NFL QB Index, Week 5: Lamar Jackson rises to No. 1; Jayden Daniels, Geno Smith enter top 10

Rank

Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens · Year 7

It sure is frightening for other defenses when Derrick Henry gets going, because it makes defending Jackson that much more difficult. Jackson took full advantage of the Henry effect on Sunday night, running for 54 yards and a touchdown via red-zone misdirection that he made look far too easy. He also completed 13 of 18 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson layered a beauty between the second and third levels of coverage to Isaiah Likely and fired a rocket into a tight window to Nelson Agholor for a key gain. Jackson was rolling, so it’s no surprise Baltimore won easily. The Ravens are finding themselves, and if these kinds of performances become the norm, Jackson might win another MVP.

Rank

Josh Allen

Buffalo Bills · Year 7

Sunday night was a rough one for the Bills, putting Allen in an all-too-familiar place: trying to rescue Buffalo from defeat. Because the Bills quickly fell behind 21-3, the running game that had beautifully balanced the offense became a non-factor, forcing Allen to face obvious blitzes and attempt to play hero. He did once, launching an incredible pass less than a yard from the sideline to Khalil Shakir for a 52-yard gain, setting up Buffalo’s only TD. For most of the night, though, Allen was forced to hold off multiple defenders in order to get rid of passes. Week 4 provided the Bills with a large serving of humble pie, but the broader situation also played a heavy part in how this one unfolded.

Rank

Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs · Year 8

Those who tune into Chiefs games for big plays got a few of them in Week 4, including a majestic 54-yard strike to burner Xavier Worthy, and Mahomes even rekindled his connection with Travis Kelce (seven catches for 89 yards). In between, though, Mahomes was harassed a lot and forced to use his legs to extend plays, pulling off the usual magic acts, including a pump fake on the run to freeze linebacker Troy Dye for a key gain. It wasn’t a pretty day overall, but Mahomes did a good job leaning on three top targets (Worthy, Kelce and tight end Noah Gray) and leading the Chiefs back from a 10-0 deficit.

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Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals · Year 5

Yes, the Bengals are 1-3, but Burrow has been playing some excellent football. He put together another very solid day in Week 4, completing 22 of 31 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns, including a 63-yarder to Ja’Marr Chase that should’ve been an intermediate gain at best and ended in the end zone. It wasn’t the same kind of big-play outing the Bengals enjoyed in Week 3, but it did produce a win and some encouraging results for receiver Tee Higgins. As for the bad part, Burrow had one ugly moment when he tried to play hero and threw a pick. Otherwise, he was good, just as he’s been for most of this young season.

Rank

C.J. Stroud

Houston Texans · Year 2

The going hasn’t been as easy or smooth for Stroud and the Texans as we remembered it being in 2023, but it’s still early in the season for everyone. What’s more important is that Stroud was able to build a rapport with Stefon Diggs for a few big gains on Sunday. He navigated the pocket — a skill that has become more crucial, considering the Texans’ inability to protect him as well they did last year — and channeled his inner clutch gene, leading a game-winning drive in the final minutes against Jacksonville. The Texans can be better than this, but it was a nice bounce-back performance for Stroud after a nightmarish Week 3 outing in Minneapolis.

Rank

Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys · Year 9

Prescott was efficient in Week 4, finishing with just five incompletions, and despite the low scoring output, he consistently completed passes that were more difficult than a simple pitch and catch, posting a completion percentage over expected of +14.7 percent. It wasn’t an easy night by any means for the Cowboys, but Prescott led them to victory by making enough key plays against a Giants defense that certainly challenged Dallas. It won’t always be spectacular, but Prescott has been steady through the first month.

