NFL quarterback rankings, Week 9: Here comes Derek Carr
After watching all of the NFL action on Sunday, it’s clear that 25-year-old Derek Car is coming for your Most Valuable Player votes.
The NFL is an ever-changing circus. Of course, this weekend didn’t disappoint. The Oakland Raiders continue to truck toward a playoff berth for the first time since 2002, and the Carolina Panthers finally won another game. In this space, let’s stick to the quarterbacks and their rankings midway through the season. If you missed last week’s rankings, here they are.
As always, these are based off this year’s play with a dash of historic context.
Oct 23, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) throws the football against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter at Levi
Blaine Gabbert Memorial Division
32. Colin Kaepernick
Until he can complete half his passes or look anything like a real NFL quarterback, he’s staying put.
Doug Johnson Division
31. Case Keenum
Keenum has no business being a starter in the NFL. Nothing personal against the guy, but he’s a decent backup and nothing more. His eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions tell us that.
30. Landry Jones
Jones might not be starting this week, depending on whether Ben Roethlisberger can come back or not. For now, we roll with Jones, who is a decent backup.
29. Ryan Fitzpatrick
Keeping with guys who should be backups… Fitzpatrick was 3-of-14 for 30 yards at halftime, against the Browns. He might be done for his career after this season.
Oct 23, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) reacts after a play in the second half against the Oakland Raiders at EverBank Field. Oakland Raiders won 33-16. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Mike Glennon Division
28. Blake Bortles
The man is becoming the King of Garbage Time. In fact, that’s his new nickname until otherwise noted. Garbage Time.
27. Tyrod Taylor
Taylor has really struggled this season after getting a long-term deal. Buffalo is 4-4, and Taylor is completing less than 60 percent of his throws while throwing for 1,480 yards in eight games.
26. Josh McCown
McCown is a stark upgrade over everything else we have seen in Cleveland. He’s a tough guy, a great teammate and a good backup. But as a starter? Leaves something to be desired.
25. Brock Osweiler
At this point, Houston is 5-3 but with no thanks to its offense. With nine touchdowns and as many interceptions, it’s been ugly for the $72 million man.
24. Trevor Siemian
Siemian threw a brutal pick-six last Sunday against the Chargers, but the Denver defense bailed him out. It’s hard to see Siemian winning games without a ton of help.
Stan Humphries Division
23. Carson Palmer
Palmer ranks ninth in the NFL with 2,068 passing yards, but his film shows a guy who is tentative and missing too many throws. He needs to be better.
22. Joe Flacco
Flacco is the only true starter who is averaging less than six yards per throw. This is not going to help the Ravens climb out of their 3-4 daze.
21. Ryan Tannehill
Tannehill is playing for the rest of his contract. Miami can move on from him with no damage after this season if he plays bad football. Can he get the engine purring?
20. Jameis Winston
Winston is really talented, but he still forces too many throws. This is why he has nine interceptions and is part of the reason the Buccaneers are 3-4. Still, he’s smart. He’ll learn.
19. Jay Cutler
Cutler is spending his last year in Chicago. The talent has always been there, but the results have been uneven. Can he play well down the stretch for this group?
Oct 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) walks off the field after a victory against the Minnesota Vikings at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles won 21-10. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Ron Jaworski Division
18. Carson Wentz
Wentz is dropping in the rankings because his throws are from here until the end of this sentence. The rookie has to stretch the field occasionally, or thing are going to get ugly.
17. Sam Bradford
Bradford is doing the job for the Vikings, but he’s mostly been a caretaker. At this point, Bradford has been the definition of average, and that’s why we find him here.
16. Marcus Mariota
Mariota lit up the Jaguars last week and continues to look like a kid on the rise. He needs to smooth out some rough edges, but 1,874 yards and 14 touchdowns are nothing to be upset with.
15. Alex Smith
Smith got all kinds of banged around in Indianapolis, but he appears healthy going into Sunday. This ranking is more about his ability to win, more than his average stats.
Ken Stabler Division
14. Cam Newton
Newton does so much for the Panthers, but he doesn’t go higher than 14th because of his 57 percent completion rate and six interceptions against just eight touchdowns.
13. Russell Wilson
Wilson is simply not the same player that he normally is. Most of that is because he’s hurt, and he’s playing behind a horrid offensive line.
12. Matthew Stafford
Stafford was quietly building a MVP resume, but things went south in Houston. Stafford is still having a nice year with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions, though.
11. Eli Manning
Manning will always throw interceptions that make you shake your head, but he can play. The younger Manning brother has 1,984 passing yards in seven games.
Oct 30, 2016; London, United Kingdom; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) scrambles during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports
Sonny Jurgensen Division
10. Kirk Cousins
Cousins has thrown for 2,454 yards, second only to Matt Ryan. At the end of this season, he is going to get paid eight figures.
9. Andy Dalton
Dalton had a tough game in London, despite decent stats. He was lucky to avoid multiple interceptions at the hands of Josh Norman. Still, Dalton easily remains a top-10 quarterback in the game.
8. Dak Prescott
Prescott doesn’t put up massive numbers, but he’s a winner and a leader. Sometimes, that goes much further than any pass can.
Troy Aikman Division
7. Andrew Luck
The Colts are horrendous, but Luck continues to look like a top-tier quarterback in his fifth year. At some juncture, the talent around him will cap his ceiling.
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6. Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers has quietly begun to play better football, despite Green Bay’s loss in Atlanta. Rodgers now has a 64 percent completion rate with 16 touchdowns.
Oct 30, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) passes in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Montana Division
5. Philip Rivers
Rivers, much like Luck, is bedeviled by those around him. Still, he has racked up 2,285 yards and 15 touchdowns halfway through the campaign. He will find himself in Canton one day.
4. Drew Brees
Brees helped the Saints to a huge win over the Seahawks on Sunday, continuing to rifle the ball all over the place. With nine games left for New Orleans, Brees has 2,366 yards and 18 touchdowns.
3. Derek Carr
Carr authored the 20th game in NFL history with 500 passing yards on Sunday, beating the Buccaneers. Carr has 2,321 yards and 17 touchdowns to three interceptions. The 25-year-old might be the leading candidate for the MVP right now.
2. Matt Ryan
Ryan continues to put up insane numbers. The Falcons’ signal-caller has a league-best 2,636 yards on 9.45 yards per attempt with 19 scores. He’s having a career year.
1. Tom Brady
Brady has 1,319 yards in four games with 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also is averaging 9.84 yards per throw with a completion rate north of 73 percent.
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