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UPDATED NFL QB Power Rankings
By Matt Lombardo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
PHILADELPHIA --
No QB has been hotter than Texans rookie Deshaun Watson, who has 19 touchdown passes and a QB rating of 103.0 after seven games. However his 2017 season is over after tearing an ACL in practice Thursday.
Carson Wentz has the Eagles atop the NFC East standings.
Meanwhile, Jared Goff has the Rams tied for the NFC West lead, and is dispelling any notion that he was a first-round bust.
Here's a look at this week's NFL quarterback power rankings:
PREMIER QUARTERBACKS
These quarterbacks are the elite passers in this league, who are capable of carrying their current team to a Super Bowl this season and would be type of player who would theoretically regardless of which team they played for immediately elevate that franchise to become a playoff contender.
1. Tom Brady - New England Patriots
2017 Stats: 206-of-309 passing for 2,541 yards with 16 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, sacked 21 times.
Week 8 Stats: 32-of-47 passing for 333 yards with 1 touchdown, sacked 3 times.
Previous Ranking No. 1
Why Brady is No. 1: Brady remains the most dominant and clutch quarterback in the league, and the Patriots have won four straight games. New England is so confident that Brady is showing no signs of slowing up, that they traded Jimmy Garappolo to the San Francisco 49ers.
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2. Drew Brees - New Orleans Saints
2017 Stats: 175-of-248 passing for 1,951 yards with 11 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, sacked seven times.
Week 8 Stats: 23-of-28 passing for 299 yards, sacked twice.
Previous Ranking: No. 4
Why Brees is No. 2: Don't look now, but the Saints have won five straight behind a typically high-powered offense, and Trees' postseason pedigree makes the Saints a legitimate threat to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
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3. Alex Smith - Kansas City Chiefs
2017 Stats: 179-of-259 passing for 2,181 yards with 16 touchdowns, sacked 22 times, 32 rushes for 154 yards and 1 touchdown.
Week 8 Stats:: 14-of-31 passing for 202 yards with 1 touchdown, sacked once, 4 rushes for 33 yards.
Previous Ranking: No. 3
Why Smith is No. 3: A significant case can be made that Alex Smith is the best quarterback in the NFL this season. That case: Smith has played eight games and has yet to throw an interception, he's passed for 16 touchdowns over that span, while posting a passer rating of above 100 in six games, and the Chiefs are 6-2.
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4. Carson Wentz - Eagles
2017 Stats: 161-of-264 passing for 2,063 yards with 19 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, sacked 22 times, 42 rushes for 203 yards.
Week 8 Stats: 18-of-32 passing for 211 yards with 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, sacked 3 times.
Previous Ranking: No. 2
Why Wentz is No. 4: Sunday against the San Fransisco 49ers, with an offense that was overwhelmed by blitzes and defensive line stunts amid nearly constant monsoon-conditions, Carson Wentz had one of his more inconsistent performances of the season. However, despite a barrage of pressure, Wentz hit Zach Ertz for a touchdown and orchestrated his signature connection thus far with Alshon Jeffery on a 52-yard touchdown. Wentz is bound to be tested in coming weeks without All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters, but he remains a frontrunner in the MVP race.
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5. Dak Prescott - Dallas Cowboys
2017 Stats: 142-of-226 passing for 1,569 yards with 14 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, sacked nine times, 23 rushes for 168 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Week 8 Stats: 14-of-22 passing for 143 yards, sacked twice, 3 rushes for 16 yards.
Previous Ranking: No. 5
Why Prescott is No. 5: The road is about to get a lot tougher for Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense as running back Ezekiel Elliott begins serving his six-game suspension. However, Prescott has a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 14-to-4, and hasn't turned the ball over since Week 5 against the Packers, and was a catalyst for Sunday's victory over Washington.
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6. Matt Ryan - Atlanta Falcons
2017 Stats: 153-of-232 passing for 1,844 yards with 9 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, sacked 12 times.
Week 8 Stats: 18-of-29 passing for 254 yards with 2 touchdowns, sacked once, 6 rushes for 17 yards.
Previous Ranking: No. 8
Why Ryan is No. 6: Even amid monsoon conditions at MetLife Stadium, Ryan turned in a vintage performance against the Jets, finishing with a passer rating of 113.3. If this version of Ryan shows up for the second half of the season, the Falcons could be poised to make a run in a rather wide-open NFC South.
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7. Ben Roethlisberger - Pittsburgh Steelers
2017 Stats: 168-of-275 passing for 2,062 yards with 10 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, sacked 10 times.
