RADIO
Injuries were a common theme in Week 6. Among the starting quarterbacks who did not play or exited and did not return with an injury: Daniel Jones, Deshaun Watson, Anthony Richardson, Jimmy Garoppolo, Justin Fields, and Ryan Tannehill. Other signal callers, such as Josh Allen and Trevor Lawrence, suffered injuries but returned to action.
With backup quarterbacks becoming starters both short-term and long-term, the power rankings are starting to shake up around the middle and bottom.
Tua Tagovailoa jumps back up to number one this week after another dazzling performance by the Miami offense. How does the rest of the landscape fare from 2-32? Let's dig in.
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1. Tua Tagovailoa - Miami Dolphins
Miami got down 14-0 early against an 0-5 Carolina Panthers team, but Tua did not care. He remained poised and ended up leading the Dolphins to a 42-21 win, moving them to 5-1 on the season. The MVP candidate passed for 262 yards and three touchdowns, a performance that recaptured the number one spot on the RotoBaller power ranking ladder.
2. Patrick Mahomes - Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes did not have his most impressive showing on Thursday night against Denver, but still managed to pass for 306 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Mahomes and the Chiefs are 5-1, riding a five game win streak into a big divisional matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers next week.
3. Trevor Lawrence - Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence willed his team to a huge 37-20 win on Sunday over the Indianapolis Colts, toppling them for the second time this season. Lawrence only passed for 181 yards in the win with two touchdowns and an interception. He appeared to injure his knee towards the end of the game, which could be a situation to monitor as Jacksonville is on a short week this week with Thursday night looming. The Jaguars are in sole possession of the AFC South at 4-2.
Trevor Lawrence willed his team to a huge 37-20 win on Sunday over the Indianapolis Colts, toppling them for the second time this season. Lawrence only passed for 181 yards in the win with two touchdowns and an interception. He appeared to injure his knee towards the end of the game, which could be a situation to monitor as Jacksonville is on a short week this week with Thursday night looming. The Jaguars are in sole possession of the AFC South at 4-2.
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence told reporters he’s “optimistic” to play Thurs vs. Saints w/ minor left knee sprain.
Lawrence said he feels much better + takes a lot of pride not missing an NFL game & playing thru pain. Despite short week, he’ll “do everything he can to be out there” pic.twitter.com/5bQK5VUk08
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) October 17, 2023
4. Jalen Hurts - Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts struggled against a tough New York Jets defense that was missing two of its stars in the secondary. Hurts threw three interceptions as New York handed the Eagles their first loss of the season, dropping their first loss ever to the Jets. Hurts will look to bounce back next Sunday night in a premier matchup between the Eagles and Dolphins.
5. Josh Allen - Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen did not play a great game against the New York Giants on Sunday night, throwing for just 169 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Allen briefly exited the game in the second quarter with a shoulder injury, which was reportedly feeling sore on Monday after the gritty win. Buffalo is 4-2 with a divisional matchup against the New England Patriots coming up next week.
6. C.J. Stroud - Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are 3-3, already winning as many games as they won a season ago. Stroud threw the first interception of his career in the win, but Saints’ linebacker Zack Baun fumbled the ball which gave Houston possession back. Stroud gets to rest up, with Houston heading into their bye week prior to a Week 8 matchup against Carolina, pitting the 2023 first and second-overall picks against each other.
7. Jared Goff - Detroit Lions
Jared Goff has been lights out to start the 2023 season and has Detroit red-hot at 5-1. Goff torched Tampa Bay for 353 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday en route to a 20-6 victory. The former number one overall draft pick is one of the more underrated quarterbacks in the league, having been to a Super Bowl and now lining up under center for a feisty Detroit team.
8. Justin Herbert - Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert played a solid game against a tough Dallas defense on Monday night but ultimately collapsed, throwing an interception on the final drive of the game to knock Los Angeles down to a 2-3 record on the season. The Chargers are now a half-game behind the Raiders, which is not where they anticipated being going into the season. Herbert did throw for 227 yards and two touchdowns in the game and will look to upset Kansas City on the road next week.
9. Brock Purdy - San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy suffered the first regular season loss of his career on Sunday at the hands of a Cleveland Browns team with P.J. Walker under center. Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey both exited the game with injuries, taking away some serious explosiveness from Purdy’s arsenal. He only completed 44% of his passes for 125 yards, both season lows. Purdy will be back in action next Monday night against Minnesota.
