Week 1 QB Index, Mahomes Not Top 3?

By: Josh Shippen, Sid Kalyani

Well here we are, every single offseason puff piece either glorifying or defaming all the quarterbacks shifted around in the league is about to be put to the test. Let’s take a look and see how they are performing as of week 1.

DISCLAIMER: This is only off of week 1, past games are not being taken into account so don’t whine when a certain Browns quarterback is not as high as you might expect.

1. Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers was certainly back to being himself after his “replacement” was drafted in the first round. If he plays like he did on Sunday every week, look for the Packers in the Super Bowl against Kansas City.

2. Russell Wilson

Granted it was the Falcons whose defense guzzled their daily dose of glue before the game but Russell Wilson and DK Metcalf look like a Brees/Thomas pairing in the making.

3. Lamar Jackson 

The former MVP did not disappoint, however the Browns did. Look for Jackson to still be great, but let’s wait until week 2 to shower more praise.

4. Patrick Mahomes

Mahomes being in 4 is a HUGE upset. He did not look like the best QB in the world on thursday, luckily he was still highly above average, and 100% able to wipe the Texans mosquitoes off of his windshield.

5. Ben Roethlisberger 

In a night where the Giants weren’t too competitive, Big Ben was able to have a nice easy start coming back from injury. Well he sure didn’t need it, Roethlisberger looked like his former self and then some

6. Matt Ryan

Can we just talk about the fact that in the first week of the NFL he leads the league in yards…

7. Deshaun Watson 

Watson being this low is an upset but we don’t know who he is this year, what with his offensive line giving up a mere 14 PRESSURES!!

8. Cam Newton 

Cam didn’t wow us with passing but 15/75 yards rushing and two touchdowns certainly helps us believe he might be back to his MVP days.

9. Drew Brees

Brees didn’t have the best of games with 18/30 and 160 yards, but he had two touchdowns and no picks, showing us he can take care of the football.

10. Josh Allen 

Allen was on fire in the first half, throwing for two touchdowns and running in for one. He has potential to be one the best QB’s lead the Bills to their first division title over the Patriots since like 1945 (or however long it’s been).

11. Kyler Murray

Kyler Murray looked pretty decent throwing the ball out there, but his legs were the real star of the show, helping his team comeback to beat the 49ers. 

12. Dak Prescott

Prescott continues to be the semi-consistent quarterback we have all come to know and love, throwing for 266 yards and a touchdown, but look for some 400 yard games, and some 3 interception games down the road for Prescott.

13. Gardner Minshew 

Minshew Mania lives! Someone should really let Gardner Mishew know that the Jaguars are trying to tank because I don’t think he is getting the message.

14. Jimmy Garoppolo

I don’t know that it’s fair to judge Garoppolo too much with a banged up WR core and Kittle getting injured mid game, but I’d say he’s what we thought he was. An above average quarterback who’s going to get the job done for Kyle Shanahan

15. Derek Carr

Carr didn’t have to do all that much in a game that was pretty much dominated by Josh Jacobs, but he didn’t throw the game away so let’s give him credit for being a perfectly average QB.

16. Jared Goff 

Goff had glimpses of his Super Bowl Llll run with 20/31, 275 yards passing, but he still has some rough spots that need to be taken care of.

HALFWAY THERE, WHO IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST?

17. Ryan Tannehill

People were trolling Ryan Tannehill about getting a huge contract and only handing the ball off to Derrick Henry, but he showed that he can throw the ball efficiently, with 249 yards and two touchdowns.

18. Carson Wentz 

Wentz has a similar problem to Deshaun Watson in that the offensive line really made it so we couldn’t take a proper look at the Eagles QB. Brace yourself for Wentz to get injured behind said line and for the beginning of the Nate Sudfeld experience.

19. Tom Brady

It’s almost like a 43 year old QB in a new system doesn’t really have what it takes anymore but won’t retire for whatever reason. Huh, who knew.

20. Kirk Cousins 

Let’s be clear on something, Cousins was not the reason for the Vikings getting absolutely stomped on on Sunday. You try playing against Aaron Rodgers when he literally looks like the best quarterback on the planet, I’d like to see you still drop 34 points.

21. Drew Lock 

Even with a banged up squad, Drew Lock had himself a pretty solid game, but he needs to take advantage of missed opportunities by the other team if this Broncos offense is going to be a force to be reckoned with.

22. Teddy Bridewater 

Bridgewater somewhat reminds me of Alex Smith, he’s not going to amaze you with how he carries the team on his back, but he is not going to be the reason your team is losing games. Sort of a rich man’s Andy Dalton.

23. Matthew Stafford

Stafford had a pretty good game with 242 yards and three touchdowns, but blowing a 23-6 lead in the fourth quarter shows why he is still not considered one of the best QB’s, even if his stats say something else. 

24. Dwayne Haskins

Dwyane Haskins didn’t do that bad against the Eagles, coming back from 17 down in the second quarter and scoring 27 unanswered points, but he can’t always rely on his defense to be that amazing every game.

25. Joe Burrow 

The 2020 No. 1 overall looked pretty good in his NFL debut, leading the Bengals all the way down and giving them a chance to tie the game. 

26. Daniel Jones 

I don’t think we know exactly why the Giants were so weirdly disconnected on Monday night, but Daniel Jones showed flashes. The offense just needs to start working together a little bit.

27. Phillip Rivers 

Not unlike about 10 of the Chargers games last year, Rivers showed that one it comes down to the very last play, it’s prime time to throw an interception.

28. Tyrod Taylor 

He’s exactly what we thought he was, a viable backup who is good for the locker room, but not necessarily good enough to be a starter. 

29. Mitch Trubisky 

Trubisky played less than two-quarters of good football, but it was enough to let the Bears squeak by and win the game. I wouldn’t count on Trubisky starting all 16 games but he is safe for now.

30. Sam Darnold 

Darnold didn’t look like he was seeing ghosts out against the Bills, but still needs to work on his game in order to fully develop as a passer.

31. Baker Mayfield 

I think someone slipped some butter on the Browns receivers gloves, but that doesn’t change the fact that Baker and the Browns looked embarrassing on Sunday.

32. Ryan Fitzpatrick

It’s Fitzpatrick come two weeks he’ll throw 7 touchdowns or something and then drop off the face of the planet for the rest of the season it’s what he does.