Week 8 Stats: 17-of-31 passing for 317 yards with 1 touchdown, 1 interception.
Previous Ranking: No. 14
Why Roethlisberger is No. 7: The Steelers have won three consecutive games after dispatching the Lions on Sunday Night Football, and are also winners of four of five, thanks in part to Roethlisberger playing some of his best football of the season. Rookie wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster as a deep-threat, unlocks an intriguing element both for Roethlisberger and the Steelers' offense.
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8. Matthew Stafford - Detroit Lions
2017 Stats: 163-of-270 passing for 1,851 yards with 12 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, sacked 25 times.
Week 8 Stats: 27-of-45 passing for 423 yards, sacked twice.
Previous Ranking: No. 7
Why Stafford is No. 8: The Lions essentially asked Matthew Stafford to singlehandedly beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he very nearly did. Finishing with a passer rating of 91.2, and 423 yards, the only flaw in Stafford's performance were struggles inside the red zone.
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9. Derek Carr - Oakland Raiders
2018 Stats: 155-of-240 passing for 1,654 yards with 12 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, sacked nine times.
Week 8 Stats: 31-of-49 passing for 313 yards with 1 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.
Previous Ranking: No. 10
Why Carr is No. 9: Raiders offense struggled to move the ball, particularly in the red zone against the Bills on Sunday in Buffalo. Carr's third game back from injury was one of his most inefficient of the season.
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Kirby Lee | USA TODAY Sports
10. Jared Goff - Los Angeles Rams
2017 Stats: 133-of-222 passing for 1,719 yards with nine touchdowns, four interceptions, sacked once.
Week 8 Stats: BYE WEEK
Previous Ranking: No. 13
Why Goff is No. 10: Goff's game and skill-set continues to improve, and in London it was his ability to make plays on the run that added a new wrinkle thanks to two scrambles. New head coach Sean McVay's play-calling and Goff's week-to-week consistently has the Rams in the thick of the playoff race.
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11. Marcus Mariota - Tennessee Titans
2017 Stats: 110-of-176 passing for 1,301 yards with four touchdowns, four interceptions, sacked five times.
Week 8 Stats: BYE WEEK
Previous Ranking: No. 17
Why Mariota is No. 11: Against the punchless Browns defense two weeks ago, Mariota failed to find the end zone. But, he also finished with a turnover-free game and a Titans' victory. However, Mariota's future and the Titans' prospects this season are both bright.
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SECOND-TIER QUARTERBACKS
The second-tier grouping of quarterbacks is comprised of players who are either ascending to the level of being able to carry their current team to the playoffs, or who have regressed from the premier level.
12. Philip Rivers - Los Angeles Chargers
2017 Stats: 173-of-286 passing for 2,028 yards with 13 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, sacked 11 times.
Week 8 Stats: 17-of-30 passing for 212 yards with 1 touchdown, 1 interception, sacked once.
Previous Ranking: No. 11
Why Rivers is No. 12: Winning on the road against the Giants is one thing, slaying the patriots in Foxboro is a different kind of difficult, and Rivers proved that task is simply too daunting at this stage of his career on Sunday.
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13. Russell Wilson - Seattle Seahawks
2017 Stats: 164-of-258 passing for 2,008 yards with 15 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, sacked 16 times, 36 rushes for 194 yards.
Week 8 Stats: 26-of-41 passing for 452 yards with 4 touchdowns, 1 interception, sacked twice.
Previous Ranking: No. 15
Why Wilson is No. 13: Wilson and the Seahawks offense led a frenetic fourth quarter comeback to hold off the Houston Texans Sunday. Seattle just added veteran left tackle Duane Brown to solidify the offensive line, which could prove to be a difference maker for Wilson the rest of the season.
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14. Cam Newton - Carolina Panthers
2017 Stats: 166-of-263 passing for 1,841 yards with 10 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, sacked 22 times, 60 rushes for 255. yards and 3 touchdowns.
Week 8 Stats: 18-of-32 passing for 154 yards with 1 touchdown, 1 interception, 11 rushes for 44 yards.
Previous Ranking: No. 12
Why Newton is No. 14: Newton and the Panthers handled the Buccaneers rather easily, but the win had little to do with strong quarterback play. Newton hasn't surpassed a passer rating of 100 since posting a 141.8 back in Week 5.
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15. Kirk Cousins - Washington
2017 Stats: 161-of-237 passing for 1,900 yards with 13 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, sacked 16 times.
Week 8 Stats: 26-of-39 passing for 263 yards with 1 touchdown, 1 interception, sacked 4 times.