Rank

Geno Smith

Seattle Seahawks · Year 12

Smith is playing excellent football right now, folks. He’s been incredibly sharp in 2024, among the best in the NFL at keeping plays alive while under duress. He made one such play Monday night that should resonate, shaking off a would-be sack to escape right, reset and fire a bullet into a closing window to Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a gain of 11 on third-and-8 on a drive that ended in a touchdown. His first throw of the game — a 20-yard connection with DK Metcalf along the sideline — was also simply gorgeous, placed perfectly so that Carlton Davis couldn’t make a play but Metcalf was able to snag a toe-tapping reception. Asking a quarterback to throw 56 times isn’t exactly fair, but Smith handled the load very well, and he continues to produce for a Seahawks team that will be a tough draw for opponents every week.

Rank

Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders · Rookie

A rookie doesn’t just luck into the best completion percentage (82.1) by any NFL player in a four-game span since at least 1950. Daniels is the real deal, operating an offense that gives him easy, quick reads, affords him the freedom to improvise when necessary and supports him with a better-than-expected offensive line and a running game that seems to be getting stronger with each week. Daniels was once again in complete command of the offense in Arizona, rifling passes through the defense, picking up positive gains with his legs and dominating with his exciting blend of arm talent, composure and athletic ability. He’s made the Commanders a fun watch, and he’s only just getting started.

Rank

Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers · Year 3

It wasn’t a perfect day against the Patriots for Purdy, who threw an interception on a pass into double coverage and led two possessions that ended in field goals, but overall, it was still a nice afternoon. Purdy’s best throw resulted in an acrobatic catch by George Kittle for a touchdown, and he renewed his connection with Deebo Samuel, who returned after missing Week 3. The 49ers know it’s about the marathon, not a one-week sprint, and they handled their business, even if the results weren’t gaudy.

Rank

Baker Mayfield

Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Year 7

Running game not working? Why not manufacture it with the short passing game? The Buccaneers did this to perfection in Week 4, getting Mayfield into a rhythm, and he promptly picked apart Philadelphia’s defense, tossing two beautiful touchdown passes and scoring a third himself to propel Tampa Bay to a quick 21-0 lead. Mayfield was so on fire to start that he could set the cruise control for the rest of the game. After a rough loss to Denver, Mayfield bounced back excellently, even rekindling a connection with college teammate Sterling Shepard. The QB and the Bucs are rolling.

THURSDAY NIGHT UPDATE: In Atlanta, Mayfield picked up where he left off in Week 4, appearing dialed in as he fired three touchdown passes in the first half to help the Buccaneers take a 24-17 lead. Tampa Bay stalled a few times in the second half, but overall, Mayfield had another incredibly sharp night, chipped in 42 yards on six rushes and certainly played well enough to win.

Rank

Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams · Year 16

Talk about a tumultuous game for the veteran. Stafford pulled off a number of excellent plays, ripping passes through tight windows to keep the Rams moving, but he also made a few head-scratching decisions against the Bears, including an outrageous throw into the end zone to a target who was never open, resulting in a Jaquan Brisker interception that didn’t stand only because Brisker didn’t re-establish position inbounds before picking it off. Stafford’s final throw — a Brisker interception that did stand — felt fitting for a game in which he went without a touchdown, lost a fumble and was asked to captain a ship with a crew that couldn’t consistently execute.

Rank

Jared Goff

Detroit Lions · Year 9

Hey there, Mr. Perfect. Goff had a historic Monday night, completing all 18 of his pass attempts to become the first QB in NFL history with a perfect completion percentage (min. 15 attempts). He executed in classic West Coast offense fashion by hitting his receivers in stride and delivering sharp passes out of play-action. He even caught a touchdown pass thrown by teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown. Everything went well for Goff and the Lions in their 42-point outing, which was very encouraging considering they’d struggled to put things together in the previous two weeks.

