Henry McKenna
NFL Reporter
I hold eager about the season opener when Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens failed — by a toe and a two-point conversion — to beat Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
All I would like is a rematch.
Lamar is, little doubt, one of the best soccer participant on the earth this season. He is a human spotlight reel. He has been prolific as a rusher and passer. He is an MVP front-runner. Patrick Mahomes is by some means probably the most influential soccer participant. It’s important to squint to search out the highlights. He isn’t precisely impressing together with his counting stats. However he is doing precisely the correct issues for the Chiefs to remain undefeated. And in case you disagree with that label for Mahomes, let’s revisit Week 1 when he and the Chiefs eked out a victory over Baltimore.
All I would like is a rematch. As a result of the Ravens are higher. And the Chiefs could be worse? So, yeah, I am irritated that we would have to attend till late January.
For the QB Inventory Market, we weigh the latest performances with 30% significance, whereas 70% is utilized to the remainder of 2024. One query holds significance above all others: What have you ever finished to your group currently?
Earlier weeks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (↔)
2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Payments (⬆️ 4)
Josh Allen should love having Amari Cooper, who has immediately modified the Payments offense.
Do not simply have a look at the numbers that Cooper put up (4 catches, 66 yards and a landing). Have a look at the numbers Keon Coleman (4 catches, 125 yards) and Khalil Shakir (seven catches, 65 yards) put up. Cooper was a breath of recent air for the offense, significantly within the second half when issues started to fall into place for Josh Allen, who really began 1 of 5. However after all, Allen completed 22 of 33 for 323 yards and two touchdowns. And he did it towards one of many three finest cross defenses, permitting simply 166.7 passing yards per recreation.
His interception whole? Nonetheless 0. Zero!!! For the man who had a career-high 18 final 12 months!!!
A lot was manufactured from Cooper’s landing (the place Coleman appeared to direct Cooper what path to run after an audible). However I liked watching Allen join with Cooper for 19 yards within the third quarter. The design of the play despatched movement and a faux pitch to the correct. That misdirection helped Cooper create separation alongside the left sideline. It was a simple pitch and catch between the 2 stars.
Good stuff from OC Joe Brady — and a singular show of chemistry between Allen and Cooper.
It is scary to think about what the offense can obtain with Cooper absolutely built-in into the offense. However there’s the plain white whale: Mahomes.
3. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (⬇️ 1)
4. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (⬆️ 6)
Goff did to the Vikings what no quarterback has finished this season: He lower them to items with surgical passing underneath strain. Have in mind, this is similar Minnesota protection that logged eight interceptions and 9 sacks within the earlier three video games.
However Goff was unstoppable.
Sure, we’re speaking about the identical Jared Goff.
And it isn’t only a one-game factor. Beneath strain this season, Goff at present leads all certified quarterbacks in yards per try (11.6), completion proportion (71.6%), CPOE (+9.6%) and passer ranking (125.7).
That is why I’ve Goff and Brock Purdy buying and selling locations on this checklist.
Firstly of the season, I pegged Purdy as one of many premier pocket quarterbacks with one of the best weapons in one of many premier NFL methods. Seems, that is really Goff.
Over the previous three weeks, listed below are Goff’s passer rankings:
Week 7 (win over Vikings): 140
Week 6 (win over Cowboys): 153.7
Week 5 (win over Seahawks): 155.8
He has simply 10 incompletions on 68 makes an attempt over these weeks. Goff has been probably the most constantly spectacular thrower of the soccer.
5. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (↔)
6. Jordan Love, Inexperienced Bay Packers (⬆️ 3)
7. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (⬇️ 3)
8. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (↔)
9. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (⬆️ 3)
10. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (⬆️ 4)
I consider it was Aristotle who stated, do not hate the participant, hate the sport. (Or was it Plato?)
You have seen the meme of Mahomes making out with a referee. You have seen the countless stream of feedback on social media about how the NFL is fixing video games to maintain Kansas Metropolis within the win column. You are hating the participant for no good motive, people.
Mahomes is not making the principles. He is simply making them work for him.
There is not any higher instance than his 33-yard rush towards the 49ers when he hesitated close to the sideline — appearing as if he would possibly exit of bounds — earlier than charging upfield for an enormous acquire. Mahomes knew the officers would name a penalty if he obtained hit close to the sideline, so he made that work for him. Soccer is a recreation the place the best have at all times bent the principles. So that is what Mahomes has finished since profitable his first Tremendous Bowl.
Mahomes is not precisely having a very good season. He has six landing passes and eight interceptions. That speaks to his general mediocre physique of labor.
However know this: Mahomes’ anticipated level common on first and second downs is -2.8, whereas it is 11.3 on third and fourth downs. His EPA is -5.7 within the first, second and third quarters, but it surely’s 14.2 within the fourth.
It is bizarre. Mahomes is not good proper now. However he is nice when it issues — and, with an elite protection, that is all that issues. That, and 6-0.
11. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (⬇️ 8)
The 49ers wanted Purdy to be nice this previous Sunday. A press release outing.
He performed actually terrible. And it is as a result of he tried to play past his capabilities.
It wasn’t simply the three interceptions, which have been all on him. It was additionally the missed alternatives on huge performs that might’ve and will’ve been even greater. The 49ers most likely would’ve scored a landing if Purdy had hit George Kittle in stride on third-and-4 within the second quarter, however they settled for 41 yards and, in the end, a area purpose. They could have had one other TD if Purdy hit Jacob Cowing in stride on 2nd-and-8 within the fourth quarter, which additionally produced 41 yards earlier than Purdy threw an interception.
It is not nearly Purdy avoiding the errors.
