After eight weeks of the 2021 NFL season, it’s fair to say Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has exceeded even the wildest expectations.
Our 2021 FanSided NFL quarterback rankings go live each Tuesday morning throughout the regular season, and we use a sliding scale incorporating current and past performances, with the former meaning more as the year goes on.
32
Trevor Siemian
QB New Orleans Saints 
2021 stats: 159 yards | 55.2 comp % | 1 TD | 0 INT | 5.5 YPA | 65.0 QBR
LW: NA
Siemian or Taysom Hill once the latter is back from concussion protocol? The Saints have a decision to make on who takes over for the injured Jameis Winston.
31
Davis Mills
QB Houston Texans 
2021 stats: 1,357 yards | 67.0 comp % | 7 TD | 8 INT | 6.5 YPA | 29.4 QBR
LW: 30
This might have been the last start for Mills before Tyrod Taylor comes back. If so, it was a learning experience for the rookie, who projects as a decent backup.
30
Justin Fields
QB Chicago Bears 
2021 stats: 991 yards | 59.5 comp % | 3 TD | 7 INT | 6.3 YPA | 23.2 QBR
LW: 31
Fields gave us the week’s biggest highlight on a touchdown run for the ages. However, the passing game remains woeful. The Bears have to help the kid out.
29
Cooper Rush
QB Dallas Cowboys 
2021 stats: 325 yards | 60.0 comp % | 2 TD | 1 INT | 8.1 YPA | 44.8 QBR
LW: NA
Nobody expected anything of Rush, and then he threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns in a comeback victory in primetime over the host Vikings. Not bad.
28
Geno Smith
QB Seattle Seahawks 
2021 stats: 702 yards | 68.4 comp % | 5 TD | 1 INT | 7.4 YPA | 44.1 QBR
LW: 29
Smith lit up the Jaguars, so he joins every other quarterback who has faced the Jaguars in the last 20 years. Soon, it’ll be the Russell Wilson show again.
27
Mike White
QB New York Jets 
2021 stats: 607 yards | 74.0 comp % | 4 TD | 4 INT | 7.9 YPA | 53.4 QBR
LW: 32
What the hell was that? White threw for 403 yards and three touchdowns (with two interceptions) to stun the Bengals at MetLife Stadium. If he plays like that consistently, Zach Wilson should be worried.
26
Jared Goff
QB Detroit Lions 
2021 stats: 1,995 yards | 66.9 comp % | 8 TD | 6 INT | 6.5 YPA | 30.4 QBR
LW: 27
Goff and the Lions are made for each other at the moment. Both are complete disasters.
25
Tua Tagovailoa
QB Miami Dolphins 
2021 stats: 1,040 yards | 65.6 comp % | 7 TD | 5 INT | 6.6 YPA | 53.0 QBR
LW: 28
Tagovailoa was largely bad on Sunday, but moves up three spots because Goff is almost playing at a taking-money-to-lose level, while injuries have hoisted everyone up a few spots.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
24
Taylor Heinicke
QB Washington Football Team 
2021 stats: 1,928 yards | 63.9 comp % | 11 TD | 9 INT | 7.0 YPA | 41.8 QBR
LW: 26
Heinicke belongs in the NFL, but he’s a backup. A good one, but a backup. Washington needs to find its quarterback this offseason, no matter what.
23
Sam Darnold
QB Carolina Panthers 
2021 stats: 1,814 yards | 60.8 comp % | 7 TD | 8 INT | 6.6 YPA | 43.7 QBR
LW: 25
The Panthers snapped their four-game losing streak, largely because Darnold didn’t turn the ball over. Carolina is close to getting Christian McCaffrey back, and it needs him to take over the offense.
22
Trevor Lawrence
QB Jacksonville Jaguars 
2021 stats: 1,703 yards | 59.6 comp % | 8 TD | 9 INT | 6.3 YPA | 34.8 QBR
LW: 24
The Jaguars had to be hoping for more than what Lawrence has provided in his rookie season. Of course, Jamal Agnew is his top receiver, and Agnew was essentially a special teams player his entire career. Welcome to Jacksonville, Trevor.