Previous Ranking: No. 9
Why Cousins is No. 15: NFC East games have not been kind of Cousins. Over the past two games against the Eagles and Cowboys, with the Redskins very much in the thick of the playoff chase, Cousins has thrown four touchdowns, been intercepted twice, sacked eight times and lost both games.
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16. Andy Dalton - Cincinnati Bengals
2017 Stats: 138-of-218 passing for 1,603 yards with 11 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, sacked 22 times.
Week 8 Stats: 17-of-29 passing for 243 yards with 2 touchdowns, sacked three times.
Previous Ranking: No. 19
Why Dalton is No. 16: The Bengals of won three of their last four games, largely because of Andy Dalton's improved play over the past month. Five of Dalton's 11 touchdowns have come in the last three games, and he finally appears to be getting on the same page with the rest of the offense and receiving corps.
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17. Josh McCown - Jets
2017 Stats: 179-of-254 passing for 1,840 yards with 12 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, sacked 25 times.
Week 8 Stats: 26-of-33 passing for 257 yards with 2 touchdowns, sacked 3 times.
Previous Ranking: No. 18
Why McCown is No. 17: The Jets very nearly pulled off an upset for the Falcons and torpedoed Atlanta's season in the process, largely because of the strong play from McCown. McCown's passer rating of 119.3 is his highest since a 126.3 rating back in Week 3, and has exceeded 100 in 3 of his last 4 outings. He might not be the long-term answer at quarterback, but McCown is making it feel less and less urgent that the Jets land a top signal caller next April.
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THIRD-TIER QUARTERBACKS
This group of passers includes quarterbacks who in the right situation with circumstances breaking their way can bring their time to the precipice of postseason contention as well as of quarterbacks who are ascending towards Tier 2.
18. Tyrod Taylor - Buffalo Bills
2017 Stats: 125-of-196 passing for 1,343 yards with 8 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, sacked 19 times with 44 rushing attempts for 175 yards and one touchdown.
Week 8 Stats: 20-of-27 passing for 165 yards and 1 touchdown, 6 rushes for 1 yard, 1 touchdown.
Previous Ranking: No. 20
Why Taylor is No. 18: The Bills have won two straight, and Sunday's win at home over the Oakland Raiders was Taylor's most consistent of the season. Finishing with a passer rating of 101.6 in Week 8, Taylor has now gone two games without a turnover and even added a rushing touchdown Sunday.
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19. Jameis Winston - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2017 Stats: 152-of-246 passing for 1,853 yards yards with 10 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, sacked 11 times.
Week 8 Stats: 21-of-38 passing for 210 yards with 2 interceptions, sacked 3 times.
Previous Ranking: No. 16
Why Winston is No. 19: Despite an arsenal of talent around him that includes Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, Doug Martin, and Chris Godwin, Jameis Winston seems to have regressed this season. Winston's rollercoaster of a season continued Sunday when he posted a passer rating of just 49.2 in a 17-3 division loss to the Carolina Panthers. At home.
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20. Case Keenum - Minnesota Vikings
2017 Stats: 149-of-233 passing for 1,610 yards with 7 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, sacked five times.
Week 8 Stats: 27-of-43 passing for 288 yards with 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, sacked once.
Previous Ranking: No. 24
Why Keenum is No. 20: Even in London, the Vikings keep on winning, and Keenum keeps playing at a high level. Keenum did just enough to lead Minnesota past the Browns, and enough to not rush Teddy Bridgewater back, who reportedly is nearing a return from a 2016 leg injury.
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21. Jacoby Brissett - Indianapolis Colts
2017 Stats: 145-of-240 passing for 1,642 yards with 5 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, sacked 29 times.
Week 8 Stats: 25-of-39 passing for 233 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, sacked 4 times.
Previous Ranking: N0. 25
Why Brissett is No. 21: Andrew Luck does not appear to be getting any healthier or returning anytime soon, leaving the Colts with Brissett under center. These snaps will be meaningful for Brissett as he's likely the stopgap option until either Luck returns or the organization opts to turn the page and draft a quarterback ... Sometime in the future.
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22. Brett Hundley - Green Bay Packers
2017 Stats: 31-of-59 passing for 244 yards with 1 touchdown, four interceptions, sacked five times.
Week 8 Stats: BYE WEEK
Previous Ranking: No. 22
Why Hundley is No. 22: Hundley faces the rather Herculean task of keeping the Packers in the NFC North race after the loss of Aaron Rodgers to a broken clavicle.
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23. Mitchell Trubisky - Chicago Bears
2017 Stats: 36-of-80 passing for 512 yards with 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, sacked 11 times.
Week 8 Stats: 14-of-32 passing for 164 yards with 1 interception, sacked twice.
