Who is the best quarterback in the NFL? Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen are widely viewed as two of the best players in football. While they set an elite standard for quarterback play, our 2022 NFL QB rankings capture how the top 20 quarterbacks perform every week. Updated weekly throughout the season, here are our top-20 NFL QB rankings, with Matthew Stafford, Kyler Murray, and Russell Wilson disappearing from the list as of late.
Related: Weekly Fantasy Football rankings 2022
NFL QB Rankings countdown from 20-1
20. Mike White, New York Jets
We would have never guessed Mike White would have ever made this list when the season began, but he’s been leaps and bounds better than Zach Wilson. In a typical season, White wouldn’t crack the top 20, but poor QB play plus injuries have changed the outlook. As for White, he got banged up a bit against Buffalo, but as long as he can go in Week 15, he gets a juicy matchup against Detroit, who allows the second-most points per game in the NFL.
19. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Brock Purdy stats | 4/2 | 461 (6.9 YPA) | 67.2% | 59.5 |
Alright, so maybe Mr. Irrelevant is relevant after all. When Jimmy Garoppolo went down, many counted the 49ers out, but credit to their locker room, who never had a doubt that the seventh-round rookie in Purdy could hold his own. He’s done that and then some through two games, but if Deebo Samuel misses a significant amount of time, the 49ers will ask even more out of the 262nd pick.
18. Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Ryan Tannehill stats | 13/5 | 2,371 (7.8 YPA) | 65% | 74.7 |
After throwing three interceptions in Tennessee’s playoff loss a season ago, Tannehill’s thrown just five picks in ten games since. But it’s not like he’s been afraid to sling it downfield, as the Titans QB is tied for second place in the NFL in yards per attempt. Most importantly, Tannehill’s been able to keep the Titans in playoff contention, but just barely.
Yet once again, we saw what happens when Tannehill can’t generate enough scoring plays, losing in a blowout to Philadelphia, where he had a total of 175 yards. He didn’t fare much better against Jacksonville, delivering a third consecutive loss. If Tannehill can’t pull out a win soon, we could see the Malik Willis era begin.
17. Daniel Jones, New York Giants
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Daniel Jones stats | 12/4 | 2,534 548 (5 TD rush) |
66% (6.8 YPA) | 68.3 |
Despite facing less-than-ideal MetLife winds, yet playing the worst defense in football, Danny Dimes posted a 390-yard day in Week 12. He kept up that strong effort by putting up 271 yards against Washington, but there weren’t enough touchdowns to get either win. The Giants are 7-5-1, and the former Duke QB is playing smart football.
We’d love to see Jones with a viable No. 1 receiver, but despite the obstacles in his way, he managed to post the highest passer rating of any other NFL QB this season (153.3) in the win over Houston. Jones had his second-highest completion rate of the season in the tie over Washington, who he takes on again this week.
Related: Daniel Jones out to prove he’s not the chink in the New York Giants’ armor
16. Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Derek Carr stats | 20/10 | 3,117 (7.2 YPA) | 62% | 69.5 |
The first 13 games of Carr operating the Josh McDaniels offense haven’t been great, but the Raiders have also dealt with a number of injuries to their receiving corps. The Davante Adams connection is alive and well, but even the two-time All-Pro receiver is near his career-low catch rate, which was nowhere near the expectation.
Carr is playing for his job in 2023 at this point, but if that’s the case, he’s done well, leading three consecutive gutsy performances in clutch time before letting the Baker Mayfield-led Rams look more polished than a QB who’s spent all season in the same system. It doesn’t get any easier in Week 15 against a top-ten Bill Belichick-coached Patriots defense.
Related: If you’re a fan of the Raiders, check out #RaiderNation rumors, rankings, and news here.
15. Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Justin Fields stats | 13/10 | 1,896 905 (8 TD rush) |
61.7% (7.5 YPA) | 72.8 |
Now that the Chicago Bears are empowering their young second-year QB by allowing him to use his mobility to his advantage, Fields has flourished. With the adjustment, Fields quickly broke an NFL record for the most rushing yards by a QB in a single game in Week 9.
We’re also seeing him step up as a passer, completing 68.3% of his passes in his last four starts. Fields has quickly emerged as possibly the best running QB in football, and we can’t wait to see what he has in store once he gets a better cast of receivers and a more consistent line up front. Battling injuries, Fields now has had an extra week to heal before taking on the playmaking Philadelphia secondary.