21
Ben Roethlisberger
QB Pittsburgh Steelers 
2021 stats: 1,781 yards | 65.1 comp % | 8 TD | 4 INT | 6.6 YPA | 41.6 QBR
LW: 23
Roethlisberger literally looks like he’s throwing and running in slow motion. It’s become a weekly issue for the Steelers, who are somehow 4-3 and taking on the Bears this week. Pittsburgh has a shot at the playoffs.
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
20
Jalen Hurts
QB Philadelphia Eagles 
2021 stats: 1,819 yards | 61.3 comp % | 10 TD | 4 INT | 7.1 YPA | 42.8 QBR
LW: 21
The Eagles almost seem terrified to let Hurts throw. This either means they know he’s not good, or Nick Sirianni just loves the run game. Either way, it’s not an ideal way to develop a quarterback or his confidence.
19
Teddy Bridgewater
QB Denver Broncos 
2021 stats: 1,914 yards | 70.4 comp % | 14 TD | 5 INT | 7.4 YPA | 47.9 QBR
LW: 22
Bridgewater and the Broncos finally won a game for the first time in a month. However, with the trade of Von Miller, Denver seems to be punting on 2021. That could mean Drew Lock in the near future.
18
Daniel Jones
QB New York Giants 
2021 stats: 1,949 yards | 63.5 comp % | 7 TD | 5 INT | 7.1 YPA | 45.3 QBR
LW: 20
After a hideous interception on his first drive, Jones was the epitome of average. He threw for 222 yards with two touchdowns and the pick, losing 20-17 with a bunch of short, safe throws. Nothing special.
17
Baker Mayfield
QB Cleveland Browns 
2021 stats: 1,699 yards | 66.7 comp % | 6 TD | 3 INT | 8.3 YPA | 42.2 QBR
LW: 18
Mayfield wasn’t the main reason Cleveland lost to the Steelers, but he’s rarely the reason the Browns win. At some point, general manager Andrew Berry must decide how to go forward.
Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
16
Jimmy Garoppolo
QB San Francisco 49ers 
2021 stats: 1,428 yards | 64.2 comp % | 6 TD | 4 INT | 8.3 YPA | 47.5 QBR
LW: 19
The old 83-yard screen pass always helps the stats, and that was certainly the case for Garoppolo. The most impressive thing he did Sunday was run for two touchdowns in a must-win against the Bears. He’s keeping the seat warm for Trey Lance.
15
Matt Ryan
QB Atlanta Falcons 
2021 stats: 1,814 yards | 68.6 comp % | 13 TD | 6 INT | 6.7 YPA | 51.4 QBR
LW: 16
Ryan struggled against Carolina’s young, hungry pass rush. He threw a pair of interceptions and notched 5.4 yards per attempt. It was brutal, but he moves up out of necessity with so many backups taking over for starters this week.
14
Carson Wentz
QB Indianapolis Colts 
2021 stats: 1,926 yards | 62.2 comp % | 14 TD | 3 INT | 7.1 YPA | 54.3 QBR
LW: 15
Wentz threw one of the worst interceptions you’ll ever see in the fourth quarter against the Titans. Then he rallied Indianapolis to tie the game in the final seconds of regulation … before throwing a game-deciding interception in overtime.
13
Mac Jones
QB New England Patriots 
2021 stats: 1,997 yards | 68.1 comp % | 9 TD | 6 INT | 7.1 YPA | 53.0 QBR
LW: 14
Jones has been the quarterback version of oatmeal. It gets the job done, it’s flashy, and nobody talks about how great it was afterwards. But it works.
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
12
Ryan Tannehill
QB Tennessee Titans 
2021 stats: 2,002 yards | 65.6 comp % | 10 TD | 7 INT | 7.6 YPA | 61.4 QBR
LW: 13
With Derrick Henry potentially out for the season, the Titans need Tannehill to become the main cog in the offense. It’s a huge change for the signal-caller, who since coming to Tennessee has thrived off play-action but struggled without it.
11
Kirk Cousins
QB Minnesota Vikings 
2021 stats: 1,953 yards | 69.0 comp % | 14 TD | 2 INT | 7.1 YPA | 53.7 QBR
LW: 12
Cousins is only moving up because Cooper Rush took Dak Prescott’s spot in the rankings. That’s it. The Vikings, and Cousins, were embarrassing both in their conservative nature and non-existent two-minute drill.