Brock Purdy without an entire surrounding cast of 1st team all-pros:pic.twitter.com/SPqh7aM66e
— Noah Gray burner (@TheGoatMahomes) October 15, 2023
10. Lamar Jackson - Baltimore Ravens
Lamar had a bounce-back Week 6 game in London, throwing for 223 yards and rushing for 62 in a dominant Baltimore win to set the Ravens in sole possession of the AFC North lead. He continues to be the NFL’s best runner at the position, offering big-time plays with his legs and forcing defenses to account for his elite athleticism.
11. Matthew Stafford - Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford continues to play good football in his return from injury, leading the Rams to a 3-3 start. Stafford threw for 226 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals on Sunday and will look to get the Rams over .500 against the Steelers next Sunday. He’s third in the league in passing yards with 1,677.
12. Joe Burrow - Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow played a game-manager role in Week 6’s win over Seattle that was propelled by the Cincinnati defense. Burrow has struggled this season but Cincinnati has rallied as of late, now 3-3 on the season. Despite the Bengals’ recent surge, Burrow is 26th in the league with a 79.8 passer rating.
13. Kirk Cousins - Minnesota Vikings
Kirk Cousins sits second in the league in passing yards (1,679) even after losing Justin Jefferson for at least four weeks. Cousins led the Vikings to their second win of the season on Sunday over a depleted Bears team. The veteran quarterback will have a tough task on Monday night as Minnesota takes on San Francisco with hopes of staying afloat in the NFC North.
14. Dak Prescott - Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott might be the most volatile quarterback weekly in these rankings. One week after a three-interception performance against San Francisco, Prescott outplayed Justin Herbert en route to a huge road win for Dallas. He completed 21-of-30 passes for 272 yards and a touchdown, adding 40 rushing yards and an additional rushing touchdown. With the Eagles falling to the Jets, Prescott has the Cowboys right back in the mix in the NFC East.
DAK PRESCOTT KEEPS IT AND SCORES A TOUCHDOWN FOR THE COWBOYS
pic.twitter.com/bZEGq77jFr— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) October 17, 2023
15. Geno Smith - Seattle Seahawks
The Cincinnati defense had Geno in a blender in Week 6. Seattle’s veteran quarterback threw for 323 yards but he tossed two interceptions and had some bad misses, completing 65% of his passes. Smith will hope to erase his struggles next week against the Arizona Cardinals, who only have one win on the season.
16. Sam Howell - Washington Commanders
Sam Howell delivered another solid game on Sunday, beating Atlanta 24-16 to bring Washington to 3-3. He tossed three touchdowns in the win but only passed for 151 yards. The 23-year-old has been solid this season as Washington’s QB1 and his mission to prove that he belongs in this league continues against the Giants in Week 7.
17. Baker Mayfield - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield has been delivering the true Baker experience in Tampa this season, with his latest performance being a low point in a 20-6 loss to Detroit at home. Mayfield threw for 206 yards and an interception, struggling to move the ball and convert points. Despite the bad game, Tampa remains in the driver’s seat in the NFC South and Baker will have a chance to bounce back in a big Week 7 divisional game against Atlanta.
18. Derek Carr - New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr aired it out on Sunday in the loss against Houston, throwing for 353 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Carr threw his interception on the final drive, having a chance to tie the game late. The veteran will be back in action on Thursday night against a surging Jacksonville team.
19. Bryce Young - Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young and the Panthers started hot against Miami, leading 14-0 before falling 42-21. Carolina is the only winless team in the league and Young has struggled early in his career. He completed 60% of his passes, throwing for 217 yards and a score against Miami. Young gets to rest this week before the number one vs. number two pick matchup in Week 8.
20. Tyrod Taylor - New York Giants
Don’t look now, but are the Giants in a better position playing Tyrod Taylor over Daniel Jones? They still didn’t score any touchdowns, but at least Taylor did not turn the ball over and nearly took down the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. The career backup threw for 200 yards in his 2023 debut, filling in for Jones as he deals with a neck injury.
Daniel Jones watching Tyrod Taylor slowly taking his job: pic.twitter.com/uSqGzXsqzU
— Lauren Mahomes and Maauto (@dogmomRN23) October 16, 2023
21. P.J. Walker - Cleveland Browns
P.J. Walker did not disappoint in his first start of the 2023 season, handing the 49ers their first loss of the year in a massive home win for Cleveland. Walker did not stuff the stat sheet, throwing for 192 yards and two interceptions, but managed the game well enough to the point where Cleveland’s defense was able to keep them afloat. Deshaun Watson (shoulder) may be back this week but if not, Walker should be back under center against the Colts.
