The 2024 QB class had itself per week, people.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix all acquired Ws. That stated, let’s not go loopy about the place they stand in these rankings. Solely certainly one of them made an enormous soar. (You possibly can in all probability guess who.) Certainly one of them truly fell considerably within the rankings. (You possibly can in all probability additionally guess who.) However it was an enchanting week for the children, who’re having combined success within the NFL.
Let’s dive into the place they landed among the many veterans on this week’s QB Inventory Market.
For these rankings, we weigh this week’s efficiency with 30% significance with 70% utilized to the remainder of 2024. One query holds significance above all others: What have you ever carried out in your crew these days?
1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (⬆️ 1)
The poor, poor Bengals need to determine what on this planet to do with Lamar this week.
There’s actually no reply.
Towards the Payments this previous weekend, he took precisely what the protection provided him. Each gap within the zone? Jackson discovered it. Each winnable matchup in man? Jackson discovered it. Each alternative to tuck and run? Jackson discovered it.
Lamar has been glorious to start out the season, even when the Ravens’ report (2-2) does not essentially replicate as a lot. It was totally potential — after the devastating loss to the Chiefs and ensuing upset loss to the Raiders — that Baltimore may open the season 0-4. However Jackson did what his critics have usually stated he does not: win massive video games. He beat Dallas. He beat Buffalo. On to Cincinnati.
2. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (⬆️ 4)
If Patrick Mahomes is not going to play like himself, I’ll search for traces of his sport in different gamers. And I used to be thrilled to seek out it in Brock Purdy in Week 4.
Sure, we’re speaking about the identical Brock Purdy.
Throughout the 49ers opening drive on Sunday, Purdy dropped again on third-and-9 from the Patriots’ 21 and the pocket collapsed. And though Purdy is not the largest quarterback, he bounced off linemen and refused to go down.
That is when his creativity kicked in.
He was rolling to his left and he pointed downfield to direct George Kittle into place. The tight finish was choosing up what Purdy was placing down — they labored collectively to transform the scramble drill. Purdy flipped the ball downfield whereas fading left and throwing proper. (That is a troublesome throw!) He positioned it in a protected spot the place it may solely be a completion or an incompletion. (That is a sensible throw!) Kittle dove to snag the ball and a primary down.
Not too shabby.
Purdy has the second-highest passing EPA (21.7) within the NFL. He is second in passing yards. He is even getting it carried out together with his legs, with eight first downs on 18 carries this 12 months. He has barely skipped a beat regardless of accidents to Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel. It did not assist to have Trent Williams and Brandon Aiyuk holding out from coaching camp. You possibly can see these now-settled contract disputes — and Aiyuk’s specifically — nonetheless having ripple results on this offense.
However Purdy has been the stabilizing presence on the heart of your complete crew, even when the 49ers have performed uncharacteristically sloppy soccer to start out the 12 months.
3. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings (⬆️ 1)
4. Josh Allen, Buffalo Payments (⬇️ 3)
5. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (⬆️ 2)
The rookie simply retains getting higher.
Washington has steadily put an increasing number of on Daniels’ plate each week. Just some weeks in the past, they have been spamming receiver screens. The coaching wheels have been on. This week, they did not simply take them off — they let Daniels hit 60 mph on the grime bike.
He’s enjoying with nuance within the pocket. He is not simply seeing open receivers; he is serving to them create separation with misleading eyes. All of the whereas, he is an absolute menace together with his legs. There is no such thing as a purpose why this rookie cannot prime this checklist over the subsequent few weeks.
6. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (⬆️ 5)
7. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (⬆️ 13)
8. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (⬆️ 4)
9. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (⬇️ 1)
10. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (↔)
11. Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints (⬆️ 11)
12. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets (⬇️ 9)
13. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (⬆️ 2)
Did Goff simply pitch an ideal sport?
Wait, which sport am I writing about?
