In a game defining their season, the Cincinnati Bengals watched young quarterback Joe Burrow take wing, destroying the Baltimore Ravens.
Our 2021 FanSided NFL quarterback rankings go live each Tuesday 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.
32
Ian Book
QB New Orleans Saints
2021 stats: 135 yards | 60.0 comp % | 0 TD | 1 INT | 6.8 YPA | 20.2 QBR
LW: NA
It might be time to put Book back on the shelf. I’m so sorry.
31
Mike Glennon
QB New York Giants
2021 stats: 766 yards | 55.1 comp % | 4 TD | 8 INT | 4.9 YPA | 18.6 QBR
LW: 32
If the Giants want to win some fans back, they should force Glennon to hold a retirement ceremony at the 50-yard line this week.
30
Tim Boyle
QB Detroit Lions
2021 stats: 264 yards | 68.4 comp % | 1 TD | 3 INT | 4.6 YPA | 17.7 QBR
LW: NA
Boyle somehow kept the Lions in the game in Atlanta, but couldn’t finish the deal. Nice effort, but he’s a backup to the hilt.
29
Drew Lock
QB Denver Broncos
2021 stats: 380 yards | 59.7 comp % | 1 TD | 2 INT | 6.1 YPA | 12.4 QBR
LW: NA
Remember when Lock was a preseason MVP darkhorse going into 2020? Good times.
28
Zach Wilson
QB New York Jets
2021 stats: 2,013 yards | 56.7 comp % | 7 TD | 11 INT | 6.1 YPA | 28.2 QBR
LW: 31
Wilson somehow posted the week’s highest QBR after throwing for 102 yards and a touchdown on 22 attempts.
27
Cam Newton
QB Carolina Panthers
2021 stats: 684 yards | 54.8 comp % | 4 TD | 5 INT | 5.4 YPA | 25.9 QBR
LW: 30
Retirement is looking better by the minute.
26
Josh Johnson
QB Baltimore Ravens
2021 stats: 638 yards | 67.1 comp % | 5 TD | 2 INT | 7.5 YPA | 52.2 QBR
LW: NA
Johnson has played quite well for two different teams this season as a backup. Well done, even in defeat.
25
Nick Foles
QB Chicago Bears
2021 stats: 250 yards | 68.6 comp % | 1 TD | 0 INT | 7.1 YPA | 44.5 QBR
LW: NA
Foles did a nice job in his audition for another job in another city in 2022.
Syndication: The Record
24
Trevor Lawrence
QB Jacksonville Jaguars
2021 stats: 3,225 yards | 58.7 comp % | 9 TD | 14 INT | 5.9 YPA | 32.5 QBR
LW: 26
If you can’t do anything against the Jets, it’s a red flag the size of Montana. Lawrence has had an awful situation around him, but this is a nightmare of a rookie season.
23
Davis Mills
QB Houston Texans
2021 stats: 2,200 yards | 66.6 comp % | 12 TD | 9 INT | 6.7 YPA | 31.9 QBR
LW: 28
Mills has absolutely outplayed most people’s expectations of the third-round rookie. He’s not spectacular, but he’s clearly an NFL quarterback with upside.
22
Ben Roethlisberger
QB Pittsburgh Steelers
2021 stats: 3,373 yards | 65.2 comp % | 20 TD | 8 INT | 6.6 YPA | 38.6 QBR
LW: 24
If the Steelers had anybody with an ounce of talent behind Roethlisberger, he’d be ushered onto the field ASAP. It’s hideous football.
21
Baker Mayfield
QB Cleveland Browns
2021 stats: 2,825 yards | 62.4 comp % | 15 TD | 11 INT | 7.3 YPA | 37.9 QBR
LW: 22
You can’t throw four interceptions in a two-point loss. It can’t happen. The Browns are going to be in the market for an upgrade.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
20
Taylor Heinicke
QB Washington Football Team
2021 stats: 3,052 yards | 64.8 comp % | 20 TD | 14 INT | 6.9 YPA | 43.7 QBR
LW: 21
Washington was crushed, Heinicke was benched, and the Football Team is finished after a quick revival following a 2-6 start.
19
Jalen Hurts
QB Philadelphia Eagles
2021 stats: 2,930 yards | 61.1 comp % | 16 TD | 9 INT | 7.2 YPA | 46.6 QBR
LW: 20
Hurts was hideous for much of the Giants game, and then torched the NFC’s worst team outside of Detroit. The Eagles win out, and they’re in.
18
Tua Tagovailoa
QB Miami Dolphins
2021 stats: 2,339 yards | 69.9 comp % | 15 TD | 9 INT | 7.1 YPA | 56.5 QBR
LW: 18
Tagovailoa is improving. He still plays a very vanilla game and will make the ludicrous mistakes, but he’s serviceable and getting better.
17
Matt Ryan
QB Atlanta Falcons
2021 stats: 3,555 yards | 67.9 comp % | 19 TD | 11 INT | 7.1 YPA | 48.6 QBR
LW: 17
Ryan might be the best quarterback nobody talks about. He has Kyle Pitts and a bunch of hood ornaments, and the Falcons are somehow 7-8.
Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
16
Jimmy Garoppolo
QB San Francisco 49ers
2021 stats: 3,494 yards | 68.0 comp % | 19 TD | 10 INT | 8.5 YPA | 53.8 QBR
LW: 14
With Garoppolo hurting, the Niners might be turning to Trey Lance in must-win games. Fascinating stuff.