10
Joe Burrow
QB Cincinnati Bengals 
2021 stats: 2,215 yards | 67.9 comp % | 20 TD | 9 INT | 9.0 YPA | 54.8 QBR
LW: 10
Burrow holds at No. 10. He’s already at 20 touchdowns, but his nine interceptions are an issue. Cincinnati’s defense is good, but it can’t continue this level while having to bail Burrow out. Overall, though, he’s been terrific less than a year removed from a ripped-up knee.
9
Justin Herbert
QB Los Angeles Chargers 
2021 stats: 1,994 yards | 63.7 comp % | 16 TD | 6 INT | 7.1 YPA | 56.1 QBR
LW: 7
Herbert’s last two games have been rough. First, he was throttled by the Ravens and then after the bye week, New England picked him off twice in an upset win. The Chargers need Herbert to be great while avoiding errors. Hasn’t been the case the past two contests.
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
8
Patrick Mahomes
QB Kansas City Chiefs 
2021 stats: 2,368 yards | 66.5 comp % | 19 TD | 10 INT | 7.3 YPA | 56.7 QBR
LW: 11
Mahomes moves a few steps forward, but again, some of this is because of hideous play by Herbert along with the injury to Prescott. Mahomes threw another interception and fumbled late in the red zone, but it was recovered by Kansas City. Right now, he’s a turnover machine.
7
Derek Carr
QB Las Vegas Raiders 
2021 stats: 2,269 yards | 67.7 comp % | 12 TD | 5 INT | 8.5 YPA | 61.0 QBR
LW: 8
The Raiders are overcoming all obstacles this year, and Carr has been a huge reason why. His QBR, completion percentage and yards total are all excellent, and he’ll get a chance to boost those figures against a Giants team on short rest.
6
Josh Allen
QB Buffalo Bills 
2021 stats: 1,972 yards | 65.4 comp % | 17 TD | 3 INT | 7.3 YPA | 62.0 QBR
LW: 6
Allen stays put for the week. He was largely poor against the Dolphins before a strong fourth quarter. Buffalo’s defense is terrific, but the Bills need more from Allen as we head for colder weather and more meaningful games.
5
Aaron Rodgers
QB Green Bay Packers 
2021 stats: 1,894 yards | 67.1 comp % | 17 TD | 3 INT | 8.3 YPA | 66.9 QBR
LW: 9
Rodgers gets a big bump this week. His numbers were average against Arizona, but he was without his top three receivers and lost tight end Robert Tonyan in the third quarter with a torn ACL. He’s the singular engine of the 7-1 Packers.
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
4
Lamar Jackson
QB Baltimore Ravens 
2021 stats: 1,943 yards | 64.9 comp % | 10 TD | 5 INT | 8.6 YPA | 60.3 QBR
LW: 5
Let’s see how Jackson comes out of the bye week against the Vikings. His last two games were below his standard, but he’s still having his best passing year ever while continuing to electrify with his legs.
3
Kyler Murray
QB Arizona Cardinals 
2021 stats: 2,276 yards | 72.7 comp % | 17 TD | 7 INT | 8.9 YPA | 63.2 QBR
LW: 2
Murray had a frustrating end to the Cardinals’ perfect start, but his season has largely been a dream. The interceptions are high, but he’s otherwise playing spectacular football for one of the Super Bowl favorites.
2
Tom Brady
QB Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
2021 stats: 2,650 yards | 67.3 comp % | 25 TD | 5 INT | 7.7 YPA | 69.5 QBR
LW: 1
Brady having already thrown 25 touchdown passes is insane. However, he slips with his two interception performance in a 36-27 loss to the Saints. Still, he’s continuing to add to already impossible legacy.
1
Matthew Stafford
QB Los Angeles Rams 
2021 stats: 2,477 yards | 68.9 comp % | 22 TD | 4 INT | 9.1 YPA | 77.4 QBR
LW: 3
What isn’t Stafford doing? The Rams are 7-1, and Stafford is second in passing yards, second in touchdown passes and first in both YPA and QBR. He’s the MVP through the halfway point of the season.