He is been having a nasty 12 months. He is put up lots of mediocre movie and statistics. However my goodness, he was cooking the Seahawks on Monday evening. I imply the counting stats are boring, usually.
However take a look at these!
18/18
292 yards
2 TDs
155.8 QB score
After he caught a rating within the third quarter, Goff was the Lions’ receiving touchdowns chief — tied with three different gamers. And I had deliberate to make enjoyable of him for that (as a result of, in fact, it confirmed that he had thrown solely three touchdowns this 12 months), however then he threw a 70-yarder to Jameson Williams, who in flip turned Detroit’s new receiving touchdowns chief. And the joke was lifeless.
Goff is placing collectively a stinker of a season. However I’ve gotta hand it to him: He balled out in Week 4.
14. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (⬇️ 1)
15. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (⬇️ 10)
16. Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers (⬆️ 5)
17. Jordan Love, Inexperienced Bay Packers (new)
18. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (⬇️ 4)
19. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (⬇️ 1)
20. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (⬆️ 4)
You have in all probability seen by now the video of Herbert smashing his helmet on the sideline throughout the crew’s loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
As a result of Herbert would by no means admit what, precisely, made him wish to Hulk Smash, I’ve determined to make a listing of issues that could possibly be irking him.
1) His finest receiver is a rookie.
2) He’s in the identical division as Patrick Mahomes.
3) He’s in the identical division as Andy Reid.
4) He has 91 move makes an attempt this 12 months (twenty eighth amongst QBs).
5) His EPA is 6.9 (twenty sixth amongst QBs).
6) Jim Harbuagh is a hard-ass, so the argument that Herbert cannot make an impression on the sport if he does not get to throw the ball will not go very far together with his coach.
7) Mike Williams is a Jet.
8) Keenan Allen is a Bear.
8) Patrick Mahomes is a Chief. (Oh wait, I stated that already. However that is how annoying it should be!)
10) Final, however definitely not least: Herbert is a Charger.
I get that quarterbacks can change a franchise. That is what Herbert was doing — till a collection of teaching modifications have left him powerless. A minimum of Herbert is profitable? Is that satisfying, even when he isn’t allowed to essentially play QB within the ways in which make him particular?
21. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons (⬇️ 12)
22. Daniel Jones, New York Giants (⬇️ 6)
23. Andy Dalton, Carolina Panthers (⬇️ 4)
24. Jacoby Brissett, New England Patriots (⬆️ 1)
25. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (⬆️ 1)
26. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (⬆️ 2)
Even within the fast sport, Williams is not all that fast.
Even when he is rifling the ball and exhibiting off his energy, he is missing in accuracy — generally throwing the ball 10 ft excessive or broad to an open receiver.
There may not have been a extra regarding second for Williams than within the third quarter this previous Sunday when he overthrew the ball to D.J. Moore. The receiver had ample separation. He’d overwhelmed the cornerback, and the security was dishonest to the unsuitable aspect of the sphere. For many passers, it was a landing ready to occur. Williams uncorked a bullet to Moore — that was totally uncatchable.
It is one factor for Williams to battle with anticipation throws. (And he is positively struggling there.) It is one other factor for him to battle to hit broad open receivers.
He is usually a hair too sluggish. Then he is a mile too quick.
However … However! When he is good, he is spellbindingly good.
There may not have been a extra spectacular second than when he hit Cole Kmet over the center within the fourth quarter. Williams zipped the ball over two defenders right into a gap within the protection the place solely Kmet may catch the ball. It was ridiculous.
There’s nonetheless hope. It is simply that he has a lot additional to go than we would anticipated.
27. Gardner Minshew, Las Vegas Raiders (↔)
28. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts (⬆️ 1)
29. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (⬇️ 6)
30. Will Levis, Tennessee Titans (↔)
31. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns (↔)
32. Tyler Huntley, Miami Dolphins (new)
Henry McKenna is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand spent seven years masking the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Observe him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.
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