Week 2 Quarterback Power Rankings
Two weeks of the NFL season are in the books. Many new faces cracked the top ten, big names on the outside looking in, and a new number one.
Power rankings are based on this week as well as the previous week.
If you missed last week's rankings, click here: Week 1 Quarterback Power Rankings.
10. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Last Week: Unranked
Joe Burrow had a disappointing Week 1 performance, but it should have been better. He had a touchdown called back, and Tanner Hudson fumbled the ball at the goal line. Along with battling dropped balls, Burrow played with a lingering wrist injury that sidelined him for seven weeks.
Burrow bounced back big time in his fifth meeting against Patrick Mahomes. He completed 23-36 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns, one score coming on a clutch 4th and goal late in the third quarter.
The one mistake the former first-overall pick made was a costly fumble in the third quarter that the Chiefs returned for six. The defensive touchdown proved to be the difference as Kansas City secured a 26-25 win on a last-second 51-yard field goal from Harrison Butker.
2024 Stats: 0-2 record, 68 completion percentage, 422 passing yards, two touchdowns, and a 95.8 rating
9. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Last Week: Unranked
Brock Purdy was heavily tested against a harassing Minnesota defense this week. The Vikings pressured Purdy constantly and made him uncomfortable the entire game which resulted in sacking the Iowa State alum six times.
Purdy still had a good outing, considering he was pressured all day without Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle for the latter part of the game. He and Deebo were on the same wavelength as they connected on eight passes for 110 yards. Purdy finished with 77% completion, 319 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and a 101.3 rating. He now leads the NFL in passing yards with 550.
2024 Stats: 1-1 record, 72 completion percentage, 550 passing yards, one touchdown, one interception, and a 96.3 rating.
8. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
Last Week: Unranked
The Seahawks were down 7-0 early in the first quarter before Geno Smith and Dk Metcalf connected on a 56-yard touchdown. A back-and-forth game ensued, and Smith did an excellent job of not putting the ball in harm's way and commanding lengthy drives to get into Patriot territory. Trailing by three with 3:54 left in the game, Smith led a surgical nine-play drive, which led to a Jason Meyers field goal, sending the game into overtime. Once again in overtime, Smith took the Seahawks down the field in nine plays to set up a game-winning 31-yard field goal.
Almost 70% of the targets went to Metcalf or Jaxson Smith-Njigba. DK finished with 10 for 129 and a touchdown, and the second-year receiver out of Ohio State, JSN finished with a career-high in catches (12) and yards (117). Smith ended the game with 33 for 44 passing, 327 yards (the most in Week 2), and one touchdown.
2024 Stats: 2-0 record, 74 completion percentage, two touchdowns, one interception, and a 97.4 rating.
7. CJ Stroud, Houston Texans
Last Week: 5th
CJ Stroud faced off against a strong Chicago Bears defense in primetime. The Texans had to rely heavily on their quarterback since their run game was nowhere to be found. Despite not having a run game, Stroud faired well with what he had. Nico Collins came up huge for him with eight catches for 135 yards and a touchdown. CJ spread the ball to the entire team as nine players caught a pass.
After a 19-13 win on Sunday Night Football, Stroud closed the game with 23 for 36 passing, 260 yards, and one touchdown. In back-to-back weeks he has protected the ball and hasn’t had a turnover.
2024 Stats: 2-0 record, 69 completion percentage, three touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 104.7 rating.
6. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Last Week: 3rd
Lamar Jackson drops three spots in the power rankings. In a game where the Ravens were favored by 8.5 points, the most in Week 2, Jackson should have had a field day. Instead, he threw the ball at a subpar level and did not use his legs enough. Last week, he had 16 rushing attempts against a top defense, but only five on Sunday. He also targeted Isiah Likley just three times after the tight end had a monster performance last week.
The Ravens held a 10-point lead halfway through the fourth quarter but choked it away by giving up 13 unanswered points to take a 26-23 loss. Lamar put up 247 passing yards on 21 of 34 throwing, 45 rushing yards, one touchdown, one interception, and an 81.4 rating.
2024 Stats: 0-2 record, 63 completion percentage, 67 total yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and an 86.5 rating.
5. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last Week: 2nd
After an incredible performance last week, Baker Mayfield was humbled by Aidan Hutchinson and the Lions front seven. Constant pressure made it hard for Tampa Bay to sustain any drives as they had only three possessions with six or more plays. Tampa Bay also had to deal with running back, Rachaad White, playing through a groin injury.
Through the challenges, Baker was able to command a game with what he was given, even if it meant using his legs. On five rushing attempts, Mayfield ran for 34 yards and a touchdown. He also read the zone perfectly on a 41-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin. In the upset win, Baker went 12 for 19 passing for 185 yards, one touchdown, and an interception.
2024 Stats: 2-0 record, 74 completion percentage, 529 total yards, six total touchdowns, one interception, and a 129.1 rating.
4. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Last Week: Unranked
Kyler Murray makes the largest jump, going from unranked to the fourth spot in one week. After a decent performance in his first game, Murray shined in game two against the Rams.
Murray made sure to target the rookie Marvin Harrison, and it paid off. On the Cardinals' opening drive, Murray connected with Maserati Marv for a 23-yard touchdown. The two connected again on the next drive for a 60-yard touchdown.
Murray had a monster game in a dominant 41-10 win over their division rival. He had only four incompletions as he converted on 81% of his passes, 325 total yards, three touchdowns, and a perfect passer rating.
2024 Stats: 1-1 record, 73 completion percentage, 544 total yards, four touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 122.9 rating.
3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Last Week: 1st
Josh Allen held the number one spot after a four-touchdown performance in Week 1, but after an unexciting Week 2, he dropped two spots. His performance isn’t so much on him, but rather how the game played out.
The Dolphins held the ball for 36 minutes compared to the Bills' 23 minutes, Buffalo held the lead for the entire game, and Tua Tagovailoa’s three interceptions gave them short fields. All these factors led to an easy Bills win and a boring week for number 17.
Allen finished the game with 13 completions on 19 throws, 139 passing yards, two rushing yards, one touchdown, and a 107.1 rating.
2024 Stats: 2-0 record, 74 completion percentage, 410 total yards, five total touchdowns, and a 124.2 rating.
2. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings
Last Week: 8th
Sam Darnold surprised everybody after an excellent performance last week vs the Giants. He was tested in Week 2 against his former team and one of the top defenses in the league, but he balled out once again.
Darnold sent U.S. Bank Stadium into a frenzy early in the second quarter. Backed up on their three-yard line, Darnold dropped a 55-yard strike to Justin Jefferson, who galloped into the endzone for a 97-yard score. He added another touchdown to finish with two on the day, a 78 completion percentage, 319 yards, one interception, and a 101.3 rating.
After a disappointing start to his career, Darnold entered his seventh season with little pressure and a ton of experience backing up Brock Purdy last year. He has made the most of another opportunity and finds himself ranked second, a spot not many people would have predicted.
2024 Stats: 2-0 record, 72 completion percentage, 511 total yards, four touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 111.7 rating.
1. Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
Last Week: 7th
Derek Carr joins Sam Darnold as another surprise this season. His performance may have been seen as a fluke in Week 1 because they played Carolina, but he silenced any doubters after lighting up a top-five Dallas defense.
After a Dallas field goal, Carr only needed one play to answer by connecting with Rashid Shaheed for a 70-yard touchdown. He stepped up in the pocket, launched the ball 50 yards into double coverage, and took a hit to complete a highlight reel play. Later in the game, he dumped the ball off to Alvin Kamara who ran past the entire defense for a 57-yard score. Carr tacked on his third touchdown off a QB sneak, his first rushing score in four seasons.
Carr and the Saints have now scored 91 points through two weeks, 22 more points than the next team. He has been the most efficient passer as he leads the league in passing touchdowns, passer rating, yards per attempt, and completions of 40+ yards, and is third in completion percentage. The 33-year-old has looked his best since the 2016 season when he was in the MVP race before fracturing his fibula. The best QB in the league will look to keep it rolling in Week 3 against the Eagles.
2024 Stats: 2-0 record, 77 completion percentage, 443 yards, six total touchdowns, one interception, and a 142.4 rating.
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