Previous Ranking: No. 21
Why Trubisky is No. 23: Trubsky was inconsistent on the road against a Saints team that appears to be mounting a charge towards a first-round bye in the NFC Playoffs, and threw a costly interception. So it goes, the growing pains of developing a first-round rookie quarterback.
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FOURTH-TIER QUARTERBACKS
Making up the fourth tier of quarterbacks are players who either have uncertain futures in their current situation or rookie signal callers who have plenty to prove.
24. Eli Manning - Giants
2017 Stats: 167-of-260 passing for 1,600 yards with 10 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, sacked 17 times.
Week 8 Stats: BYE WEEK
Previous Ranking: No. 26
Why Manning is No. 24: The Giants season is essentially over, and the locker room is in a bit of disarray following suspensions over the last three weeks of cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Janoris Jenkins. In all likelihood, the Giants will be picking in the top-five picks of April's 2018 NFL Draft, meaning the time has come for Davis Webb to get an audition for the starting job in the future.
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25. Joe Flacco - Baltimore Ravens
2017 Stats: 153-of-239 passing for 1,290 yards with 6 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, sacked 17 times.
Week 8 Stats: 10-of-15 passing for 101 yards with 1 touchdown.
Previous Ranking: No. No. 28
Why Flacco is No. 25: Flacco spent the week in the concussion protocol after being drilled by Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso while sliding short of the first-down markers. Prior to the injury, Thursday night's game was Flacco's strongest and most consistent performance of the season. Could it be a harbinger of things to come?
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26. Jay Cutler - Miami Dolphins
2017 Stats: 113-of-180 passing for 995 yards with 7 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, sacked 12 times.
Week 8 Stats: INJURED
Previous Ranking: N/A
Why Cutler is No. 26: Cutler returns from an injury to the helm of an offense that traded away it's best running back. Things should go swimmingly for the Dolphins this week.
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27. Drew Stanton - Arizona Cardinals
2017 Stats: 5-of-14 passing for 62 yards with one interception, sacked twice.
Week 8 Stats: BYE WEEK
Previous Ranking: No. 28
Why Stanton is No. 27: There is little indication that Stanton is the Cardinals' quarterback of the future, but he'll have a chance to audition for the job of Palmer's successor.
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28. DeShone Kizer - Cleveland Browns
2017 Stats: 111-of-213 passing for 1,144 yards with 3 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, sacked 15 times.
Week 8 Stats: 18-of-34 passing for 179 yards, sacked 3 times, 5 rushes for 18 yards and 1 rushing touchdown.
Previous Ranking: No. 31
Why Kizer is No. 28: Different continent, same results for Kizer and the Browns, who struggled their way to a 33-16 loss to the Vikings in London. Kizer's 68.1 passer rating was his highest since Week 1, but the rookie was only able to find the end zone by rushing for a touchdown.
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29. Trevor Siemian - Denver Broncos
2017 Stats: 152-of-247 passing for 1,669 yards with 9 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, sacked 25 times.
Week 8 Stats: 19-of-36 passing for 198 yards with 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions, sacked 3 times.
Previous Ranking: No. 29
Why Siemian is No. 29: The Broncos appear to have seen enough of Siemian and have benched him in favor of playing Brock Osweiler.
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30. Tom Savage - Houston Texans
2017 Stats: 7-of-13 passing for 62 yards, sacked six times
Why Savage is No. 30: Savage was benched in Week 1 after an ineffective showing against the Jacksonville Jaguars. After Deshaun Watson tore his ACL in practice Thursday, save returns to the helm (for now) of a suddenly high-powered Texans offense.
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31. Blake Bortles - Jacksonville Jaguars
2017 Stats: 115-of-196 passing for 1,398 yards with 9 touchdowns, 5 interceptions.
Week 8 Stats: BYE WEEK
Previous Ranking: No. 23
Why Bortles is No. 31: The Jaguars are 4-3, but largely in spite of Bortles, not because of him.
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32. C.J. Beathard - San Francisco 49ers
2017 Stats: 58-of-110 passing for 647 yards with 2 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, sacked 11 times.
Week 8 Stats: 17-of-36 passing for 167 yards with 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions, sacked 4 times.
Previous Ranking: 32
Why Beathard is No. 32: Beathard's performance against the Eagles (passer rating of 46.9) was so impressive, the 49ers traded a second-round pick to the New England Patriots for Jimmy Garoppolo, who will presumably start as early as Week 9 against the Cardinals.