Rank

Sam Darnold

Minnesota Vikings · Year 7

My biggest concern with Darnold when he left USC for the NFL draft was his ball security, which tended to be unreliable. Through the first three games of this season, Darnold had done a generally good job in this department, but the second half of a Week 4 win over the Packers revealed some reason to worry. He threw an interception early in the third quarter, was strip-sacked in the fourth quarter and needed to work incredibly hard to piece together a scoring drive after finding the going rather easy in the first half. I’m not saying the Packers provided the blueprint for stopping Darnold, but he wasn’t as reliable as he’d been in previous weeks. That doesn’t take away from what he did in the first half, of course, tossing three touchdowns, but it does make me nervous.

Rank

Kyler Murray

Arizona Cardinals · Year 6

For a second straight week, a well-scripted early possession produced a relatively easy touchdown drive for Murray and the Cardinals, but that was about it for the highlights. Murray hasn’t been able to make much magic as a scrambler in the last two games, and when put in third-and-long situations, he’s struggling to find open targets. The frustration was once again evident in Week 4, and it feels as if Arizona’s demolition of the Rams happened months ago. The Cardinals need to figure out how to adjust in-game to help Murray, who can’t be asked to carry this offense by himself.

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Andy Dalton

Carolina Panthers · Year 14

It’s so easy to see why Dave Canales turned to Dalton at quarterback. He elevates the offense by multiple levels and did so again in Week 4, providing an experienced, confident presence to a unit that sorely needed it. He fired a beautiful pass down the seam past Cam Taylor-Britt to Diontae Johnson for a touchdown and would have had the Panthers in a better position to win with a little help from Carolina’s defense. Dalton might be turning 37 later this month, but don’t let the age fool you: He can still sling it.

Rank

Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles · Year 5

Everything seems to be excessively difficult for the Eagles right now. They sleepwalked through the first quarter and a half in Week 4. Without A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, their receivers couldn’t get open quickly enough for Hurts to find them. He was holding onto the ball for too long and wasn’t using his legs much to keep plays (or drives) alive. They didn’t truly wake up until the final six minutes of the first half. Saquon Barkley finally was able to have some success in the second half, which propelled a bit of a comeback effort, but even that fell short. The vibes aren’t good right now, and while Hurts wasn’t awful, he’s not elevating this group.

Rank

Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets · Year 20

One week after looking like prime Rodgers, the 40-year-old found himself playing at a rainy MetLife Stadium in a low-scoring game in which he was asked to throw 42 times. Denver’s defense presented plenty of problems for Rodgers, who was under pressure often and struggled to extend plays. He made a few nice throws, but the rain — and some miscommunication with receivers — certainly didn’t help, leading to a 10-9 loss and plenty of frustration afterward. This is one of those games that players like Rodgers flush after correcting the issues found on tape.

Rank

Derek Carr

New Orleans Saints · Year 11

Sometimes, the ball just doesn’t bounce your way in this crazy sport. Carr learned that the hard way in Week 4, when he threw a pass and watched it deflect off Matthew Judon’s elbow for a pick-six, one of the more unlikely plays you’ll ever see in pro football. Carr deserves credit for shaking off the adverse outcomes and leading a touchdown drive that saw him connect with four different targets for 35 yards before he hit Chris Olave for a 16-yard gain, setting up Alvin Kamara’s go-ahead touchdown. However, the New Orleans defense couldn’t get the stop it needed at the end, leading to a loss on a day the Saints likely wish they had back.

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Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers · Year 5

Love’s first game back from a sprained MCL reminded me of the first half of last season, a period in which he would routinely heave a few prayers and occasionally pay the price for his faith. He certainly had a few of those throws against the Vikings, especially when things grew desperate in the second half. Love still showed off his arm as he tried to get the Packers back into the game, and after fearing the worst for him at the end of Week 1, it was nice to see him looking healthy, even if his performance was a little erratic.

Rank

Justin Fields

Pittsburgh Steelers · Year 4

Fields put together his best game as a Steeler in Week 4, but only after Indianapolis dug Pittsburgh a cozy 17-0 hole by pressuring Fields and stifling the offense. Fields nearly pulled off the comeback, playing heroically as both a passer and a runner. He hooked up with George Pickens for a couple big plays down the sideline, rushed for two touchdowns and threw for over 300 yards. Yes, Pittsburgh lost, and the final drive was a tough watch, but for the first time as a Steeler, Fields nearly carried his team to an unlikely win. He continues to ascend.

