In Week 9, many signal-callers struggled including Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Dak Prescott. It was a week of bad play in the NFL quarterback rankings.
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
Trevor Siemian
QB New Orleans Saints
2021 stats: 408 yards | 58.6 comp % | 3 TD | 0 INT | 5.8 YPA | 36.2 QBR
LW: 32
The Saints are going to need to win with defense. Siemian and Taysom Hill are backups, but nothing more.
31
Tyrod Taylor
QB Houston Texans
2021 stats: 656 yards | 63.2 comp % | 3 TD | 3 INT | 7.5 YPA | 44.5 QBR
LW: NA
Taylor came back after missing two months but was awful against the Dolphins, throwing a pair of ugly interceptions in a loss to the one-win Dolphins.
30
Jacoby Brissett
QB Miami Dolphins
2021 stats: 1,127 yards | 64.4 comp % | 5 TD | 4 INT | 5.6 YPA | 54.9 QBR
LW: NA
Brissett is the epitome of a conservative, backup quarterback. We’ll see if he gets another start on Thursday night.
29
Sam Darnold
QB Carolina Panthers
2021 stats: 1,986 yards | 59.5 comp % | 7 TD | 11 INT | 6.5 YPA | 35.8 QBR
LW: 23
Maybe Adam Gase wasn’t the problem. Darnold threw three more interceptions, and Carolina has to be running out of patience.
28
Mike White
QB New York Jets
2021 stats: 702 yards | 72.7 comp % | 5 TD | 4 INT | 8.0 YPA | 60.5 QBR
LW: 27
White has been shockingly good, and it appears he’ll get another start this weekend against the Bills.
27
Jared Goff
QB Detroit Lions
2021 stats: 1,995 yards | 66.9 comp % | 8 TD | 6 INT | 6.5 YPA | 30.4 QBR
LW: 26
Goff was great this week, mostly because he didn’t play.
26
Justin Fields
QB Chicago Bears
2021 stats: 1,282 yards | 59.5 comp % | 4 TD | 8 INT | 6.3 YPA | 23.2 QBR
LW: 31
The Bears got ridiculously screwed in Pittsburgh by the officials. It takes away from Fields, who was brilliant for Chicago, throwing for 291 yards on 10.0 yards per attempt. Great showing.
25
Taylor Heinicke
QB Washington Football Team
2021 stats: 1,928 yards | 63.9 comp % | 11 TD | 9 INT | 7.0 YPA | 41.8 QBR
LW: 24
See Goff.
Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports
24
Trevor Lawrence
QB Jacksonville Jaguars
2021 stats: 1,821 yards | 59.5 comp % | 8 TD | 9 INT | 6.2 YPA | 35.8 QBR
LW: 22
Somehow, Lawrence did nothing and the Jaguars beat the Bills. However, in fairness, the No. 1 overall pick avoided turnovers, which is a great step.
23
Ben Roethlisberger
QB Pittsburgh Steelers
2021 stats: 1,986 yards | 65.1 comp % | 10 TD | 4 INT | 6.6 YPA | 41.6 QBR
LW: 21
Roethlisberger should be getting his AARP card in the mail any day now. His 42-yard deep ball to James Washington was in the air for roughly 23 minutes.
22
Jalen Hurts
QB Philadelphia Eagles
2021 stats: 1,981 yards | 61.5 comp % | 11 TD | 4 INT | 7.3 YPA | 49.4 QBR
LW: 20
Hurts was terrific against the Chargers, but the Philadelphia defense made sure it wasn’t enough. The second-year man is showing signs of being a quality starter.
21
Daniel Jones
QB New York Giants
2021 stats: 2,059 yards | 64.8 comp % | 8 TD | 5 INT | 7.0 YPA | 45.4 QBR
LW: 18
Jones is largely avoiding the big mistakes that have marked his career, but the big plays aren’t there for Big Blue.
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
20
Jimmy Garoppolo
QB San Francisco 49ers
2021 stats: 1,754 yards | 65.3 comp % | 8 TD | 5 INT | 8.2 YPA | 48.9 QBR
LW: 16
If the 49ers aren’t turning to Trey Lance now, then when? The veteran has been mediocre and at 3-5 with little playoff hope, why not make the switch?
19
Teddy Bridgewater
QB Denver Broncos
2021 stats: 2,163 yards | 70.2 comp % | 14 TD | 5 INT | 7.6 YPA | 50.5 QBR
LW: 19
Bridgewater was terrific against the Cowboys, helping Denver shock Dallas in its building. The Broncos are 5-4 and getting healthier. They need Bridgewater to continue his steady play.
18
Baker Mayfield
QB Cleveland Browns
2021 stats: 1,917 yards | 66.7 comp % | 8 TD | 3 INT | 8.5 YPA | 44.4 QBR
LW: 17
In his first week without Odell Beckham, Mayfield threw for 218 yards and two touchdowns on 10.4 yards per attempt. Really nice week for Mayfield and the Browns, both of whom needed it.
17
Mac Jones
QB New England Patriots
2021 stats: 2,135 yards | 68.0 comp % | 10 TD | 7 INT | 7.1 YPA | 49.0 QBR
LW: 13
Jones has been under fire for his controversial play against Brian Burns, but in terms of quarterback play, he was very pedestrian, throwing for 139 yards with a touchdown and interception. No team asks less of its signal-caller than New England.
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16
Ryan Tannehill
QB Tennessee Titans
2021 stats: 2,145 yards | 66.1 comp % | 11 TD | 8 INT | 7.4 YPA | 61.6 QBR
LW: 12
Tannehill threw for 143 yards on 5.3 yards per attempt against the Rams, and the Titans blew Los Angeles out, 28-16. It was a bizarre game, and Tannehill essentially got a bye week.
