Week 3 NFL Quarterback Power Rankings
Sep 21, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) looks on during the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
17. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers (-3)
Kaepernick has looked average for the last two weeks after a strong Week 1. Against Arizona, he missed on some passes and forced throws – the referees didn’t help the 49ers either; there were some terrible calls made. He played a better game this week than last week, but due to some really strong performances from guys like Nick Foles, I had no choice but to move Kaepernick down a little.
18. Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins (-7)
Week 1 looks like the biggest anomaly of NFL performances so far – Tannehill has looked like a different player in weeks 2 and 3. His Week 1 game was so strong that he didn’t fall out of the top 20, but the Dolphins’ quarterback must play much better for Miami to win games. Frankly, Tannehill has been disappointing other than the second half of Week 1 – I expected him to be at least a top 12 QB this season. Despite his recent struggles, the talk about benching him is ridiculous.
19. Drew Stanton, Arizona Cardinals (+8)
Stanton tore up the 49ers defense. The last touchdown pass to Jon Brown was a beauty. Based on what Stanton has shown so far, there’s no reason to start Carson Palmer as long as Stanton keeps it up.
20. Eli Manning, New York Giants (+5)
Sunday seemed like the first game in forever where Manning didn’t throw an interception. In this case, Manning’s stats from Sunday (21 for 28, 234 yards, 2 touchdowns, no picks) actually reflect his performance. It was against Houston’s pass defense, but it’s a start. Manning will move up some more if he can replicate his success on Thursday night against a porous (and hurt) Washington secondary.
21. Brian Hoyer, Cleveland Browns (+1)
Hoyer has definitely proved me wrong this season. I would’ve started Manziel, but after the way Hoyer has played, Mike Pettine seems to have made the right decision. All three Browns games have been decided by a game-winning field goal – the Browns could be 3-0, but because of three made kicks, they’re 1-2. Hoyer has been a bright spot for the Browns in the second half of the teams’ first loss (see: Browns vs. Steelers Week 1). He’s the only full-time starting quarterback who hasn’t thrown an interception this year.
22. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens (+1)
Flacco rallied the Ravens past the Browns on Sunday. While his performance was not spot-on, he played well enough for the Ravens to win. To beat better teams, however, Flacco must play better. He just lost Dennis Pitta for the rest of the season, so that will be important.
23. Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars (± –)
I know a lot of Jaguars fans are happy that Bortles is finally getting his shot. There are always growing pains with rookies (see: two Bortles interceptions), but Bortles is at least standing tall in the pocket and throwing the ball rather than taking sacks. There’s no “cabin fever” with Bortles.
24. Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs (+4)
While Smith only completed 19 passes, he did something on Sunday that he didn’t do in Weeks 1 and 2: play a clean game. Smith and the Chiefs beat the Dolphins because the Kansas City defense shut down Ryan Tannehill, and because Smith didn’t turn the ball over. I’m still a bit skeptical about Smith as a viable starting quarterback, however.