22. Russell Wilson - Denver Broncos
Russell Wilson had a very poor outing on Thursday night against Kansas City, throwing for just 95 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Wilson and the Broncos now stand at 1-5 and have shown no signs of being a competent team. Wilson’s play has tabled off significantly since leaving Seattle and at this point, it would be surprising to see the 34-year-old recapture some of his early-career magic.
23. Zach Wilson - New York Jets
New York’s coaching staff has stayed loyal to Zach Wilson throughout all of the poor play and it paid off on Sunday as the Jets handed Philadelphia their first loss of the season. Wilson excelled in a game manager role, going 19-of-33 for 186 yards. The Jets played through their defense and run game and if Wilson can continue to try to do less, they could find some success this season.
24. Gardner Minshew II - Indianapolis Colts
Gardner Minshew struggled on Sunday against his former team, throwing three interceptions while attempting a career-high 55 passes. The Colts got blown out and now have some ground to make up in the AFC North after already falling twice to Jacksonville. It is sounding more and more like Anthony Richardson (shoulder) has been lost for the season, putting Minshew in the driver’s seat of Indianapolis’ offense for the remainder of 2023.
25. Joshua Dobbs - Arizona Cardinals
Joshua Dobbs failed to lead Arizona to a touchdown on Sunday, falling 26-9 to the Los Angeles Rams. Dobbs passed for 235 yards with an interception in the loss. Dobbs is 19th in the league in passing yards on the season with 1,215. The journeyman has been a middle-of-the-pack quarterback this season, doing well in his attempt to stick around somewhere long-term.
26. Kenny Pickett - Pittsburgh Steelers
Kenny Pickett and the Steelers were on bye in Week 6, coming out just a half-game behind Baltimore in the tight AFC North race. All four teams are competitive and it should once again be a bloodbath in the battle for a playoff berth. In order to get Pittsburgh to the postseason, Pickett simply has to play better. He is currently 27th in the league with a 78.8 passer rating.
27. Jordan Love - Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers were idle in Week 6, returning to take on a Denver Broncos defense that is rock bottom in the league. If there was ever a time for a get-right game for Love, this is it. It’s just the matchup that the young quarterback needs to get his feet back under him after back-to-back poor outings prior to the bye.
28. Mac Jones - New England Patriots
Mac Jones’ grip on the QB1 job in New England is slipping by the day. New England signed undrafted rookie quarterback Malik Cunningham to the roster full-time prior to Week 6 and while he only played six snaps with no stats recorded, Jones did not do much to solidify himself as the guy going forward. The Patriots are 1-5 and Jones has thrown an interception in five of six games this season.
Rather than an elevation, Malik Cunningham is being signed to the 53-man roster with a three-year deal, source said. https://t.co/4laeepzref
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 14, 2023
29. Desmond Ridder - Atlanta Falcons
A week after his heroic game-winning drive against Houston, Desmond Ridder was a mess against Washington. He suffered the first home game loss of his career in a three-interception showing although he did pass for 307 yards and two touchdowns in the game. Ridder and the Falcons travel to Tampa Bay for a big NFC South showdown with the lead of the division on the line in Week 7.
30. Brian Hoyer - Las Vegas Raiders
With Jimmy Garoppolo heading to the hospital during the Raiders’ game on Sunday, Brian Hoyer stepped in to close out the win over New England. The 38-year-old completed 6-of-10 passes for 102 yards. With details unknown about Garoppolo’s back injury, it could be Hoyer, Garoppolo, or rookie Aidan O’Connell under center for the Raiders in Week 7 against Chicago.
31. Tyson Bagent - Chicago Bears
Justin Fields suffered a dislocated thumb in the Week 6 loss to Minnesota, propelling the undrafted rookie from D2 Shepherd University into the lineup for Chicago. Tyson Bagent completed 10-of-14 passes for 83 yards and an interception while adding a rushing touchdown in the loss. With Fields listed as doubtful for Week 7, Bagent will likely draw his first career start against the Raiders.
The Raiders aren’t ready for this guy. Tyson Bagent QB1 forever. https://t.co/LWqj1SBWpk pic.twitter.com/pg1zJLK45U
— Highly Disputed (@DisputedHighly) October 16, 2023
32. Malik Willis - Tennessee Titans
Ryan Tannehill suffered a high-ankle sprain in London, pushing second-year Malik Willis into the game for Tennessee. Willis struggled with his release time, taking four sacks and looking awfully similar to what we saw last season from him. When he did get the ball out, he did manage to go 4-for-5 for 74 yards. Willis also scrambled for 17 yards. It remains to be seen who rolls out under center for Tennessee after their bye week, but Willis and rookie Will Levis both figure to get a shot.
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