NFL QB rankings, Week 3: Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott, Matthew Stafford heating up

NOTES:

1. Up/down arrows illustrate movement from the Week 2 QB Index.
2. Stream live local and prime-time games on mobile with NFL+ .

TIER 1

• Josh Allen can do no wrong, following up a four-touchdown season debut with a five-touchdown showing in Week 2. He has an early lead in the MVP race.
• Patrick Mahomes has proven he’s completely back from the knee injury that ended his 2025 season. He fired majestic strikes and moved with the full capability that has defined his brand in the win over the Colts. The fact he’s operating in an offense that now has a legitimate running game is an added bonus.

Next Gen Stats insight (via NFL Pro): Mahomes completed 8 of 9 passes for 133 yards and two TDs against man coverage in Week 1, a contrast to a 2025 campaign in which his 5.0 yards per attempt against man were the second-fewest in the NFL and his five INTs were tied for second-most.

• Brock Purdy is another early MVP candidate after lighting up the Rams and Dolphins to start the season, posting a league-best completion percentage of 80.4.
• Dak Prescott got back on track in Week 2, dropping an absurd amount of gorgeous dimes on CeeDee Lamb in a 37-20 romp over Washington and reminding the football world of his elite talents (yes, I called him elite and I’m not exaggerating).
• Matthew Stafford returned to form after looking rusty in his 2026 debut, torching the Giants by leaning heavily on Davante Adams.
• Jared Goff was excellent in the second half of Detroit’s Week 2 loss, a reality that will be lost on most who only check final scores. For the Lions’ sake, hopefully his efforts will produce more wins going forward.

Next Gen Stats insight (via NFL Pro): Goff has the most games with 2+ passing touchdowns and zero interceptions in the NFL since the start of 2024 (18), 2023 (25), 2022 (31) and 2021 (35) — the year he was traded to the Lions.

TIER 2

• The Bengals were a bit uneven offensively against Houston’s top-tier defense, but they won with big plays made possible by Joe Burrow’s arm talent, decision-making and willingness to let it rip while under duress. He and the Bengals haven’t been consistently explosive through two weeks, but Burrow deserves credit for going into Houston and leading Cincinnati to a 14-point win.

Next Gen Stats insight (via NFL Pro): Burrow completed all three of his deep passes (20+ air yards) to Ja'Marr Chase for 73 yards and two TDs in Week 2 against the Texans.

• It was jarring to watch Baltimore’s offense lose its juice once Derrick Henry disappeared from the game plan in Week 2, and it didn’t reflect well on Lamar Jackson. Yes, he didn’t have WR1 Zay Flowers available, but Jackson’s inability to overcome a surprising change in defensive strategy -- New Orleans decreased its blitz rate in the second half and improved -- and his game-sealing interception dealt a blow to his sparkling reputation for at least one week.

Next Gen Stats insight (via NFL Pro): Jackson used play action on 34.2% of dropbacks against the Saints, completing 6 of his 10 play-action attempts for 101 yards.

• Bryce Young stacked another excellent showing on top of his season debut, making throws that wowed viewers and buoyed his standing in the QB Index. The confidence and conviction represents a significant step forward for a quarterback who needs a career year ahead of contract talks.
• Trevor Lawrence was incredibly sharp early in Denver, fitting passes into tight windows and pushing the Jaguars offense forward. His dropoff in the second half was disappointing, though, and contributed directly to Jacksonville’s defeat.

TIER 3

• Tyler Shough has an obvious clutch gene and unchecked bravery that has already propelled two second-half comebacks this season and powered the Saints to one of the biggest upsets of Week 2. It sure helps that Chris Olave is blossoming, a product of a symbiotic relationship between quarterback and receiver.

Next Gen Stats insight (via NFL Pro): Shough completed 10 of his 13 attempts against the blitz for 113 yards, a career high mark, while also going 17 for 21 for 139 yards and a touchdown when facing four or fewer rushers.

• Drew Lock lit up Arizona in his first start in place of the injured Sam Darnold, throwing without fear and reaping the benefits. He steadied the Seahawks’ offense in a situation that could have taken a downward turn with a lesser quarterback.

Next Gen Stats insight (via NFL Pro): Lock completed 7 of 11 downfield pass attempts (10+ air yards) for 175 yards in Week 2 against the Cardinals, the second-most of his career, along with two touchdowns.

• Jalen Hurts tossed a couple of interceptions against the Titans, but he also pushed the Eagles to victory with his late-game heroics. With A.J. Brown no longer in the mix in Philly, Hurts’ rapport with DeVonta Smith is among the most enjoyable developments of the early portion of 2026.
• C.J. Stroud has played well at times in the first two weeks, but he hasn’t yet strung together a complete performance.

Next Gen Stats insight (via NFL Pro): Through two weeks, Stroud leads the league in dropbacks (104) and pass attempts (93); only 10.8% of his pass attempts have been thrown at or behind the line of scrimmage, the second lowest rate in the league.

• Jayden Daniels played really well in the first half of Washington’s Week 2 loss and likely would have kept the game close to the very end had he not suffered a dislocated left elbow on the final play of the second quarter. It’s a massively disappointing development for both the Commanders and fans of electrifying quarterback play.
• Brian Flores’ Vikings defense got after Caleb Williams, whose fast-and-loose playing style burned him when he attempted an off-balance throw on the run that resulted in an interception. Williams still had his moments, but he couldn’t overcome the elements or Minnesota's aggression, and his hamstring injury was an awful way to end his day. We’ll all hope Williams can return near full strength before long because he’s so fun to watch.