UPDATED NFL QB Power Rankings
By Matt Lombardo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
PHILADELPHIA --
No QB has been hotter than Texans rookie Deshaun Watson, who has 19 touchdown passes and a QB rating of 103.0 after seven games. However his 2017 season is over after tearing an ACL in practice Thursday.
Carson Wentz has the Eagles atop the NFC East standings.
Meanwhile, Jared Goff has the Rams tied for the NFC West lead, and is dispelling any notion that he was a first-round bust.
Here's a look at this week's NFL quarterback power rankings:
PREMIER QUARTERBACKS
These quarterbacks are the elite passers in this league, who are capable of carrying their current team to a Super Bowl this season and would be type of player who would theoretically regardless of which team they played for immediately elevate that franchise to become a playoff contender.
1. Tom Brady - New England Patriots
2017 Stats: 206-of-309 passing for 2,541 yards with 16 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, sacked 21 times.
Week 8 Stats: 32-of-47 passing for 333 yards with 1 touchdown, sacked 3 times.
Previous Ranking No. 1
Why Brady is No. 1: Brady remains the most dominant and clutch quarterback in the league, and the Patriots have won four straight games. New England is so confident that Brady is showing no signs of slowing up, that they traded Jimmy Garappolo to the San Francisco 49ers.
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2. Drew Brees - New Orleans Saints
2017 Stats: 175-of-248 passing for 1,951 yards with 11 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, sacked seven times.
Week 8 Stats: 23-of-28 passing for 299 yards, sacked twice.
Previous Ranking: No. 4
Why Brees is No. 2: Don't look now, but the Saints have won five straight behind a typically high-powered offense, and Trees' postseason pedigree makes the Saints a legitimate threat to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
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3. Alex Smith - Kansas City Chiefs
2017 Stats: 179-of-259 passing for 2,181 yards with 16 touchdowns, sacked 22 times, 32 rushes for 154 yards and 1 touchdown.
Week 8 Stats:: 14-of-31 passing for 202 yards with 1 touchdown, sacked once, 4 rushes for 33 yards.
Previous Ranking: No. 3
Why Smith is No. 3: A significant case can be made that Alex Smith is the best quarterback in the NFL this season. That case: Smith has played eight games and has yet to throw an interception, he's passed for 16 touchdowns over that span, while posting a passer rating of above 100 in six games, and the Chiefs are 6-2.
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4. Carson Wentz - Eagles
2017 Stats: 161-of-264 passing for 2,063 yards with 19 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, sacked 22 times, 42 rushes for 203 yards.
Week 8 Stats: 18-of-32 passing for 211 yards with 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, sacked 3 times.
Previous Ranking: No. 2
Why Wentz is No. 4: Sunday against the San Fransisco 49ers, with an offense that was overwhelmed by blitzes and defensive line stunts amid nearly constant monsoon-conditions, Carson Wentz had one of his more inconsistent performances of the season. However, despite a barrage of pressure, Wentz hit Zach Ertz for a touchdown and orchestrated his signature connection thus far with Alshon Jeffery on a 52-yard touchdown. Wentz is bound to be tested in coming weeks without All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters, but he remains a frontrunner in the MVP race.
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5. Dak Prescott - Dallas Cowboys
2017 Stats: 142-of-226 passing for 1,569 yards with 14 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, sacked nine times, 23 rushes for 168 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Week 8 Stats: 14-of-22 passing for 143 yards, sacked twice, 3 rushes for 16 yards.
Previous Ranking: No. 5
Why Prescott is No. 5: The road is about to get a lot tougher for Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense as running back Ezekiel Elliott begins serving his six-game suspension. However, Prescott has a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 14-to-4, and hasn't turned the ball over since Week 5 against the Packers, and was a catalyst for Sunday's victory over Washington.
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6. Matt Ryan - Atlanta Falcons
2017 Stats: 153-of-232 passing for 1,844 yards with 9 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, sacked 12 times.
Week 8 Stats: 18-of-29 passing for 254 yards with 2 touchdowns, sacked once, 6 rushes for 17 yards.
Previous Ranking: No. 8
Why Ryan is No. 6: Even amid monsoon conditions at MetLife Stadium, Ryan turned in a vintage performance against the Jets, finishing with a passer rating of 113.3. If this version of Ryan shows up for the second half of the season, the Falcons could be poised to make a run in a rather wide-open NFC South.
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7. Ben Roethlisberger - Pittsburgh Steelers
2017 Stats: 168-of-275 passing for 2,062 yards with 10 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, sacked 10 times.