Rank

Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons · Year 13

We’re still seeing Cousins’ limitations in his return from the Achilles tear he suffered last year. It looks like Atlanta can’t run a ton of play-action because of Cousins’ struggle to move, and while he’s trying his best to make the most of the situation, he’s also finding inconsistent results. Atlanta didn’t score an offensive touchdown in Week 4, and none of its possessions ended in New Orleans’ red zone, which we already know is a tricky area for the Falcons’ offense in 2024. There’s still a lot of newness to Cousins’ experience with his team, and they haven’t quite ironed things out yet.

THURSDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Cousins let it rip all Thursday night, completing 42 of 58 passes for 509 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. On the walkoff score in overtime against the Bucs, he displayed his strong arm; KhaDarel Hodge did the rest on the 45-yard catch and run.

Rank

Justin Herbert

Los Angeles Chargers · Year 5

First, the good news: Herbert looked healthier in Week 4 than he did in Week 3. Los Angeles even rolled him out a few times. He made a couple of great throws to Ladd McConkey early on against the Chiefs, including a touchdown pass to the rookie receiver in the back of the end zone. But with both starting offensive tackles sidelined, Herbert was under frequent pressure and wasn’t afforded time to get comfortable. In each of the last two weeks, the second-half picture has been too similar: Herbert dropping back to pass in a close game and never having enough time to make magic. Unfortunately, that is going to be his reality until he gets his top tackles back.

Rank

Daniel Jones

New York Giants · Year 6

Brian Daboll seems to have figured out a way to give Jones a chance to succeed. It certainly helps that he has Malik Nabers as a featured part of his receiving corps, when healthy. Nabers once again led the Giants with 12 catches for 115 yards in Week 4, but it’s also very nice to see Wan’Dale Robinson start to emerge as a quality second option in the passing game. None of this happens without the mental fortitude of Jones, who has picked himself off the mat after getting knocked down in Week 1 and has now played three solid games. Sure, New York has only one win to show for it, but Jones looks much better than he did in the season opener. I’m eager to see where he goes from here.

Rank

Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville Jaguars · Year 4

Lawrence might be the face of the new Dalton Scale. He consistently makes a few really sharp, impressive throws in each game, is talented enough to keep drives going, but also misses too frequently to elevate his team or his own reputation. Such was again the case in a close game against the division-rival Texans in Week 4, in which he found Brian Thomas Jr. with a great pass down the sideline, threw a bullet to Christian Kirk for a touchdown on an out route, but also missed Kirk streaking open downfield, sailed a pass over Thomas’ head down the sideline, and never found enough consistency to capitalize on the chance to win. Lawrence just hasn’t done enough to convince me he’ll ever rise beyond this place, which isn’t good for a quarterback being paid like the face of a franchise.

Rank

Gardner Minshew

Las Vegas Raiders · Year 6

Week 4 was much like what we’d seen in a typical Minshew start last year. He hit a few nice intermediate throws, missed a handful of others, avoided turning the ball over and helped the Raiders sustain a couple of touchdown drives of 50-plus yards, which ended with receiver rushing touchdowns. It didn’t help that Davante Adams didn’t play in this game, of course, but while Minshew didn’t go win them this game, he certainly didn’t hurt them, either. If that sounds familiar, that’s essentially what he did in Indianapolis in 2023. Good enough!

Rank

Anthony Richardson

Indianapolis Colts · Year 2

There isn’t much to say about Richardson’s performance because he didn’t play much against the Steelers. Richardson attempted just four passes, completing three for 71 yards. While he’s good for a deep strike to Alec Pierce on a weekly basis, his vulnerability as a runner was again apparent when he suffered a hip injury, exited, then returned a few plays later and seemed to aggravate the injury on a designed run, sending him to the sideline. Joe Flacco played well in his place, but the Colts must protect Richardson’s health if he’s going to be their franchise quarterback.