TIER 4

• Jordan Love was thrown into the rain at MetLife Stadium in Week 2 and, unsurprisingly, he struggled. He did manage to lead a comeback victory with an offense that lacks any semblance of a running game, though. He’ll need to improve before long, or else he’ll continue to hover around the Dalton Line.
• Daniel Jones did his best to keep the Colts in a thrilling Sunday night contest and nearly threw them to victory.

Next Gen Stats insight (via NFL Pro): Jones used play action on 51.5% of his dropbacks vs. the Chiefs, his second-highest rate in a game in his career and was effective when doing so, completing 14 of his 16 attempts for 159 yards and a touchdown, his second-most yards on play action passes in a game in his career. 

• Kirk Cousins has been tremendously fun to watch, especially for fans of grizzled veterans who might be getting their final chance to play meaningful football before Father Time arrives. Cousins’ play against the Chargers was heroic at times, and he’s done a great job of quieting the conversation regarding rookie Fernando Mendoza’s eventual rise to the top job.

Next Gen Stats insight (via NFL Pro): Cousins joined Tom Brady (2021 & 2015) and Peyton Manning (2014) as the only quarterbacks age 38 or older with at least three touchdown passes in each of his team's first two games of a season.

• Drake Maye played better against the Steelers than the 20-3 final score suggested, but the Patriots have a problem with finishing drives. Maye still isn’t close to the elite quarterback he was in 2025.

TIER 5

• Justin Herbert isn’t the main reason the Chargers are 0-2. He’s made plenty of excellent throws, but he also isn’t helping Los Angeles in key moments when taking unnecessary risks that result in turnovers.

Next Gen Stats insight (via NFL Pro): Herbert has gone 0-for-7 with two INTs on tight-window throws this season (less than one yard of separation), while attempting those throws at a 13.0% clip, a mark just below the NFL average (14.3%).

• Geno Smith’s solid start carried over into Week 2 for a portion of the contest, but the weather didn’t help his efforts in a disappointing loss.
• Bo Nix and the Broncos still have a problem with starting slowly, and Nix continues to vacillate between a quarterback who can make incredible throws and commit maddening mistakes.

Next Gen Stats insight (via NFL Pro): Nix completed 16 of 17 passes against four or fewer rushers for 205 yards and a TD in Week 2 against the Jaguars, tied for the second-highest completion percentage when not facing the blitz by any quarterback since the start of last season (min. 10 attempts).

• Jaxson Dart’s encouraging start to 2026 was interrupted by a knee injury that wiped out the rest of his season, throwing the Giants into a depressing and familiar scenario from which they thought they’d graduated.

TIER 6

• Cam Ward and the Titans were much better offensively in Week 2. They gave the Eagles a four-quarter battle most didn’t expect to see. Ward appears to be gaining confidence in Brian Daboll’s offense and has regained some of his playmaking ability that drove optimism after his rookie season, although there’s still plenty of room to grow. 
• It was nice to see Deshaun Watson produce competent play on a Sunday. It wasn’t great by any means, nor was it pretty, but Watson keyed a second-half comeback that saw the Browns outscore the Buccaneers 17-3 to finish the game, including a 55-yard catch-and-run touchdown for rookie Denzel Boston (his second in as many weeks) and a third-down completion to tight end Blake Whiteheart for the game-winning score. That’s exponentially better than anything I’ve written about Watson in about two years, which is worthy of a bump.

Next Gen Stats insight (via NFL Pro): Watson is the first starting QB to lead a fourth-quarter comeback to snap a 6+ game personal losing streak since Justin Fields (2025).

• Jacoby Brissett played better against the Seahawks than his stat line suggested in the first half by leaning heavily on Trey McBride. For two quarters, it appeared as if Brissett might go toe-to-toe with Drew Lock. That optimism faded in a lopsided second half in which Brissett couldn’t overcome the suffocating Seattle defense.

Next Gen Stats insight (via NFL Pro): Brissett was under pressure on 41.9% of dropbacks in Week 2 against the Seahawks, completing 4 of 11 passes for 9 yards with an INT under pressure, and 13 of 17 for 86 yards and a TD from a clean pocket.

• We have real reason to be concerned about Tampa Bay’s offense, a scheme in which Baker Mayfield simply appears uncomfortable and uncertain. I’m not sure there’s a quick fix to this issue, either. A frantic, skittish Mayfield isn’t going to be capable of overcoming an offense that lacks identity, rhythm and confidence.

TIER 7

• Malik Willis is trying his best to lead an offense that simply doesn’t take care of the details and carries one of the lowest ceilings in the NFL. It’s not necessarily his fault, but it’s clear he’s not quite the quarterback who can carry an undermanned team to victory at this stage in his career.
• Aaron Rodgers’ age was painfully obvious in New England on Sunday. His offensive line struggled to protect him, his receivers didn’t help him and he didn’t look like he enjoyed his job very much. Somehow, an offense with more freedom to be aggressive has produced worse results, and at 42 years old, it looks like Rodgers isn’t capable of overcoming these challenges right now.

Next Gen Stats insight (via NFL Pro): Rodgers finished with 187 passing yards, 0 touchdowns and 1 INT -- his fifth straight start with one passing TD or fewer, tied for the second-longest such streak of his career.

• Carson Wentz’s performance was entirely forgettable in a rainy 9-3 victory in Chicago. We’ll see if Kyler Murray’s return can get the offense back on track.
• Cooper Rush has been the worst quarterback in the NFL through two weeks, but thankfully, Michael Penix Jr. is returning to the lineup this week. We’ll see if his style of play fits better than that of Rush, who wasn’t helped much by an underperforming offensive line.