Related: NFL Sunday Ticket – Pricing, how to buy, and its future
14. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Dak Prescott stats | 14/9 | 1,847 (7.4 YPA) | 66.9% | 72.1 |
Prescott caught fire against Minnesota, finishing with a near career-best 88% completion rate while posting 40 points on the board. Two weeks later, Prescott’s Cowboys put up an NFL-high 52 points against a top-10 Colts passing defense. Having scored 24 or more points in each start since Prescott’s return, topping that mark should be an easy feat against Jacksonville.
13. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Don’t count out Brady just yet. Even at 45, he’s still doing his thing. Brady is far from posting video game numbers, but that’s never been his style. We’ve seen more errant throws, but it’s not like he’s tossing the game away with turnovers for the most part.
Brady couldn’t handle the pressure of heading back home, taking on the NFL’s best defense, and it led to his fewest yards per attempt (4.6) of the season. With his back against the ropes, Brady now takes on Cincinnati’s above-average defense, yet they lost their top pass rusher, so there’s hope for TB12.
12. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
| TD:INT | Passing yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Aaron Rodgers stats | 22/9 | 2,864 (6.8 YPA) | 64.3% | 76.9 |
Defending his MVP award has not gone well for Rodgers. The Green Bay quarterback hasn’t been on the same page with his receivers, but even then, aside from Christian Watson’s sudden emergence, his pass-catchers aren’t as explosive as Davante Adams was. Rodgers is on pace for new career lows in passing yardage. The Packers may have won in Week 13, but with Rodgers dealing with injuries to his thumb and ribs, it feels like only a matter of time before he’s shut down for the year.
Instead, Rodgers takes on a Rams defense that has allowed two 300-yard passers in the past three games.
11. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Jared Goff stats | 22/7 | 3,352 (7.5 YPA) | 65.3% | 64.4 |
Goff has had his usual ups and downs, but he’s been up as of late. The former No. 1 pick suddenly caught fire with three consecutive multi-touchdown performances, and he hasn’t thrown an interception since Week 9.
He kept that effort up in Week 14 against the worst passing defense in football, where Goff had his fourth 300-yard game of the season. The story could be different against the Jets, who boast a pair of cornerbacks that play feisty and have a tendency to make big plays.
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Top 10 NFL QB Rankings
10. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Kirk Cousins stats | 20/9 | 3,358 (6.9 YPA) | 65.5% | 72.7 |
It’s a new year, but the story stays the same. Kirko Chains, Kirk Thuggins — whatever you want to call him, has been up and down in 2022. When he’s not facing constant pressure, Cousins has mostly been on point in the North Star state, helping form a dynamite duo with Justin Jefferson, who’s accounted for 44% of Cousins’ yardage total this season.
After posting the seventh 400-yard passing day of his career, Captain Kirk now sails back home to attack a top-five Colts pass defense as Minnesota seeks to clinch the NFC North.
Related: Overpaid or underrated: 2022 outlook for Vikings QB Kirk Cousins
9. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Trevor Lawrence stats | 20/6 | 3,202 (7.0 YPA) | 66.2% | 70 |
Just 23 years old, Lawrence started the year strong, appearing to make major strides in his second NFL season. Lawrence came back down to earth in the weeks that followed, but he then began trending back up, completing 76.8% of his passes from Weeks 9-12.
It’s not hard to see the Jaguars QB learning with each start, and his comeback win against Baltimore just might be his best performance yet as a pro. Lawrence is getting closer to reaching his potential, even if it’s taken a bit longer than we expected. A week after completing just 54.8% of his passes against Detroit, Lawrence put forth another incredible effort, with 375 yards and four touchdowns. He’s on the brink of becoming great, but upcoming tests against the Cowboys and Jets’ playmaking secondaries will be big.
8. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Lamar Jackson stats | 17/7 | 2,242 764 (3 TD rush) |
62.3% (6.9 YPA) | 85.2 |
One of the most dangerous running QB threats in football, Jackson was on track for another fantastic season on the ground prior to his Week 13 injury. He hasn’t been as great as a passer, where his completion percentage has taken a slight hit. But he’s also pretty much all the Ravens have on offense, aside from Mark Andrews, who’s been banged up as well. When healthy, Jackson’s been good but not quite MVP-level great in 2022.
7. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Justin Herbert stats | 21/7 | 3,706 (6.6 YPA) | 67.6% | 76.4 |
In the midst of his third season, Herbert leads the NFL in 50+ yard air distance completions since 2020, meaning even if you have the Chargers backed up, defenders can never relax because the next one might sail over your head.