Week 8 Stats: 17-of-31 passing for 317 yards with 1 touchdown, 1 interception.
Previous Ranking: No. 14
Why Roethlisberger is No. 7: The Steelers have won three consecutive games after dispatching the Lions on Sunday Night Football, and are also winners of four of five, thanks in part to Roethlisberger playing some of his best football of the season. Rookie wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster as a deep-threat, unlocks an intriguing element both for Roethlisberger and the Steelers' offense.
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8. Matthew Stafford - Detroit Lions
2017 Stats: 163-of-270 passing for 1,851 yards with 12 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, sacked 25 times.
Week 8 Stats: 27-of-45 passing for 423 yards, sacked twice.
Previous Ranking: No. 7
Why Stafford is No. 8: The Lions essentially asked Matthew Stafford to singlehandedly beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he very nearly did. Finishing with a passer rating of 91.2, and 423 yards, the only flaw in Stafford's performance were struggles inside the red zone.
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9. Derek Carr - Oakland Raiders
2018 Stats: 155-of-240 passing for 1,654 yards with 12 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, sacked nine times.
Week 8 Stats: 31-of-49 passing for 313 yards with 1 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.
Previous Ranking: No. 10
Why Carr is No. 9: Raiders offense struggled to move the ball, particularly in the red zone against the Bills on Sunday in Buffalo. Carr's third game back from injury was one of his most inefficient of the season.
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Kirby Lee | USA TODAY Sports
10. Jared Goff - Los Angeles Rams
2017 Stats: 133-of-222 passing for 1,719 yards with nine touchdowns, four interceptions, sacked once.
Week 8 Stats: BYE WEEK
Previous Ranking: No. 13
Why Goff is No. 10: Goff's game and skill-set continues to improve, and in London it was his ability to make plays on the run that added a new wrinkle thanks to two scrambles. New head coach Sean McVay's play-calling and Goff's week-to-week consistently has the Rams in the thick of the playoff race.
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11. Marcus Mariota - Tennessee Titans
2017 Stats: 110-of-176 passing for 1,301 yards with four touchdowns, four interceptions, sacked five times.
Week 8 Stats: BYE WEEK
Previous Ranking: No. 17
Why Mariota is No. 11: Against the punchless Browns defense two weeks ago, Mariota failed to find the end zone. But, he also finished with a turnover-free game and a Titans' victory. However, Mariota's future and the Titans' prospects this season are both bright.
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SECOND-TIER QUARTERBACKS
The second-tier grouping of quarterbacks is comprised of players who are either ascending to the level of being able to carry their current team to the playoffs, or who have regressed from the premier level.
12. Philip Rivers - Los Angeles Chargers
2017 Stats: 173-of-286 passing for 2,028 yards with 13 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, sacked 11 times.
Week 8 Stats: 17-of-30 passing for 212 yards with 1 touchdown, 1 interception, sacked once.
Previous Ranking: No. 11
Why Rivers is No. 12: Winning on the road against the Giants is one thing, slaying the patriots in Foxboro is a different kind of difficult, and Rivers proved that task is simply too daunting at this stage of his career on Sunday.
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13. Russell Wilson - Seattle Seahawks
2017 Stats: 164-of-258 passing for 2,008 yards with 15 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, sacked 16 times, 36 rushes for 194 yards.
Week 8 Stats: 26-of-41 passing for 452 yards with 4 touchdowns, 1 interception, sacked twice.
Previous Ranking: No. 15
Why Wilson is No. 13: Wilson and the Seahawks offense led a frenetic fourth quarter comeback to hold off the Houston Texans Sunday. Seattle just added veteran left tackle Duane Brown to solidify the offensive line, which could prove to be a difference maker for Wilson the rest of the season.
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14. Cam Newton - Carolina Panthers
2017 Stats: 166-of-263 passing for 1,841 yards with 10 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, sacked 22 times, 60 rushes for 255. yards and 3 touchdowns.
Week 8 Stats: 18-of-32 passing for 154 yards with 1 touchdown, 1 interception, 11 rushes for 44 yards.
Previous Ranking: No. 12
Why Newton is No. 14: Newton and the Panthers handled the Buccaneers rather easily, but the win had little to do with strong quarterback play. Newton hasn't surpassed a passer rating of 100 since posting a 141.8 back in Week 5.
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15. Kirk Cousins - Washington
2017 Stats: 161-of-237 passing for 1,900 yards with 13 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, sacked 16 times.
Week 8 Stats: 26-of-39 passing for 263 yards with 1 touchdown, 1 interception, sacked 4 times.
