The first three weeks of the NFL Season have flown by and narratives around quarterbacks have started to take shape. What quarterbacks are shining, and what quarterbacks have their team’s fan bases dreaming of USC’s Caleb Williams or UNC’s Drake Maye.

Only incumbent starters are included in the rankings. For instance, Zach Wilson is included because he’s at the top of the Jets depth chart right now, but Colts QB Gardner Minshew is not, because it is presumed that Anthony Richardson will return from his concussion to the starting job.

The rankings are based on statistics, film, and are somewhat adjusted for what the quarterback is asked to do. For instance, Brock Purdy’s stats are pretty good, but he’s not throwing for a ton of air yards or asked to make a lot of complex progressions or reads.

28. Desmond Ridder, Altanta Falcons

Stats: 55/88 62.5%, 553 yds, 2 TD 1 INT

Yes, the Atlanta Falcons are 2-1 and are in a good spot in a less-than-stellar NFC South. But, Desmond Ridder is holding this offense back in a big way. The Falcons have two pass-catchers in Kyle Pitts and Drake London that they used top-ten picks on in 2021 and 2022. But, they only have a combined 17 catches through three games. In comparison, Chargers wideout Keenan Allen had 18 catches on Sunday against the Vikings.

Watch the Falcons, and you can instantly see that Ridder is an incredibly limited passer. Yes, he’s avoided turnovers, but he’s been sacked 12 times already, and they have no ability to get chunks down the field unless it’s rookie running back Bijan Robinson making a ton of guys whiff after the catch. Yes, they want to build around running the football, but a better passing threat would do wonders for this team.

29. Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans

Stats: 49/83, 59%, 548 yds, 1 TD 3 INT

Simply put, the former Pro Bowler looks completely washed. The Titans have one of the least efficient passing offenses in the league, and Tannehill’s inability to keep the offense on schedule and complete passes down the field is killing them. The weapons on the outside aren’t that bad, and the offense should be humming better than this.

While touchdown passes certainly aren’t the end-all, be-all, only having one in the first three weeks is an absolute disaster. The team has spent draft picks the last two years on two quarterbacks with plenty of arm talent the last few years in Malik Willis and Will Levis. If the Titans continue to struggle, don’t be surprised to see head coach Mike Vrabel turn to the young guys to see if they have something in them. If they don’t, they could be in the market to draft a franchise quarterback to help them usher in a new stadium in 2026.

30. Sam Howell, Washington Commanders

Stats: 65/99 65.7%, 671yds, 3 TD 5 INT

Yes, the Commanders are 2-1, even after getting blown out by the Buffalo Bills, 37-3. But, it’s more in spite of the second-year player, who has far too many negative plays compared to the reps he does show some long-term potential.

Sacks are often thought of as an offensive line stat, and there is some truth to that. But, quarterbacks have plenty of responsibility when it comes to avoiding sacks, and Howell has taken six more sacks than any other quarterback. Add in five interceptions already, and those are significant obstacles for an offense to overcome.

31. Zach Wilson, New York Jets

Zach Wilson: 44/84, 52.5, 467 yds, 2 TD 4 INT

Just a few short weeks ago, no one would have believed he would even be eligible for the list. But, in classic Jets fashion, their season has turned into a nightmare after the injury to Aaron Rodgers. And, the mentorship of Rodgers over the past few months unsurprisingly did not turn the former second-overall pick in 2021 into a competent NFL quarterback.

The feel-good win in week one after Rodgers went down has been quickly replaced with the realization that he simply cannot play in the NFL. Bright moments are few and far between, and significantly outnumbered by the amount of moments that make you question if this is his first time playing football.

32. Justin Fields, Chicago Bears

Stats: 51/88, 58.0%, 526 yds, 3TD 4INT

It was a tight race for dead-last between Fields and the next quarterback. But, Justin Fields has the slight edge. The stats aren’t good, but the film is even worse.

Yes, the Chicago Bears are a disaster from top-to-bottom. But, no one in the league is doing a worse job of getting through his progressions and getting the ball to where it needs to go than Justin Fields. His paralysis in the pocket is leading to too many sacks, as well. Last week’s 99-yard passing performance in front of Taylor Swift and 25 million viewers against the Chiefs was a new low for a guy once thought of as a future franchise quarterback. His QBR from the pocket on Sunday, graded on a scale of 1 to 100, was a 1.5.

5. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Stats: 63/86, 608 yds, 2TD 1 INT

Many will be surprised that the 2019 NFL MVP is ranked this high. But, he looks like his old self this year under former Georgia offensive coordinator Jeff Monken, who is in the same role in Baltimore. His completion percentage is 7% higher than it has been in any one season, showing his improvement as a passer and taking what the defense is giving him. And, that’s without superstar tight end Mark Andrews being at full strength, as he’s battling a quad injury that has sapped him of some burst.

He’s running well, too. He ranks 13th in the league in rushing yards, and is doing it within the system.

As Jackson gets more comfortable in this offense and with impressive rookie receiver Zay Flowers, look for him to seriously enter the MVP race and be there until the end.

4. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

Stats: 96/138, 69.6%, 1,075 9 TD 2INT

Only a franchise like the Minnesota Vikings could be 0-3 with a quarterback playing as well as Kirk Cousins has. Simply put, the marriage between Cousins and second-year head coach Kevin O’Connell. Cousins, who likely hit the open market at the end of the season, has been in complete command on the offense, getting the ball out on time and accurate to his great group of pass-catchers. He’s on pace for an NFL-record 6000 passing yards and 51 touchdowns. Probably an unsustainable pace, but goes to show how well he’s playing.

It’s even more impressive when you consider a running game that is not helping Cousins at all as of right now. A recent trade for Cam Akers may help that soon, but right now, it’s the 35-year-old and his pass-catchers doing all the heavy lifting for the league’s third-ranked offense

3. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Stats: 90/121, 74.4%, 1,024 yds, 6 TD 0 INT

If you told a Chargers fan a few weeks ago what Herbert’s stats would be after three weeks, they would have guessed they were better than 1-2. Well, maybe not, considering it’s a franchise that seemingly always snatches defeat from the jaws of victory. But, Herbert has been sensational.

Yes, he had some chances to win in the first two weeks, but his overall level of play was exceptional, and his defense has not helped him at all. All he’s done is go 121 drop backs without a single turnover, while completing passes at an exceptional rate. Few quarterbacks in the league get the ball out as quickly and to the correct receiver as well as he does. If anything, the knock on Herbert is he should be taking more risks down the field.

He’s been doing this without stud running back Austin Ekeler, who is a huge pass-catching threat out of the backfield as well, the last two games. And, he lost stud wide receiver Mike Williams to a season-ending injury of the weekend as well. But, first-round rookie Quentin Johnson can take the top off the defense, and may open things up even more down the field for Justin Herbert going forward.

2. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Stats: 74/113, 803 yds, 65.5%, 7 TD 2 INT

Week one, when All-Pro tight end and now-very-famous tight end Travis Kelce was out and Kadarius Toney dropped a ton of balls, didn’t go great for the incumbent best quarterback on the planet. But, since then, he’s been as good as anyone in the league. It’s not rocket science when it comes to Patrick Mahomes. He’s been able to make throws that nobody else can make since he became the starter. And, each year he progresses even more in terms of making the routine plays and taking what the defense gives him. That’s a scary thought for opponents.

We’ve seen the Chiefs offense not hit their stride until later in the season before in the Mahomes-Andy Reid marriage, and this offense will continue to improve as the season goes on. As he continues to develop chemistry with his young and inexperienced group of wide receivers, he likely will end up back at the top of this list.

1. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

Stats: 72/101, 71.3%, 1,024 yds, 8 TD 2 INT

No quarterback on the planet is playing better than Tua Tagovailoa right now. The fourth-year man is in complete command of a Miami Dolphins offensive scheme that is playing to his strengths and getting his Olympic track team group of playmakers the ball in space. He’s not just checking the ball down or throwing quick screens to these guys, either. This Dolphins offense is attacking teams vertically down the field and he’s been showing off his best-in-the-league anticipation and ball placement, putting passes in the perfect spot for guys like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to run after the catch.

He’s done a much better job of not holding onto the ball too long this year. Considering his injury history, that’s vital to his long-term viability as a top-end starter. This offense shows no signs of slowing down coming off a 70-point performance against the Denver Broncos. Through three weeks of the season, he’s the pretty clear-cut NFL MVP.