15
Kirk Cousins
QB Minnesota Vikings
2021 stats: 2,140 yards | 68.2 comp % | 16 TD | 2 INT | 7.1 YPA | 55.3 QBR
LW: 11
Cousins’ stats are always solid, but the film shows a player who leaves far too many yards on the field. This was true against the Ravens, whether it was line calls or missed throws.
14
Matt Ryan
QB Atlanta Falcons
2021 stats: 2,157 yards | 69.4 comp % | 15 TD | 6 INT | 7.2 YPA | 58.4 QBR
LW: 15
Ryan was fantastic against the Saints, throwing for 343 yards (11.2 YPA) and a pair of touchdowns in a wild 27-25 win. Atlanta is 4-4 and heads to Dallas for a revenge game with Dan Quinn.
13
Joe Burrow
QB Cincinnati Bengals
2021 stats: 2,497 yards | 68.2 comp % | 20 TD | 11 INT | 8.7 YPA | 48.8 QBR
LW: 10
The interceptions need to cease. Burrow now leads the league with 11, and as teams clamp down on rookie star receiver Ja’Marr Chase over the past few weeks, the youngster has really struggled to adjust.
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
12
Carson Wentz
QB Indianapolis Colts
2021 stats: 2,198 yards | 63.3 comp % | 17 TD | 3 INT | 7.3 YPA | 59.1 QBR
LW: 14
Wentz lit up the Jets in Week 9, getting Indy to 4-5 and back in the mix. After struggling horribly in 2020, Wentz is having an excellent season for the Colts despite his weapons being banged up.
11
Patrick Mahomes
QB Kansas City Chiefs
2021 stats: 2,534 yards | 65.2 comp % | 20 TD | 10 INT | 7.0 YPA | 54.3 QBR
LW: 8
Mahomes falls out of the top 10 once again. He avoided a turnover for the first time since Week 1, but he looks awful. Bad reads and forced throws have turned him into a sub-par player this past month.
10
Derek Carr
QB Las Vegas Raiders
2021 stats: 2,565 yards | 67.3 comp % | 13 TD | 7 INT | 8.2 YPA | 53.8 QBR
LW: 7
Carr had his worst week against the Giants. He threw two interceptions to safety Xavier McKinney, including a telegraphed pick-six. Still, he’s worthy of a top-10 spot. Great year overall.
9
Josh Allen
QB Buffalo Bills
2021 stats: 2,236 yards | 65.5 comp % | 17 TD | 5 INT | 7.0 YPA | 57.5 QBR
LW: 6
Allen slides a bit after an ugly game against Jacksonville. While his offensive line was a disaster, Allen also threw two hideous interceptions, including one to his name counterpart which was a horrid decision. The Bills can’t run, so they depend heavily on Allen. He’s had too many down games.
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8
Dak Prescott
QB Dallas Cowboys
2021 stats: 2,045 yards | 69.4 comp % | 18 TD | 5 INT | 8.0 YPA | 53.6 QBR
LW: NA
Prescott came back from his calf injury and likely wishes he waited a week. The Cowboys got handled by the Broncos while the passing game struggled mightily. This week, the Falcons try their hand at slowing down one of the league’s top offenses.
7
Justin Herbert
QB Los Angeles Chargers
2021 stats: 2,350 yards | 66.1 comp % | 18 TD | 6 INT | 7.4 YPA | 64.1 QBR
LW: 9
Play the Eagles, put up numbers. It was Herbert’s turn this week, who after a pair of poor showings went 32-of-38 for 356 yards with two scores. Los Angeles needed it all in a last-second 27-24 win to move into first place of the AFC West.
6
Aaron Rodgers
QB Green Bay Packers
2021 stats: 1,894 yards | 67.1 comp % | 17 TD | 3 INT | 8.3 YPA | 66.9 QBR
LW: 5
Rodgers had a long week. Let’s just leave it at that.
5
Lamar Jackson
QB Baltimore Ravens
2021 stats: 2,209 yards | 65.0 comp % | 13 TD | 7 INT | 8.3 YPA | 58.0 QBR
LW: 4
Jackson had another bizarre game, but he makes so many plays. Against the Vikings, he threw two interceptions and posted 6.5 yards per attempt. Yet he also went for three touchdowns and ran for 120 yards. He’s the toughest player to defend in the NFL.
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4
Russell Wilson
QB Seattle Seahawks
2021 stats: 1,196 yards | 72.0 comp % | 10 TD | 1 INT | 9.6 YPA | 63.3 QBR
LW: NA
With the Seahawks at 3-5 and headed to Lambeau Field, Wilson steps into one heck of a situation. Can he bring Seattle back from the brink and drive it to the playoffs?
3
Matthew Stafford
QB Los Angeles Rams
2021 stats: 2,771 yards | 68.2 comp % | 23 TD | 6 INT | 8.6 YPA | 69.8 QBR
LW: 1
Stafford had to drop a few spots. On Sunday night, he suffered his first truly poor game of 2021, throwing one pick-six and another interception which was returned inside the 5-yard line. It was a wreck of a showing.
2
Kyler Murray
QB Arizona Cardinals
2021 stats: 2,276 yards | 72.7 comp % | 17 TD | 7 INT | 8.9 YPA | 63.2 QBR
LW: 3
Murray didn’t play last week, but moved up because of Stafford’s effort. With the Cardinals at 8-1 and Murray enjoying a great year, he’s a solid MVP candidate.
1
Tom Brady
QB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2021 stats: 2,650 yards | 67.3 comp % | 25 TD | 5 INT | 7.7 YPA | 69.5 QBR
LW: 2
Brady is 44 years old. Make this make sense.