Previous Ranking: No. 9
Why Cousins is No. 15: NFC East games have not been kind of Cousins. Over the past two games against the Eagles and Cowboys, with the Redskins very much in the thick of the playoff chase, Cousins has thrown four touchdowns, been intercepted twice, sacked eight times and lost both games.
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16. Andy Dalton - Cincinnati Bengals
2017 Stats: 138-of-218 passing for 1,603 yards with 11 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, sacked 22 times.
Week 8 Stats: 17-of-29 passing for 243 yards with 2 touchdowns, sacked three times.
Previous Ranking: No. 19
Why Dalton is No. 16: The Bengals of won three of their last four games, largely because of Andy Dalton's improved play over the past month. Five of Dalton's 11 touchdowns have come in the last three games, and he finally appears to be getting on the same page with the rest of the offense and receiving corps.
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17. Josh McCown - Jets
2017 Stats: 179-of-254 passing for 1,840 yards with 12 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, sacked 25 times.
Week 8 Stats: 26-of-33 passing for 257 yards with 2 touchdowns, sacked 3 times.
Previous Ranking: No. 18
Why McCown is No. 17: The Jets very nearly pulled off an upset for the Falcons and torpedoed Atlanta's season in the process, largely because of the strong play from McCown. McCown's passer rating of 119.3 is his highest since a 126.3 rating back in Week 3, and has exceeded 100 in 3 of his last 4 outings. He might not be the long-term answer at quarterback, but McCown is making it feel less and less urgent that the Jets land a top signal caller next April.
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THIRD-TIER QUARTERBACKS
This group of passers includes quarterbacks who in the right situation with circumstances breaking their way can bring their time to the precipice of postseason contention as well as of quarterbacks who are ascending towards Tier 2.
18. Tyrod Taylor - Buffalo Bills
2017 Stats: 125-of-196 passing for 1,343 yards with 8 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, sacked 19 times with 44 rushing attempts for 175 yards and one touchdown.
Week 8 Stats: 20-of-27 passing for 165 yards and 1 touchdown, 6 rushes for 1 yard, 1 touchdown.
Previous Ranking: No. 20
Why Taylor is No. 18: The Bills have won two straight, and Sunday's win at home over the Oakland Raiders was Taylor's most consistent of the season. Finishing with a passer rating of 101.6 in Week 8, Taylor has now gone two games without a turnover and even added a rushing touchdown Sunday.
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19. Jameis Winston - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2017 Stats: 152-of-246 passing for 1,853 yards yards with 10 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, sacked 11 times.
Week 8 Stats: 21-of-38 passing for 210 yards with 2 interceptions, sacked 3 times.
Previous Ranking: No. 16
Why Winston is No. 19: Despite an arsenal of talent around him that includes Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, Doug Martin, and Chris Godwin, Jameis Winston seems to have regressed this season. Winston's rollercoaster of a season continued Sunday when he posted a passer rating of just 49.2 in a 17-3 division loss to the Carolina Panthers. At home.
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20. Case Keenum - Minnesota Vikings
2017 Stats: 149-of-233 passing for 1,610 yards with 7 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, sacked five times.
Week 8 Stats: 27-of-43 passing for 288 yards with 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, sacked once.
Previous Ranking: No. 24
Why Keenum is No. 20: Even in London, the Vikings keep on winning, and Keenum keeps playing at a high level. Keenum did just enough to lead Minnesota past the Browns, and enough to not rush Teddy Bridgewater back, who reportedly is nearing a return from a 2016 leg injury.
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21. Jacoby Brissett - Indianapolis Colts
2017 Stats: 145-of-240 passing for 1,642 yards with 5 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, sacked 29 times.
Week 8 Stats: 25-of-39 passing for 233 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, sacked 4 times.
Previous Ranking: N0. 25
Why Brissett is No. 21: Andrew Luck does not appear to be getting any healthier or returning anytime soon, leaving the Colts with Brissett under center. These snaps will be meaningful for Brissett as he's likely the stopgap option until either Luck returns or the organization opts to turn the page and draft a quarterback ... Sometime in the future.
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22. Brett Hundley - Green Bay Packers
2017 Stats: 31-of-59 passing for 244 yards with 1 touchdown, four interceptions, sacked five times.
Week 8 Stats: BYE WEEK
Previous Ranking: No. 22
Why Hundley is No. 22: Hundley faces the rather Herculean task of keeping the Packers in the NFC North race after the loss of Aaron Rodgers to a broken clavicle.
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23. Mitchell Trubisky - Chicago Bears
2017 Stats: 36-of-80 passing for 512 yards with 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, sacked 11 times.
Week 8 Stats: 14-of-32 passing for 164 yards with 1 interception, sacked twice.