But we’re already impressed with his physical abilities. At this point, we want to see Herbert in the playoffs, yet the Chargers have beaten just one team that’s .500 or better in 2022, which came in Week 14. If his receivers can stay healthy, we might finally see the Herbert we’ve all been waiting for this season, as we witnessed against Miami. He should be able to dismantle the Titans, who have the NFL’s second-worst pass defense.
Check out our latest fantasy football rankings
6. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Geno Smith stats | 25/8 | 3,433 (8.0 YPA) | 71.5% | 84.2 |
The biggest surprise of the 2022 NFL season, sure, Smith is a former second-round pick, but he’s never played like one. Until now. Smith’s leading the NFL in completion rate, with the Seahawks performing as a top-five offense. It’s no longer a question of if he can keep up his incredible play. It’s more a matter of how good the 32-year-old can be, starting for just the third year in his career.
Facing the stars of the LA Rams defense, Smith didn’t blink, racking up a season-high 367 passing yards, including a clutch game-winning throw in an extremely tight window in the red zone. Smith couldn’t maintain momentum against Carolina, throwing two interceptions for the first time this season. Expect more struggles, taking on the NFL’s best defense in Week 15.
5. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Tua Tagovailoa stats | 22/5 | 3,004 (8.7 YPA) | 65.5% | 90.4 |
Playing in a high-powered offense that features two 1,000-yard receivers and another in Mike Gesicki, who’s not far behind in ability, Tagovailoa will have no trouble staying a top-ranked NFL QB this season.
But his effort against San Francisco won’t help, where Tagovailoa completed a season-low 54.6% of his passes and had multiple turnovers (three) for just the second time this season. He followed that performance up with another dud against Los Angeles, completing a career-low 35.7% of his passes in his worst start of the season.
Related: Tua Tagovailoa talks about his ‘deep balls’ growing a lot in 2022
4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Joe Burrow stats | 27/9 | 3,685 (7.8 YPA) | 68.1% | 88 |
Not only has Burrow’s offensive line been inconsistent, he had to manage without his top receiver for four weeks with Ja’Marr Chase sidelined. But Joe Cool responded well, putting 35 or more points on the board in two of the three wins. When the Bengals are clicking, there are few quarterbacks better than the former LSU superstar.
In Week 13, Burrow slayed Mahomes and the Chiefs for the third time in his career, remaining undefeated against Andy Reid’s crew. He then beat the Browns for the first time as well in a mixed performance. Next up is a matchup against Tom Brady, who has a top-10 pass defense by his side.
3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Josh Allen stats | 26/11 | 3,553 628 (6 TD rush) |
63.8% (7.56 YPA) | 90.8 |
Leading the way for several weeks, Allen has slipped in our NFL QB rankings as of late, thanks to a recent string of red zone interceptions. At his best, there may not be a better-combined runner/passer in football, but we haven’t seen Allen in top form in recent time. While his decision-making could improve, the Buffalo QB still has an elite skill set.
If he wants to climb back up, Allen will have to best his Week 3 performance, where he racked up 447 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Miami, giving him a chance at revenge in Week 15. Then again, catching up to Hurts may not be possible this year.
See where Josh Allen ranks in our NFL top 100 player rankings
2. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Jalen Hurts stats | 22/3 | 3,157 686 (10 TD rush) |
68% (8.1 YPA) | 87 |
Hurts went from a quarterback who needed to prove he was capable of holding down the gig to establishing himself as a Pro Bowl talent in his second full season as a starter. A second-round pick in 2020, the Eagles struck gold with the Alabama quarterback, but no one ever expected Hurts to be a top-ranked QB in the NFL.
Hurts’ season in 2022 is reminiscent of Jackson’s MVP year in 2019, only Hurts won’t have nearly as many passing touchdowns or rushing yards, but he will finish with more passing yards and rushing touchdowns. Most importantly, the Eagles are the first team to clinch a division spot this season. Hurts is a bonafide MVP candidate and has a chance for a big day against Chicago.
1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Patrick Mahomes stats | 33/11 | 4,160 (8.1 YPA) | 65.8% | 91.4 |
Even when he’s not doing his best Air Jordan impression, Mahomes is simply magical. The former MVP has the ability to put up 400-yard performances on a weekly basis, and he is just shy of being on pace to break the NFL’s single-season passing yardage record. It will only take one big day to get him back on track.
We saw big numbers, even against a top-notch Denver defense, but he also threw three interceptions for the third time in his career. Mahomes will be back to posting video game numbers against a woeful Houston defense. So far, Mahomes is looking like the MVP frontrunner, but Hurts is closing the gap.
Check out our latest NFL defense rankings and how they impact fantasy QBs
This article was originally published on Sportsnaut.com and is republished here with permission.