It is in regards to the quarterback getting again to maximizing on optimistic performs.
The efficiency triggered a five-minute dialog within the 49ers’ locker room in entrance of the media, in keeping with The San Francisco Commonplace’s Tim Kawakami. Kawakami urged the dialog was about Purdy urgent and making an attempt to place the group on his shoulders as an increasing number of talent gamers take care of accidents.
“Is there extra strain to placed on a Superman cape and do extra? No,” Purdy stated postgame. “Now we have lots of expertise, in my eyes.”
Perhaps. However all his finest weapons are scuffling with accidents. And Brandon Aiyuk is out for the 12 months.
Purdy is an effective quarterback, who has — for his complete profession — been elevated by his supporting forged. He’ll have to graduate from that designation if the 49ers are going to make the playoffs.
12. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings (⬇️ 5)
13. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (⬇️ 1)
14. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (⬆️ 4)
15. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (⬆️ 4)
16. Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (new)
It appears like Mike Tomlin was proper to swap in Russell Wilson for Justin Fields, in any case.
Even with mainly everybody questioning the choice, Tomlin will need to have seen what Russ dropped at the offense that Fields did not: verticality. We noticed Russ tossing up moonballs like the great outdated days in Seattle.
However … I wish to situation a phrase of restraint with Wilson, The field rating confirmed that Russ was terrific. And whereas he was good, he wasn’t pretty much as good because the numbers confirmed. Initially, George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth are freaks, and that was on full show with each playmakers posterizing a banged-up Jets’ secondary at a number of factors all through the sport. Pickens needed to make quite a few acrobatic catches, nonetheless, partially as a result of Wilson was underthrowing the deep ball. Pickens and Freiermuth padded Wilson’s stats with one spectacular seize after one other.
After which the Jets’ incompetence additionally boosted Wilson. The Steelers ran the identical idea 5 instances towards New York. It was additionally their first passing play of the sport: a play-action boot that obtained the tight finish open simply past the flat. Nothing fancy. However the Jets appeared wholly unprepared to defend it, and the play sprung Darnell Washington for 18 yards after which 15 yards, and Freiermuth for 30 yards.
Russ was rusty. The Steelers set him up for achievement. It ought to hold getting higher from right here. And if it would not — properly, Fields is ready.
17. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (⬇️ 2)
18. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons (⬇️ 4)
19. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (⬇️ 3)
20. Drake Maye, New England Patriots (⬆️ 2)
21. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets (⬇️ 4)
How does Rodgers get his group to maintain perception?
“Cease listening to you guys [the media], primary. Quantity two, gotta be accountable. I gotta play higher,” Rodgers advised reporters.
OK, I am cackling.
Look, we already knew Rodgers was a hypocrite. However I am cracking up at Rodgers taking a shot on the media for criticizing his underachieving group — proper earlier than telling everybody that he wants to stay accountable.
However don’t be concerned, he’ll go on The Pat McAfee Present for an hour later this week to set the file straight. You recognize … throughout his media work. (As a result of, sure, Rodgers will get paid to work with the McAfee Present.)
Management is a key factor of excellent quarterbacking. I do not get the sense Rodgers has robust command over this locker room.
On the sphere, it is exhausting to make sense of Rodgers’ play. I am useless critical after I say that in an offense with Davante Adams, Garrett Wilson and Breece Corridor, Rodgers checked out his finest Sunday when throwing to Allen Lazard. So it is a bizarre state of affairs in New York. It is sensible that Adams — with just some days with the Jets — had three catches on 9 targets. It would not make sense that Wilson had 5 catches on 9 targets with two interceptions in his course, together with an egregious drop on Rodgers’ finest throw of the night time.
This is not to absolve Rodgers of his points. He has the sixteenth finest EPA per dropback when dealing with strain, and you may see him struggling to get the ball out behind this offensive line. He’s additionally surprisingly sloppy on dump-off passes and checkdowns. And he lacks confidence in what he is seeing within the deep third of the sphere, the place he tried zero (0) passes on Sunday.
The Jets wanted a savior. Rodgers ain’t it.
22. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (⬆️ 1)
23. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (⬆️ 2)
24. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (⬇️ 4)
25. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts (new)
26. Mason Rudolph, Tennessee Titans (new)
27. Aidan O’Connell, Las Vegas Raiders (⬆️ 1)
28. Daniel Jones, New York Giants (⬇️ 1)
29. Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints (↔)
30. Andy Dalton, Carolina Panthers (⬇️ 2)
31. Tyler Huntley, Miami Dolphins (⬇️ 1)
32. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns (↔)
It is over. It must be.
With Watson struggling an Achilles harm, his season — and maybe his NFL profession — is completed. It is exhausting to think about the Browns taking the salary-cap losses ($172 million in useless cap hits if lower in 2025) and shifting on with out him. However would not that be higher than losing one other season on Watson? Notably after an harm that may already finish a profession?
He was the worst beginning quarterback — with out query. And he has the worst contract within the NFL — with out query. This complete charade has gone on longer than it ought to have. It has been enormously problematic for the reason that emergence of about two dozen lawsuits in 2021 accusing Watson of sexual assault and sexual misconduct — earlier than Cleveland acquired him.
I do know the Browns have a protracted historical past of screwing up the quarterback state of affairs. However after giving up three first-round picks and $230 million assured, they actually can not do worse with the subsequent man. Even one other rookie bust could be palatable. It’s going to be a really very long time earlier than any group makes a transaction as cataclysmic because the Watson commerce. It would by no means occur.
Henry McKenna is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand spent seven years protecting the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Comply with him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.
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