Rank

Caleb Williams

Chicago Bears · Rookie

Week 4 marked a small step forward for Williams, who wasn’t asked to throw a ton of passes like in Week 3 and also enjoyed some long overdue support from the ground game. When he did have to throw, Williams was generally sharp, including when he connected with DJ Moore for a touchdown to make it a 17-9 game. Williams has a tendency to freeze in the pocket, almost as if he’s processing his next decision, which got him sacked a few times. Overall, though, it was a solid performance, especially when he was under pressure. He completed seven of 10 such attempts for 78 yards and a touchdown. The rookie wasn’t overwhelmed by the pass rush, despite 13 pressures.

Rank

Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns · Year 8

With an admittedly very low bar for expectations, Week 4’s loss to the Raiders was Watson’s best game of 2024. He completed 75 percent of his passes, was more consistent in the accuracy department, made a few plays with his legs and ripped a couple of beautiful passes in the fourth quarter that didn’t produce positive gains because of circumstances outside of his control. Watson didn’t get overwhelmed by the Raiders’ pass rush until the most crucial play of the game (which resulted in a game-ending sack), but outside of that play, Watson gave the Browns small reasons to believe he might finally settle into his role. Unlike the previous three weeks, Watson wasn’t to blame for Cleveland’s misfortune. That fell on everyone else around him (looking at you, Amari Cooper).

Rank

Will Levis

Tennessee Titans · Year 2

Well, Levis didn’t play much Monday night, but he still managed to turn it over once before exiting, throwing an interception to defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, who he clearly never noticed had dropped into coverage. Levis injured his shoulder by courageously diving in an attempt to earn a first down, which is very typical of his playing style. Look, he plays hard, prides himself on his toughness, and sometimes, that blend produces negative results. It was telling that the Titans’ offense steadied with Mason Rudolph playing in Levis’ place, but that shouldn’t lead us to believe Levis might lose his job. He just needs to cut down on the extremes.

Rank

Jacoby Brissett

New England Patriots · Year 9

At this rate, it’s going to be a long season for Brissett, and it’s no fault of his own. Brissett was pressured at an outrageous rate (53.8 percent) in Week 4, was blitzed on 33.3 percent of his dropbacks, and with a ground game that gained just 73 yards on the day, he never stood much of a chance. He managed to throw one touchdown pass to make it a 10-point game, taking advantage of a short field, but that was about it. Behind this offensive line, the going will be difficult, plain and simple.

Rank

Bo Nix

Denver Broncos · Rookie

It was evident early that Nix had issues controlling the football in the rain against the Jets, appearing more like a participant in the shot put than a quarterback at times. His halftime stats reflected it, too: 7-for-15 for 7 yards. But to Nix’s credit, he battled, finding a way to lead an 11-play, 87-yard touchdown drive that included a great downfield completion to Courtland Sutton and a lofted pass to a wide-open Sutton for a crucial score. Overall, the win wasn’t a pretty day by any stretch of the imagination, but Nix proved he’s mentally tough enough to bounce back from a rough early stretch on the road. That’s big for a rookie.

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Tyler Huntley

Miami Dolphins · Year 5

Another week, another starting quarterback, and another familiar result for the Dolphins, who are in a dark place offensively right now. Huntley hasn’t been there for very long, so it wasn’t fair to expect him to execute Mike McDaniel’s complex scheme flawlessly, but he also was rather inconsistent in the accuracy department against Tennessee. It didn’t help when his teammates quite literally dropped the ball, but it’s clear that Huntley’s NFL experience will only get him so far in this situation. Perhaps it improves with time — or maybe Tua Tagovailoa will eventually return to rescue them from their current sadness.