NFL Analysis
12/26/24
14 min read
2024 NFL Week 17 QB Power Rankings: Lamar Jackson Re-Claims Top Spot
Welcome to Week 17 of the quarterback rankings.
These are not your typical quarterback rankings, which is why you might see some differences from what you’d expect to see in a ranking system that was built off a box score or reputation.
As a reminder, our new grading system combines the skill set rankings (how good a quarterback is in a vacuum) and production (based on a composite of EPA per play and success rate from TruMedia) for the 2024 season.
The hope is that the mix of the skill set rankings and the production rankings will give a more complete picture of what is actually happening on the field during the 2024 season.
The skill set rankings are from me, watching and grading each quarterback in the individual categories. If you feel like I hate your favorite quarterback, those are the rankings you should be looking at and yelling at me for.
The skill score is then combined with the production score to get the full rankings.
The full rankings, including each individual skill set, will be at the bottom of this article. If you liked the old rankings, you can filter by Skill Score. If you're more interested in production, you can filter by that, too.
Each week, we’ll be ranking the league’s 32 starting quarterbacks. That means if a quarterback switch is made, it will be reflected in the rankings. With the production rankings, we’ll start ranking new quarterbacks after their first start or if an official move is made.
With that out of the way, here are the new quarterback rankings heading into Week 17. All stats provided by TruMedia unless noted otherwise. Even though we’re two games into Week 17, these rankings do not reflect the play from the Christmas Day games.
Week 17 Quarterback Rankings
1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens 
Skill Score: 9.70 | Production Score: 7.77 | Ranking Score: 8.74
Lamar Jackson exorcised whatever Pittsburgh demons lingered over his previous matchups against the Steelers — even if those were always overstated. He was able to throw down the field effectively and threw 34.8 percent of his passes to the intermediate range (11-19 air yards).
2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Skill Score: 9.70 | Production Score: 7.51 | Ranking Score: 8.61
Josh Allen had an oddly pedestrian game against a New England defense that hasn’t been all that good this season. He still had a 50 percent success rate, but there was a disconnect between things Allen was trying (11.0-yard average depth of target) and what worked (4.3-yard average depth of completion).
His 10 percent explosive pass rate was his third-lowest for a game this season.
3. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Skill Score: 9.10 | Production Score: 8.00 | Ranking Score: 8.55
The Lions are at the point where they’re faking fumbles to create big plays. They’re on another level in terms of how confident they are for the offense working, and Jared Goff has been the beneficiary all season.
Goff averaged 10.5 yards per attempt with just a 5.6-yard aDOT against the Bears.
4. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Skill Score: 9.24 | Production Score: 7.07 | Ranking Score: 8.16
Tua Tagovailoa had a bounce-back game after a tough loss last week when he played the worst he’s played all season.
The Dolphins went back to getting the ball out super quickly (2.29 average seconds to throw), and his day could have been even bigger if a few more passes were caught.
5. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Skill Score: 9.52 | Production Score: 6.63 | Ranking Score: 8.08
Joe Burrow was all over the place against the Browns. Cleveland got pressure, but Burrow was able to escape it enough to make some big plays, including one where he was horizontal on a touchdown throw to Tee Higgins.
He was successful enough to early downs to get over some struggles on third down when he was pressured on 60 percent of his dropbacks.
6. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Skill Score: 9.78 | Production Score: 5.95 | Ranking Score: 7.87
Patrick Mahomes came into the game with a sprained ankle and then played as well as he has all year. It was his third-highest EPA per play of the season. The Chiefs went back to their early-season strategy of getting the ball out quickly to protect the offensive line from the pass rush, though with 2.33 seconds to throw, Mahomes was still pressured on 37.8 percent of his dropbacks.
He was only hit four times, breaking a streak of seven games with seven or more hits, and his 8.9 percent hit rate was his second-lowest of the season.
7. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Skill Score: 9.20 | Production Score: 6.51 | Ranking Score: 7.86
Jayden Daniels helped lead an incredible comeback against the Eagles. He showed a mix of big-play ability and the timing to hit some well-designed red zone plays, as he had five touchdown passes on the day.
More importantly, his pocket management was a plus. He only took one sack despite being pressured on 42.2 percent of his dropbacks.
8. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Skill Score: 9.10 | Production Score: 6.56 | Ranking Score: 7.83
Brock Purdy got back into a groove as the 49ers continued to go back to the Shanahan roots for the second time in three games — the exception being last week’s poor game against the Rams.
Purdy used play-action on 34 percent of his dropbacks, his second-highest rate of the season (behind Week 14). On play-action attempts, Purdy averaged 0.33 EPA per play and 9.6 yards per attempt.
9. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Skill Score: 9.08 | Production Score: 6.40 | Ranking Score: 7.74
There’s been a clear line of demarcation for Baker Mayfield this season in games when he feels comfortable in the pocket and those when he doesn’t.
For much of this game, it was the latter. He was pressured 26 percent of the time, but he took a sack on 30.8 percent of his pressures and was skittish in the pocket even before pressure got there.
10. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Skill Score: 9.42 | Production Score: 5.95 | Ranking Score: 7.69
Despite the blowout, Jordan Love didn’t have a crazy statistical game. The Packers were in clear control of the entire game, and Love tried a few things down the field that didn’t hit and lowered what could have been a more impressive game by the numbers.
But Love has been one of the best passers in the league during the past few weeks, and that should continue into the playoffs, where Green Bay clinched a spot Monday night.
11. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Skill Score: 9.08 | Production Score: 6.30 | Ranking Score: 7.69
Jalen Hurts suffered a concussion in the first quarter, and his loss was immediately felt in the way the Eagles were able to run the offense. His presence behind center opens things up in the run game and that changed as soon as he was gone.
12. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Skill Score: 9.60 | Production Score: 5.59 | Ranking Score: 7.60
The Rams didn’t do much through the air and didn’t have to in order to have an easy victory against the Jets. After scoring 44 points against the Bills, the Rams have scored 31 combined points during the past two games.
That shouldn’t be much of a concern because the Rams have multiple ways to win. Between the rain against San Francisco and the purposeful short passing against the Jets, both recent passing performances can be excused.
13. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Skill Score: 9.38 | Production Score: 5.79 | Ranking Score: 7.59
There’s still something missing with Kyler Murray’s deep ball, even when he plays well overall.
Against the Panthers, Murray went 2-for-9 with an interception for -0.40 EPA per play on throws of 11 air yards or more. It’s been an ongoing issue all season, as Murray is just 29th in EPA per play on those throws this year.
14. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings
Skill Score: 9.10 | Production Score: 5.64 | Ranking Score: 7.37
Sam Darnold didn’t have his best game against the Seahawks, but it didn’t matter because there was enough good to lift the Vikings’ passing game.
He had 0.15 EPA per play but just a 41.9 percent success rate, which shows how much he relied on bigger plays. Minnesota’s passing offense has embraced and empowered Darnold’s willingness to big-play hunt.
15. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Skill Score: 9.14 | Production Score: 5.20 | Ranking Score: 7.17
Drake Maye might be the most impressive rookie quarterback at this point in the season based on how he’s played and the support he’s gotten.
There’s not a lot to work with in the New England offense — to the point people were concerned about playing him behind that offensive line — but he’s lifted what’s around him even while the Patriots haven’t been able to come up with wins.
16. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Skill Score: 9.60 | Production Score: 4.72 | Ranking Score: 7.16
Justin Herbert’s game Thursday night against the Broncos was one of the most fun of the season for any quarterback, especially in the second half.
He ended with 0.43 EPA per play, which led the week. His touchdown throw to Derius Davis while drifting to his left and finding the throwing angle was one of the most impressive plays of the year.
17. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
Skill Score: 9.32 | Production Score: 4.84 | Ranking Score: 7.08
It’s been a rough go of it for Geno Smith, who has been stuck behind a poor offensive line and hasn’t gotten a lot out of the scheme to help.
Smith was pressured on 47.1 percent of his dropbacks, but keeping with his great pocket management this season, he was only sacked twice. His worst plays, like the game-clinching interception came on a miscommunication with DK Metcalf.
18. Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Skill Score: 9.14 | Production Score: 4.44 | Ranking Score: 6.79
Russell Wilson had a rough go against the Ravens. He had his highest rate of plays outside the pocket in Week 16, and that’s no longer his game.
It is apparent that there are few explosive plays without George Pickens on the field, and Wilson's attempts to create them have had more negative effects than positive ones.
19. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
Skill Score: 9.58 | Production Score: 3.84 | Ranking Score: 6.71
C.J. Stroud managed the pocket fairly well against the Chiefs blitzes, but there weren’t a lot of options to go to once he got away from the pressure.
With the blow of Tank Dell going down, whatever air there was in the passing game was completely taken out.
20. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets
Skill Score: 8.86 | Production Score: 4.33 | Ranking Score: 6.60
Aaron Rodgers couldn’t get much going despite being pressured on a season-low 18.2 percent of his dropbacks.
There wasn’t much happening down the field, and he only averaged a 5.3-yard average depth of target, despite Rodgers holding onto the ball and waiting for things to open up. That led to a season-low 4.7 percent explosive pass rate.
21. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Skill Score: 9.04 | Production Score: 4.09 | Ranking Score: 6.57
This was Bo Nix’s most productive game of the season, but he wasn’t asked to do much. He only had a 2.9-yard average depth of target and a 1.1-yard average depth of completion.
That worked when the run game was going in the first half, but there was no changeup when those runs weren’t hitting in the second half.
22. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Skill Score: 9.16 | Production Score: 3.84 | Ranking Score: 6.50
This might have been the best a losing quarterback has played in a blowout this season. He averaged 0.27 EPA per play, which was the fifth-highest rate of the week.
Caleb Williams mixed in some of the in-rhythm throws and some of his extended creation ability. The perfect example was the deep touchdown throw to Keenan Allen at the end of the second quarter.
23. Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
Skill Score: 8.94 | Production Score: 4.00 | Ranking Score: 6.47
Michael Penix Jr. had an impressive debut, showing exactly what was needed from him to get the most out of the Atlanta offense. He worked well to the middle of the field, going 10-of-10 for 1.21 EPA per play.
He showed mobility and the ability to move around in the pocket — having the opening play be a bootleg off of play-action felt intentional.
24. Aidan O’Connell, Las Vegas Raiders
Skill Score: 8.52 | Production Score: 4.24 | Ranking Score: 6.38
Aidan O’Connell had his best game as a starter, with a 51.1 percent success rate, while he dropped back 41 times.
He even scrambled — that’s two in the past two weeks! “Throw to Brock Bowers” has been a pretty easy formula for the Las Vegas offense.
25. Mason Rudolph, Tennessee Titans
Skill Score: 8.70 | Production Score: 4.00 | Ranking Score: 6.35
Mason Rudolph hasn’t been great during his starting stint with the Titans, but he’s been steadier. There have been bad plays, but they haven’t been the back-breaking and game-changing mistakes Will Levis made.
Though his first interception to Kenny Moore was about as bad as it gets without ever seeing the defender.
26. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
Skill Score: 9.12 | Production Score: 3.39 | Ranking Score: 6.26
Anthony Richardson had one of his best games of the season against the Titans. He averaged a career-low 2.11 seconds to throw. His previous low was 2.43 seconds.
With that, he was more decisive as a passer, still hit some throws down the field, and had seven designed runs which included a touchdown. It could have been two, but he was ruled just short of the goal line.
27. Mac Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars
Skill Score: 8.62 | Production Score: 3.60 | Ranking Score: 6.11
Mac Jones can throw to an open Brian Thomas Jr., and the positives might stop there. Jones is 2-of-21 on the season on throws of 20 or more air yards, which includes one touchdown and five interceptions.
That one touchdown was a wide-open Thomas down the sideline on a third-and-long in the third quarter.
28. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Skill Score: 9.10 | Production Score: 2.96 | Ranking Score: 6.03
Bryce Young might have had his best day as a starter against the Cardinals. During the past two weeks, he’s taken a few more sacks than he had previously, but he’s still been able to create outside of structure and bounce back if those sacks were taken.
He looks more confident manipulating defenders, as he did on the touchdown to Adam Thielen, and he has trust in where to place the ball, like as he did against the heavy blitz on his touchdown throw to David Moore.
29. Cooper Rush Dallas Cowboys
Skill Score: 8.56 | Production Score: 3.43 | Ranking Score: 6.00
Cooper Rush had an impressive day against the Buccaneers. A connection with CeeDee Lamb was found, but Rush was also able to find some success throwing elsewhere.
Getting the ball out quickly eliminated the risk of pressure (19.4 percent), while Tampa Bay blitzed on 41 percent of his dropbacks.
30. Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints
Skill Score: 8.66 | Production Score: 0.93 | Ranking Score: 4.80
The secret to Spencer Rattler might be making him a reliever. He was great when he came in for Jake Haener in Week 15, but he’s looked completely overmatched in each of his starts.
He was pressured on 52 percent of his dropbacks without the Packers blitzing, and anything he tried to do to extend plays didn’t work.
31. Drew Lock, New York Giants
Skill Score: 8.44 | Production Score: 0.35 | Ranking Score: 4.40
Drew Lock has thrown some of the worst passes in the league during his time as the Giants’ starter. On the pick-six, he never saw Jessie Bates.
He’s also joined the line of Giants quarterbacks who don’t feel pressure, and that’s led to a ton of hits, including what turned into an interception on a popped-up ball on a Matthew Judon hit.
32. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Cleveland Browns
Skill Score: 8.48 | Production Score: -0.17 | Ranking Score: 4.16
There weren’t any pick-6s, which is a step up from Jameis Winston, but the improvements might end there. On both of his interceptions, he tried to do way too much and forced the ball when it shouldn’t have been thrown.
Week 17 Full Quarterback Rankings
