Quarterback Rankings Heading Into Week 10

In a year of poor quarterback play, Week 9 brought something of a reprieve. Burrow posted a 90.4 PFF passing grade as the Cincinnati Bengals shredded the Carolina Panthers. Trevor Lawrence and Tua Tagovailoa also had 87.0 or better grades. Jackson and Justin Fields shined on the ground while Patrick Mahomes accounted for 500 total yards.

Bad quarterback play did come in droves, though, as six starters posted an overall grade below 50.0. Josh Allen and Davis Mills posted passing grades in the 40s before salvaging the day with competent rushing performances. P.J. Walker had the performance of the year in Week 7 only to have a disastrous half followed by being benched in Week 9.

Let’s get to this week’s quarterback power rankings:

Biggest Climber:

A handful of quarterbacks jumped at least five spots, but there are two major contributing factors. First, two of the top six quarterbacks are on bye this week, leaving a vacuum to push quarterbacks up the list. Second, this week’s edition has a different author with slightly different views. Justin Herbert, Kirk Cousins, and Geno Smith had unspectacular weeks, but they ride the outstanding factors into higher ranks. Derek Carr does a similar dance from lower on the totem pole.

However, Justin Fields was deserving a true jump in the rankings. He still has some issues as a passer, but he has been special with the ball in his hands the last few weeks. The fumbles crop up from time to time, but Fields has been terrific moving forward. He has earned a pair of 91.9 or better PFF rushing grades, helping his overall offensive grade.

Fields looks much more comfortable than he was earlier in the season. The Chicago Bears are letting Fields play his game and permit him to have as many as 42 dropbacks in a game. He has turned 46 dropbacks into scrambles already, but the Bears are letting him show his skills as a player rather than confining him to a box.

The yardage totals may never be there, similar to Lamar Jackson, but Fields. has a big-time throw in six straight games after zero through three weeks. Similarly, he has eight touchdowns to two interceptions in the last five games. The future is quite bright in Chicago.

Biggest Faller:

Numerically, Davis Mills is this week’s skydiving act. However, part of the fall is due to seven returning quarterbacks, and part is due to a change in the author of the article. Mills was mediocre against a tough Philadelphia Eagles defense. While he did throw two touchdowns, he averaged under five yards per attempt and had a PFF passing grading of 49.4.

Other big falls include Jared Goff and Taylor Heinicke who had eerily similar games. They completed just under 54% of their throws for around 140 yards, two passing touchdowns, and an interception. They both also posted PFF passing grades in the 40s. Heinicke cost his team a win with a horrendous interception while Goff only led the Lions to 15 points in their victory.

Among the “good” quarterbacks, Kyler Murray is the biggest loser this week. He averaged 4.9 yards per attempt in a losing effort against the Seattle Seahawks. While he had zero interceptions, PFF graded him with four turnover-worthy plays, leaving him with an overall grade of 43.9, a rushing grade of 30.0, and a fumbling grade of 19.2.