Now that all 32 teams have played four games, it’s time to re-evaluate Sportsnaut’s NFL QB rankings for the 2026 season.
These rankings consider a lot of factors. Most importantly, how did a player perform last week? How does that align with their performance this season? Below, you’ll find out who the NFL’s worst quarterback and the NFL’s best quarterback are, and chances are, you won’t agree with everyone in between either.
32. Tyson Bagent, Chicago Bears (Last Week: 26)
Maybe Ben Johnson should have stuck with the more veteran Case Keenum after all. Making his second start of the season, Tyson Bagent completed just 12-of-21 passes for 87 yards and two interceptions before getting pulled. Bagent also took two sacks in the process, but honestly, Keenum wasn’t any better after replacing the Chicago Bears’ acting QB1. Thankfully, it looks like Caleb Williams will be back for the Bears in Week 6.
31. Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins (LW: 30)
His Week 5 opponent, safety Jordan Battle, tried to give Malik Willis a heads-up about an apparent tell before Sunday’s game. The former Alabama safety feasted on the 27-year-old Willis by intercepting him twice. Willis finished with just 85 passing yards, the second-fewest of his season, thus far. While he did add 74 yards and a rushing score, the Miami Dolphins need more passing production from their starting QB.
30. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans (LW: 27)
Traditionally, the Houston Texans have had one of the NFL’s best defenses, but DeMeco Ryans’ unit isn’t quite there this year. But that didn’t stop Cam Ward from delivering yet another underwhelming performance, completing 23-of-36 passes for just 170 scoreless yards and an interception. He also lost a whopping 40 yards on four sacks as the Titans scored just three points. He’s been one of the NFL’s worst quarterbacks since he arrived as the first overall pick in 2025.
29. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (LW: 25)
Five weeks into the 2026 season, the Los Angeles Chargers are still searching for their first win. This time, Justin Herbert completed just 14-of-24 passes for 121 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. In addition to the interception, Herbert also took five sacks for a loss of 39 yards while coughing up a fumble. He did add 54 yards as a rusher, but leading his team to just 17 points isn’t enough to move the needle.
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28. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts (LW: 28)
Daniel Jones had a season-high 267 passing yards, but despite connecting on four passes of over 20 yards, he couldn’t find the end zone with his arm for the second week in a row. He had twice as many passing touchdowns at this point last season, a reminder that Indiana Jones hasn’t had the same magic since last year’s torn Achilles. Of course, having a healthy Alec Pierce would help, and it’s definitely possible he’s still regaining confidence in his surgically repaired knee. Overall, a 2-3 start isn’t anything to panic about, but Jones will have to play better for a shot at the playoffs.
27. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (LW: 23)
Facing a winless Chargers team, Bo Nix couldn’t get anything going in Sunday’s six-point win. Nix completed 16-of-27 passes for just 123 yards and a touchdown. He only took one sack for a loss of five yards, while gaining 10 as a rusher. Yet, Nix also lost a fumble in a forgettable performance. The Broncos QB is lucky Denver’s defense forced three turnovers, because without it, they’d be 2-3.
26. Jalon Daniels, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LW: 31)
The 23-year-old undrafted rookie has performed quite well considering the circumstances. After nearly toppling the Packers in his starting debut, Daniels completed 76% of his passes in his second start, getting his first win in the process. After Daniels tossed two interceptions in his first start, he bounced back and avoided turnovers this week. For being a first-year pro, Daniels showed poise, and his mobility has been a factor as well, tallying 87 yards on 16 attempts. Of course, the Buccaneers are hoping to get Baker Mayfield back as soon as possible, but their backup has had some inspirational moments too.
25. Jameis Winston, New York Giants (LW: 29)
Jameis Winston continues to play better with every passing week. Now riding a three-game streak without a loss, the former No. 1 overall pick finally had his first 300-yard game of the season with his 326-yard, three-touchdown effort. Of course, he did commit a turnover, this one via a lost fumble. Surprisingly, Winston also rushed for 27 yards, his highest total since December of 2024. Overall, the Giants have to be happy with the results.
24. Tyler Huntley, Baltimore Ravens (LW: Lamar Jackson Ranked 7th)
With Lamar Jackson injured again, the Baltimore Ravens turned back to ‘Pro Bowl’ quarterback Tyler Huntley, who lived up to his accolade in an inspiring start on Sunday Night Football. Huntley was excellent, completing 24-of-32 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns. He did take three sacks for a loss of 16 yards, but he gained them all back with 20 rushing yards and a touchdown. Baltimore hopes Jackson is back next week, but if not, Huntley looks plenty capable of leading the 2026 Ravens into battle.
23. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (LW: 22)
The talk about Jalen Hurts’ struggles is legitimate. He’s completing a career-low 57.8% of his passes, and with the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive line breaking apart, one wonders if the front office is angling to find a new future franchise quarterback. He’s also averaging a career-low 186.6 passing yards per game. In Sunday’s loss that dropped the Eagles to 2-3, Hurts completed just 21 of 40 passes, but he is forming a connection with Darius Cooper, who had a 62-yard touchdown, his fourth score of the year.
22. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals (LW: 20)
Jacoby Brissett can’t seem to lead the Arizona Cardinals to a win if his life depended on it, going 2-15 as a starter. He’s now 1-4 this season and is just three interceptions away from tying a new career-high. Of course, with the Cardinals’ season already spiraling out of control, Arizona might not let the veteran journeyman start long enough to chase any personal bests with Gardner Minshew and third-round rookie Carson Beck lurking in the shadows. Brissett had a season-high 292 passing yards and three touchdowns on Sunday, but much of the damage was done while pursuing a hapless comeback attempt after falling behind 24-7.
21. Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints (LW: 14)
Going up against Brian Flores’ defense for the first time, the Vikings’ defensive coordinator made Tyler Shough look like a rookie. Shough came into the week ranking third in passing yards, but he was limited to a career-low 96 on Sunday despite completing 16-of-25 passes. While he was able to work some quick slants to Chris Olave, none of his pass attempts picked up anything more than a 16-yard gain. Shough also tossed two interceptions right to cornerback Byron Murphy’s hands and took a sack. This was a giant step in the wrong direction, but Shough has never faced as many blitzes in his NFL career.
20. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (Last Week: Athan Kaliakmanis Ranked 32nd)
The Washington Commanders are thrilled to get their franchise quarterback in the lineup again. Now they just need to figure out how to keep him there after he took five sacks in Sunday’s tie. Even while nursing a dislocated non-throwing elbow, Jayden Daniels reminded everyone why he’s special, rushing for 103 yards and two touchdowns on just nine scrambles. The Commanders are still looking for more production as a passer, as he finished with just 199 passing yards, but it’s nice to see his magical mobility in action again.
19. Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings (LW: 24)
Making just his fourth start for the Minnesota Vikings, Kyler Murray had his best outing yet, completing 80% of his passes while being responsible for 280 yards (229 passing, 51 rushing) and a touchdown. Even while missing Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson for most of the game, Murray is starting to look very comfortable in Kevin O’Connell’s offense, which could be ‘scary‘ for the Vikings’ opponents.
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18. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (LW: 17)
Taking on an elite 49ers defense, Sam Darnold wasn’t able to be as dangerous as usual this week. He was limited to just 195 yards while completing 18-of-29 attempts for two touchdowns and an interception. While he was able to generate 102 yards and a touchdown with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, they weren’t able to connect on a 3rd-and-10 pass attempt that may have set the Seahawks up to tie or possibly win the game. That’s the one fans remember most this week.
17. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns (LW: 15)
While he had been playing better as of late, entering Week 5 on a three-game winning streak, Deshaun Watson couldn’t get the job done against the Jets on Sunday. He completed just 15-of-33 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown. But when factoring in the 53 yards lost on eight sacks, the Browns finished with just 102 yards on 41 dropbacks. Easy math suggests that’s horrible production, averaging just over two yards per dropback. Watson did add 40 yards scrambling, but this was a clear step in the wrong direction, though it was a rainy day in New York.
16. Drake Maye, New England Patriots (LW: 21)
Already trending in the right direction after last week’s win, Drake Maye excelled on Sunday, completing 26-of-34 passes for 374 yards, four touchdowns, and a rushing score. It was easily Maye’s best game of 2026, and a reminder that he’s capable of being one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. Suddenly the Patriots are 3-2, and Maye’s improved play over the past two weeks is a big reason why.
15. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers (LW: 19)
A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers turned back the clock on Sunday, delivering a classic performance from the four-time NFL MVP. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ QB1 completed 22-of-31 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns, avoided turnovers, and took just one sack. It’s a recipe the Steelers could learn to win with, but chances are Pittsburgh won’t get 188 yards of offense from Jaylen Warren each week. Nevertheless, Rodgers was nearly flawless in helping the Steelers advance to 3-2.
14. Geno Smith, New York Jets (LW: 13)
Geno Smith bounced back after his worst start of the season to lead the New York Jets to a win, but really, this was a defensive effort that was hindered by the offense. Smith fought through the rain to complete 17-of-30 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown while losing 40 yards on four sacks. He also lost a fumble, his first turnover of the season. Despite the win, Smith will need to be sharper to turn this into a winning streak.
13. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (LW: 18)
Jordan Love is stringing together good performances. Sunday’s effort involved him completing 25-of-31 passes for a whopping 367 yards and two touchdowns, avoiding turnovers and taking just two sacks in the process. The Green Bay Packers’ QB was magnificent on a day when the rushing attack averaged a paltry 2.7 yards per carry. Suddenly, this offense looks scary again, but they’ll need someone to step up in the backfield.
