1 |
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His stunts are always fun, but he also protects the ball quite well compared to the start of last season. Mahomes really works like he’s playing another sport, taking any arm angle known to man to kick the ball at the right time. |
2 |
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The biggest key for him heading into the playoffs is to stay healthy. A bulldozer on the ground and a rocket in the air, it feels like a shoo-in to fight Mahomes for the AFC title. But that requires being smart with your own body. |
3 |
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It hasn’t been pretty in Green Bay, and it could stay that way for a while. But Rodgers threads the needle when he needs it, single-handedly raising a mid-level supporting cast. Imagine if they find a way to add a receiver at some point. |
4 |
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With a battered line and a battered receiving body, Brady didn’t retreat but instead stepped up, making all the throws to keep Tampa Bay afloat. Like Rodgers, he may not come on the attack until later, but his poise alone ensures the Bucs stay alive. (+1) |
5 |
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The young gun has withstood injuries and defensive slip-ups from the Chargers, not to mention his own bruised ribs, to remain one of the most consistent and gifted pocket passers in the NFL. For now, Brady and Rodgers are given a slight nod because of their clutch touch. (-1) |
6 |
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He also can’t play defense or the Ravens could be undefeated. In a sloppy, rain-soaked loss in Week 4, Jackson still pulled a rabbit out of his hat as he showed off his unparalleled pocket speed. It’s a walking highlight reel. |
seven |
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Of the young QBs up top, he feels the most likely to climb. After a rocky start to the year, Burrow is re-establishing himself as a point guard, his quick release behind a slowly improving line ensuring Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins stay fed. |
8 |
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With each passing week, Hurts asserts himself more as the face of the franchise. One week, he crosses the contact on the goal line. Another, he broadcasts on deep shots to AJ Brown. It quickly looks like the whole package. (+2) |
9 |
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Throwing with a sore elbow behind a battered O-line, he hurt the Rams as often as he helped them when under pressure. But his track record suggests that with time and better health around him, he can still run. (-1) |
ten |
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Russ had some of his best shots of the year against the Raiders in the loss. The entire offensive setup is still fragile, and he’s relying too much on fourth-quarter heroism to mask it. Can they put it all together, and if so, when? (+1) |
11 |
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Murray makes at least a few “wow” plays every game, either as a fast foot scrambler or a tight window thrower. But like Arizona, it is also very scattered. The athleticism is there, but can you still trust it? (-2) |
12 |
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Cousins, who did just enough lacing to his talented receiver punch to beat the Saints in London, looks more like a 14th or 15th best starter, bloated by a shortage of clutch veterans after the top flight . |
13 |
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New week, same story: Carr’s enthusiasm and the occasional critical time bullet will always keep his team scrappy, but he’s too rarely the reason they’re real. He has a massive test coming up against Mahomes and the Chiefs. |
14 |
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With Derrick Henry once again gaining strength as a workhorse, Tannehill has settled in, making enough timely pitches to keep Tennessee atop the dreadful AFC South. For better or for worse, it’s best to play a background role. (+2) |
15 |
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It’s only fitting that it’s right next to Tannehill, as they’re quite similar functionally: make the plays in front of you, and stay away otherwise. Jimmy G did his job in primetime in Week 4, allowing Deebo Samuel to do the heavy lifting. (+2) |
16 |
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He’s still a promising player with plenty of drive on the ball, but after five turnovers in the Philadelphia rain, he still has some way to go in terms of rock protection. (-2) |
17 |
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Back from the dead! Although much of Goff’s production came from the back, he made it work with any passing target combo, allowing the Lions to stay close in each of their games despite a porous defense . Again, Goff reminds us that with a solid line, he can make all the throws. (+3) |
18 |
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It’s a multi-faceted problem in Indianapolis: Ryan is getting older and immobile, but he also has a bad line and receiving body. He has the mental resolve to stay in there, but it’s probably going to get worse before it gets better with this setup. |
19 |
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The same problems continue to plague him, for what seems to be the third year in a row. Wentz can throw a pretty ball, but he’s proven he can’t control his penchant for forcing the ball when things are falling apart around him. |
20 |
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His resume suggests he’s an anomaly, but every week as Seattle’s QB1 he’s been both efficient and dynamic. Among active regular starters, only Jalen Hurts is averaging more yards per attempt this year. (+2) |
21 |
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Best suited coming off the bench, Teddy is more conservative than this year’s version of Tua Tagovailoa, but it helps that he has Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to feed. |
22 |
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The local Pittsburgh hero is officially in the saddle after replacing Mitch Trubisky. His unwavering pocket confidence will surely lead to more picks, but there’s a lot to like about his ball placement, hard running and general awareness. |
23 |
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He may not have the physical gifts of Dak Prescott, but Rush did almost everything right as a substitute. Not only does he take care of the ball, but he also knows how to choose his spots by making it float on the field. A truly impressive backup story. (+3) |
24 |
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At this point, the only reason Fields isn’t a top-five starter here is because his sheer athleticism demands that we consider his upside. No, the Bears haven’t prepared him well, but his efficiency in the air is not at all reliable. (-1) |
25 |
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There’s a reason he made a career as a substitute. He’s got an adequate arm and may be the placeholder for a first-run team, but he’s just not accurate enough to win over long stretches. (-1) |
26 |
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Fresh out of rehab, Wilson was ugly but resistant to the Jets’ anger at the Steelers. His athleticism is still apparent, but the question remains: can he hit the easy throws and make smart decisions? |
27 |
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While Jameis Winston was still struggling with back pain, Dalton is thinking of staying under center after giving the Vikings a hard time. For a start or three, you can do worse. |
28 |
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With each game, the ex-Browns QB seems to be getting closer to a bench. He misses far too many shots to be a long-term answer, and the only reason he’ll likely stay put (for now) is because Sam Darnold is injured. (-3) |
29 |
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He has the speed, and somehow his attack found the end zone more than expected. But there’s no rhyme or reason to his work in the air, which matters a lot in 2022. |
30 |
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Lovie Smith’s team has actually been competitive all year. But Mills, who was standing like a rookie in a bad spot, struggles to control the ball when he absolutely must. (-3) |
31 |
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The stocky rookie showed a lot of grit as he replaced Brian Hoyer against the Packers. He’s likely to replace Mac Jones in Week 5, and another solid outing will confirm him as a promising No. 2 in New England. |
32 |
David Webb
New York Giants QB
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Daniel Jones has a bad ankle on a first offense and his replacement, Tyrod Taylor, suffers a concussion. That likely leaves Webb filling Brian Daboll’s emergency QB role. |