Previous Ranking: No. 21
Why Trubisky is No. 23: Trubsky was inconsistent on the road against a Saints team that appears to be mounting a charge towards a first-round bye in the NFC Playoffs, and threw a costly interception. So it goes, the growing pains of developing a first-round rookie quarterback.
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FOURTH-TIER QUARTERBACKS
Making up the fourth tier of quarterbacks are players who either have uncertain futures in their current situation or rookie signal callers who have plenty to prove.
24. Eli Manning - Giants
2017 Stats: 167-of-260 passing for 1,600 yards with 10 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, sacked 17 times.
Week 8 Stats: BYE WEEK
Previous Ranking: No. 26
Why Manning is No. 24: The Giants season is essentially over, and the locker room is in a bit of disarray following suspensions over the last three weeks of cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Janoris Jenkins. In all likelihood, the Giants will be picking in the top-five picks of April's 2018 NFL Draft, meaning the time has come for Davis Webb to get an audition for the starting job in the future.
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25. Joe Flacco - Baltimore Ravens
2017 Stats: 153-of-239 passing for 1,290 yards with 6 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, sacked 17 times.
Week 8 Stats: 10-of-15 passing for 101 yards with 1 touchdown.
Previous Ranking: No. No. 28
Why Flacco is No. 25: Flacco spent the week in the concussion protocol after being drilled by Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso while sliding short of the first-down markers. Prior to the injury, Thursday night's game was Flacco's strongest and most consistent performance of the season. Could it be a harbinger of things to come?
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26. Jay Cutler - Miami Dolphins
2017 Stats: 113-of-180 passing for 995 yards with 7 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, sacked 12 times.
Week 8 Stats: INJURED
Previous Ranking: N/A
Why Cutler is No. 26: Cutler returns from an injury to the helm of an offense that traded away it's best running back. Things should go swimmingly for the Dolphins this week.
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27. Drew Stanton - Arizona Cardinals
2017 Stats: 5-of-14 passing for 62 yards with one interception, sacked twice.
Week 8 Stats: BYE WEEK
Previous Ranking: No. 28
Why Stanton is No. 27: There is little indication that Stanton is the Cardinals' quarterback of the future, but he'll have a chance to audition for the job of Palmer's successor.
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28. DeShone Kizer - Cleveland Browns
2017 Stats: 111-of-213 passing for 1,144 yards with 3 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, sacked 15 times.
Week 8 Stats: 18-of-34 passing for 179 yards, sacked 3 times, 5 rushes for 18 yards and 1 rushing touchdown.
Previous Ranking: No. 31
Why Kizer is No. 28: Different continent, same results for Kizer and the Browns, who struggled their way to a 33-16 loss to the Vikings in London. Kizer's 68.1 passer rating was his highest since Week 1, but the rookie was only able to find the end zone by rushing for a touchdown.
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29. Trevor Siemian - Denver Broncos
2017 Stats: 152-of-247 passing for 1,669 yards with 9 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, sacked 25 times.
Week 8 Stats: 19-of-36 passing for 198 yards with 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions, sacked 3 times.
Previous Ranking: No. 29
Why Siemian is No. 29: The Broncos appear to have seen enough of Siemian and have benched him in favor of playing Brock Osweiler.
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30. Tom Savage - Houston Texans
2017 Stats: 7-of-13 passing for 62 yards, sacked six times
Why Savage is No. 30: Savage was benched in Week 1 after an ineffective showing against the Jacksonville Jaguars. After Deshaun Watson tore his ACL in practice Thursday, save returns to the helm (for now) of a suddenly high-powered Texans offense.
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31. Blake Bortles - Jacksonville Jaguars
2017 Stats: 115-of-196 passing for 1,398 yards with 9 touchdowns, 5 interceptions.
Week 8 Stats: BYE WEEK
Previous Ranking: No. 23
Why Bortles is No. 31: The Jaguars are 4-3, but largely in spite of Bortles, not because of him.
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32. C.J. Beathard - San Francisco 49ers
2017 Stats: 58-of-110 passing for 647 yards with 2 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, sacked 11 times.
Week 8 Stats: 17-of-36 passing for 167 yards with 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions, sacked 4 times.
Previous Ranking: 32
Why Beathard is No. 32: Beathard's performance against the Eagles (passer rating of 46.9) was so impressive, the 49ers traded a second-round pick to the New England Patriots for Jimmy Garoppolo, who will presumably start as early as Week 9 against the Cardinals.
