Henry McKenna
NFL reporter
There is nobody technique to win a sport as a quarterback.
Lamar Jackson is doing it otherwise than Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. Nobody does it like Anthony Richardson (even when he would not at all times win). No rookie has ever achieved it like Jayden Daniels, along with his ardour for dramatic endings. And Bryce Young has returned from his “bust” label in a manner we have by no means seen earlier than.
It looks like per week the place NFL QBs have embraced their uniqueness. And that is what makes this 12 months’s crop of quarterbacks particular.
Happy holidays from the QB inventory market, the place we weight the newest performances with an significance of 30%, whereas making use of 70% to the remainder of 2024. One query issues above all others: what have you ever achieved on your group recently?
Previous weeks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Crows (⬆️ 1)
We’ll by no means know precisely what this offense would have been like if Diontae Johnson hadn’t been so silly. The Ravens and Johnson had the makings of an unsightly Christmas sweater. And now Johnson is a free agent.
But perhaps Lamar did not want him in spite of everything.
Mark Andrews is getting again into form and type more and more snug after the ankle harm. I’m undecided if Zay Flowers or Rashod Bateman are WR1 materials. But simply because the Buffalo Bills reside by the “everybody eats” mantra, the Ravens rotate between Andrews, Flowers, Bateman and Isaiah Likely with an everyday and terrifying injection of Derrick Henry. It’s nonetheless the nightmare unit that left us surprised when the Ravens added Henry. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken is doing nice issues, a lot in order that Baltimore shook up the narrative by saying they could not beat the Steelers.
The uncommon risk of a Jackson-Henry speeding assault is essentially what led Jackson to throw to a large open receiver on 35.4 % of his throws, most within the NFL, and an open receiver on 59.7 % of his throws, additionally most within the NFL. , in line with new technology statistics. I ponder if these stats are what may harm his MVP possibilities, as a result of Josh Allen needed to do extra with much less.
But, returning to Johnson, I ponder if the need so as to add him betrayed an insecurity: Can the Ravens beat the Chiefs with what they’ve? Can they beat the Bills once more?
I haven’t got the reply. I simply know that the AFC playoff bracket goes to be electrifying.
2. Josh Allen, Buffalo payments (⬇️ 1)
3. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (↔)
4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (↔)
5. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings (⬆️ 1)
6. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (⬆️2)
Was this the urgency towards the Broncos final Thursday? Was it desperation?
Herbert is so calm, cool and picked up that it was uncommon to see a lot power emanating from the Chargers’ QB – and it compelled extra creativity than we have seen from him all season.
Maybe that is why Stone Smartt laughed throughout Herbert’s pre-game speech. Herbert replied, “What the f*** are you laughing at?” We simply have not seen this aspect of Herbert. It’s wonderful.
First of all, he threw a foul interception as a result of he misplaced the ball to Joshua Palmer and that allowed cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine to step in for the takeaway. It was an aggressive determination: Herbert tried to take greater than the protection gave him. But his preliminary mistake did not cease him from attempting once more later.
In reality, Herbert received greedier within the fourth quarter. And that sparked a uncommon little bit of creativity. We’ve seen a contact of the wild aspect from Mahomes and Allen – only a drop of whiskey in Herbert’s eggnog is sufficient to make issues fascinating. He got here out left from the pocket and threw the ball vertically up for a landing. That’s not how they drafted it. But it was a landing.
However, my favourite shot from Herbert was really the one which traveled the shortest distance. The QB threw the ball ahead to working again Hassan Haskins. And because the Broncos had been blitzing full-court, that was all Herbert wanted. It did not must be a bullet crossing an space or a superbly positioned man beater. No, this ball merely needed to go from level A to level B. Haskins generated all 34 yards after the catch and bumped into the tip zone.
And it wasn’t as a result of Herbert made a magical throw. It was about getting the ball out in the appropriate place on the proper time. It was pressing. This all bodes properly for the Chargers because the playoffs method.
7. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (⬆️2)
8. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (⬇️ 3)
9. Jayden Daniels, Washington commanders (⬆️2)
I normally have rather a lot to say about every man. As Bill Simmons as soon as mentioned: I burp and are available out with 1,000 phrases. So perhaps this part on Daniels shall be refreshing. I’ll attempt to be transient.
Here’s a video of all 5 of his NFL-leading touchdowns in roughly the ultimate two minutes of the sport.
Here’s his Week 16 passing chart, the place his 5 landing passes helped him overcome the group’s 5 turnovers (together with two of his interceptions).