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12. Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons (LW: 12)
It’s hard not to wonder how the game may have ended differently had Tua Tagovailoa not replaced Michael Penix Jr. after injuring his ribs late in the fourth quarter. Tagovailoa’s first completion was a nice 14-yard pickup. Unfortunately, his third attempt was a game-losing interception. As for Penix? He played well again, but not quite as sharp as his previous two starts. He completed 19-of-32 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown, but he also took three sacks. If healthy, this Falcons’ offense has proven it can do some damage, and Penix’s strong play has been the catalyst.
11. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (LW: 8)
Even though he had his second 300-yard game in a row, Dak Prescott knows he could have played better on Thursday night. He’d complete a season-low 57.1% of his passes for 316 yards, a touchdown, and two costly interceptions in the eight-point loss. Overall, Prescott has still performed well this season, but a shoddy defense still has the Cowboys sitting at just 2-3.
10. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (LW: 11)
Even though he’s just two interceptions shy of matching his total from last season, Matthew Stafford has logged 300-yard games in all four of his past four outings. This time, he was nearly flawless, completing 40-of-54 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns. He took just one sack for a loss of six yards and managed to avoid turnovers in the process. It was easily his best start of the season.
9. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (LW: 16)
It took him five games, but C.J. Stroud finally led the Houston Texans to their first win of the season. Houston’s franchise QB was surgical, completing 26-of-34 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown while avoiding turnovers. He also surprisingly added a rushing score, but did end up getting sacked twice. Nevertheless, it’s nice to see the Texans can still win in 2026, even without much help from their rushing attack.
8. Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders (LW: 9)
The Las Vegas Raiders got blown out on Sunday, and not even falling behind quickly led to a big game from Kirk Cousins, who finished with 243 yards and a touchdown. He completed 19-of-28 passes while tacking on a passing touchdown, but also took three sacks. Perhaps more interesting was seeing Fernando Mendoza make his debut and complete 6-of-8 passes for 48 yards. Still, there’s nothing to make of the Raiders getting a look at the No. 1 overall pick in a game that was already decided. Cousins is playing far too well to bench.
7. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (LW: 6)
This time, Joe Burrow didn’t need a 400-yard performance to give his team a chance. The Cincinnati Bengals’ franchise QB would finish with just 190 yards, but he did so while completing 23 of 32 passes and finding the end zone four times. He’d also avoid negative plays by not getting sacked or turning the ball over. Burrow was almost flawless, but the yardage total was less than expected against a winless Dolphins team.
6. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (LW: 10)
Liam Coen has been a great hire in Jacksonville, helping maximize Trevor Lawrence’s potential for a team that now sits at 4-1. While the former No. 1 overall pick did toss an interception in Sunday’s win, it was just his third of the year. He did, however, finish with a season-high 331 yards while tacking on two touchdowns, taking advantage of his strong connection with Parker Washington, who went off for 124 yards and the two scores. Add it all up, and Lawrence has been one of the NFL’s best QBs early on, and there’s nothing to suggest he’ll stumble any time soon.
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5. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (LW: 5)
Patrick Mahomes didn’t have to do anything but relax during the Kansas City Chiefs’ bye week. He did enough to help take down the previously undefeated Raiders in Week 4. The three-time Super Bowl champ has returned to being a top producer while avoiding turnovers. In other words, Mahomes magic is back.
4. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (LW: 1)
Coming into the game with a combined 13 touchdowns, Josh Allen was able to add one more through the air and another on the ground in Monday night’s win over the Rams. He did, however, go off for 121 yards on just 10 carries. Yet, the former NFL MVP would be the first to admit he didn’t have the best day, completing 12-of-19 passes for 210 yards, a touchdown, and an interception while taking one sack.
3. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (LW: 4)
Coming into Week 5 playing as well as any QB, Brock Purdy finally stumbled a bit, but still ended up helping keep the San Francisco 49ers undefeated. Purdy completed 19-of-29 passes for 189 yards, two touchdowns, and just his second interception of the season. He also finally took his first sack- three of them, actually. Still, the fact that it took him five games to get sacked or commit his second turnover shows just how well he’s been playing all year.
2. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (LW: 2)
Playing in primetime last Sunday night, Bryce Young had a chance to show everyone what makes him special, making quick decisions, executing throws off-platform and showing a rare level of pocket awareness. He entered Week 5 leading the NFL in passing yards, but no longer holds that claim after the bye. Still, the former No. 1 overall pick is off to the best start of his NFL career. He belongs in the MVP conversation.
1. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (Last Week: 3)
Five games into the season, and Jared Goff still hasn’t committed a turnover. While he didn’t have 412 passing yards this week, he did help lead the Detroit Lions to 45 points, scoring on seven consecutive drives. The Lions’ franchise QB completed 19-of-30 passes for an effective 271 yards and three touchdowns while adding another rushing score too. He did take three sacks, but no one is perfect.