15
Ryan Tannehill
QB Tennessee Titans
2021 stats: 3,327 yards | 66.7 comp % | 15 TD | 14 INT | 6.9 YPA | 52.9 QBR
LW: 16
Tannehill came alive in the second half against the Niners, finding A.J. Brown at will against a Niners team that refused to double him all night.
14
Mac Jones
QB New England Patriots
2021 stats: 3,313 yards | 67.2 comp % | 18 TD | 12 INT | 7.2 YPA | 51.5 QBR
LW: 12
The Patriots needed Jones’ best game on Sunday, and they got his worst. Tough moment for the rookie.
13
Russell Wilson
QB Seattle Seahawks
2021 stats: 2,639 yards | 64.9 comp % | 18 TD | 5 INT | 7.6 YPA | 47.7 QBR
LW: 13
Wilson might be playing his final games with the Seahawks over the next two weeks. What an odd scenario for the future Hall of Famer.
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
12
Carson Wentz
QB Indianapolis Colts
2021 stats: 3,230 yards | 62.8 comp % | 25 TD | 6 INT | 7.0 YPA | 59.8 QBR
LW: 15
Wentz has some awful moments, but he’s also capable of making any throw on the field. We’ve seen it all from him the past two games, both huge wins for the Colts.
11
Kirk Cousins
QB Minnesota Vikings
2021 stats: 3,971 yards | 66.4 comp % | 30 TD | 7 INT | 7.4 YPA | 50.8 QBR
LW: 10
Cousins is the master of putting up really quality stats, having enough good games to suck you in, and then playing poorly in far too many big spots.
10
Derek Carr
QB Las Vegas Raiders
2021 stats: 4,363 yards | 68.7 comp % | 20 TD | 12 INT | 7.8 YPA | 54.2 QBR
LW: 11
Carr wasn’t great against the Broncos, but he did enough save for one hideous interception to have the Raiders controlling their own playoff destiny.
9
Kyler Murray
QB Arizona Cardinals
2021 stats: 3,284 yards | 69.1 comp % | 21 TD | 10 INT | 8.1 YPA | 55.4 QBR
LW: 6
Either Murray is still hurt, or he’s having a horrific three-game stretch. The Cardinals need him to figure it out, and fast.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
8
Dak Prescott
QB Dallas Cowboys
2021 stats: 3,928 yards | 68.7 comp % | 29 TD | 10 INT | 7.4 YPA | 49.0 QBR
LW: 9
After playing through a mini-slump, Prescott exploded for more than 300 yards and four touchdowns in the first half against Washington. Slump over.
7
Justin Herbert
QB Los Angeles Chargers
2021 stats: 4,394 yards | 67.1 comp % | 33 TD | 14 INT | 7.6 YPA | 65.3 QBR
LW: 5
The truly great quarterback can’t lose to the Texans in Week 16 with everything on the line. Herbert is phenomenal, but it can’t happen. Quarterback wins aren’t a real stat, but he wears a huge portion of that debacle.
6
Joe Burrow
QB Cincinnati Bengals
2021 stats: 4,165 yards | 69.9 comp % | 30 TD | 14 INT | 8.7 YPA | 52.7 QBR
LW: 8
Burrow was out of his mind Sunday, propelling the Bengals to within one win of the AFC North title. The second-year star threw for 525 yards — fourth-most all time — while hanging 41 points on the outmatched Ravens.
5
Matthew Stafford
QB Los Angeles Rams
2021 stats: 4,339 yards | 66.9 comp % | 36 TD | 13 INT | 8.1 YPA | 63.7 QBR
LW: 3
Stafford was great on Monday night a few weeks ago against the Cardinals, and then has a mediocre game against the Seahawks before a brutal showing this weekend. He needs to be more consistent.
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
4
Josh Allen
QB Buffalo Bills
2021 stats: 4,048 yards | 65.0 comp % | 34 TD | 12 INT | 7.0 YPA | 60.5 QBR
LW: 7
Allen has put the Bills completely on his back. Completely. Buffalo’s pass rush is poor, the offensive line is hurting, the weapons are scattershot outside of Stefon Diggs and none of it matters because Allen is the best one-man show in the NFL.
3
Tom Brady
QB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2021 stats: 4,580 yards | 66.8 comp % | 37 TD | 11 INT | 7.2 YPA | 65.6 QBR
LW: 1
Brady had to fall a few spots. Yes, the Buccaneers hammered the Panthers, but he hasn’t done much in recent weeks. He’s still incredible and an MVP candidate, but the two men ahead of him are playing at a higher level right now.
2
Patrick Mahomes
QB Kansas City Chiefs
2021 stats: 4,310 yards | 66.1 comp % | 33 TD | 13 INT | 7.4 YPA | 59.1 QBR
LW: 4
Mahomes went for three touchdowns and better than 200 yards in the first half before being shut down in a blowout win over the Steelers. Twice in the past three games, Mahomes has been pulled very early. He could easily be at 4,500 yards and 35 touchdowns already.
1
Aaron Rodgers
QB Green Bay Packers
2021 stats: 3,689 yards | 68.0 comp % | 33 TD | 4 INT | 7.8 YPA | 67.8 QBR
LW: 2
Rodgers isn’t leading the league in any counting stat save for fewest interceptions, and yet he’s the MVP through 16 weeks. He’s leading the Packers to what appears to be the No. 1 seed and doing it with one true receiving threat. Another phenomenal year.