He has a uncommon mix of ending abilities and electrical play. He can elevate a supporting solid that is not notably spectacular in comparison with Terry McLaurin. (After all, Jamison Crowder and Olamide Zaccheaus every scored two touchdowns on Sunday.) The numbers could not say “greatest rookie season ever,” however Daniels is in that dialog.
10. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (↔)
12. Jalen hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (⬇️ 5)
13. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (↔)
14. Yours Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (↔)
15. Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (⬇️ 3)
16. BoNix, Denver Broncos (⬆️2)
17. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (⬆️ 5)
In a win towards the Cardinals, Young did a greater job taking part in like peak Kyler Murray than Murray himself. And Young’s standout performances simply maintain coming.
Is it truthful to say that what Bryce Young is doing is unprecedented?
It’s arduous to consider one other first-round QB who goes from zero to hero like this. Your Tagovailoa? He was a greater passer than Young in his rookie 12 months. Josh Allen? A way more helpful runner. The closest comparability is likely to be Jared Goff, who was a complete catastrophe in his first season. But he instantly modified issues in 12 months two, with the arrival of Sean McVay.
Young’s struggles are distinctive in that they’ve continued this 12 months. If the Panthers had been hoping that Dave Canales would improve Young like McVay did with Goff, then Carolina will need to have been discouraged. Up to the bench. This legitimately appeared to vary every little thing. Because since that transfer Young has change into particular.
There may be little doubt what the Panthers will do subsequent. They will construct round him.
You can clearly see what Young can do with NFL expertise when he targets Adam Theilen. Young accomplished 76% of his passes to Theilen for 9.2 yards per try with a 6% landing fee. It’s rattling ugly! Theilen is an effective receiver, however he’s on the finish of his profession and not in his prime. Imagine what Young can do with offensive line and an elite receiver. Hopefully we’ll discover out with a powerful Panthers offseason.
18. CJ Stroud, Houston Texans (⬇️ 2)
19. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (⬇️ 2)
20. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (⬇️ 1)
21. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts (⬆️ 8)
22. Drake May, New England Patriots (↔)
23. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (⬇️ 2)
If I may quick ahead to 2025 for one participant and one participant solely, I might select Williams. It’s so blatantly so Not the issue in Chicago.
He has now misplaced 9 begins through which he threw no interceptions, essentially the most in NFL historical past. according to NFL research. He threw 326 passes with out an interception, the longest ever by a rookie (with 100 passes). I solely want comic Robin Williams was nonetheless alive, so we may ship him to Chicago to pat Williams on the again and inform him: “It’s not your fault” till everybody bursts into tears.
I watched Williams rather a lot. I do not at all times like what I see. And it hasn’t progressed in as some ways as hoped. But because the Lions beat the shit out of the Bears on Sunday, Chicago may take consolation in a single factor: Maybe OC Ben Johnson would be the Bears’ head coach in the future. And perhaps Williams will get the assist he wants from the scheme and his offensive line quickly.
24. Michele Penix, Atlanta Falcons (new)
This is precisely what you’ll need from a newbie’s outing. And it had nothing to do with Penix. This was really what made the debut virtually excellent for the Falcons QB.
The protection scored two touchdowns and allowed solely seven factors. The working backs racked up 116 yards and two touchdowns. Penix loved a modest outing through which he did not must do a lot: 18 of 27 for 202 yards and an interception. The interception wasn’t on Penix — it was an on-target cross that Kyle Pitts juggled on to a defender.
During the Lions and Bears sport, FOX analyst Jonathan Vilma requested, “Are they profitable due to you or regardless of you?”
In latest weeks, it was clear that Atlanta was profitable regardless of Kirk Cousins. His turnovers had been placing the Falcons ready the place they could not play to their strengths. That’s why Penix took over. But Vilma’s evaluation excluded one other class: internet impartial.
The Penix’s EPA was 8.1. Its CPOE was -3.1%. His common depth of goal was 6.1. What this all means: Penix did not intervene.
That was all he needed to do towards the worst group within the league. It was the proper week to welcome the rookie to the NFL. But subsequent week? Well, it is about to get actual towards the Washington Commanders, who may make issues uncomfortable for Penix with a playoff berth on the road for each side. At this level we should return to Vilma’s query.
25. Cooper Rush, Dallas Cowboys (⬇️ 1)
26. Aaron Rodgers, New York jet (⬇️ 6)
27. Aidan O’Connell, Raiders of Las Vegas (⬇️ 2)
28. Freemason Rodolfo, Tennessee Titans (new)
29. MacJones, The Jacksonville Jaguars (⬇️4)
30. Spencer Rattler, Saints of New Orleans (new)
31. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Cleveland Browns (new)
32. Drew Lock, Giants of New York (↔)
Before becoming a member of FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years masking the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.
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