NFL quarterback power rankings heading into Week 4

Josh Allen sits atop the mountain. Jameis Winston is at the bottom. Drake Maye is falling, and Brock Purdy is climbing
NFL: Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears
Sep 28, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Case Keenum (11) celebrates after the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

The most fun part about ranking quarterbacks every week is that you never know who you’re going to be writing about. Caleb Williams goes down with an injury? Obviously you’re going to have to rank his backup, an unproven entity who hasn’t started a game in three years, but the Bears are quite high on since they gave him a contract extension, right?

Wrong. He’s hurt, too. You’ve got to figure out where 36-year-old Case Keenum belongs. A startling number of teams have already put their third-string quarterback on the field this season.

It’s a quarterback carousel in the NFL right now with players jumping on and off the bench and hoping not to twist an ankle when they land. Who knows how many of these players will still be playing a week or a month from now, but all you can do is keep ranking whoever is in the lineup.

MORE: Fantasy Football quarterback rankings for Week 4

NFL QB power rankings

New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston (19) and New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) dance during warmups during a
New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston (19) and New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) dance during warmups during a preseason opening game between the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

32. Jameis Winston

What the New York Giants offense has lacked in sustained drives and touchdowns it has more than made up for in incomprehensible pre- and postgame quotes from Jameis Winston. Things are going so poorly the team just traded for J.J. McCarthy.

31. Malik Willis

Malik Willis is trying, but Jordan Love is the only active starter with a worse completion percentage, and the Dolphins may not win a game for quite a while.

30. Jalon Daniels

Who is the Buccaneers new quarterback? He’s an undrafted rookie who spent six years in college at just one school. He’s replacing a struggling quarterback in Baker Mayfield and stepping into a starting role on a winless team. What’s not to love?

29. Michael Penix Jr.

Michael Penix Jr. came back and the Atlanta Falcons won their first game of the season. The Cooper Rush/Jack Strand era may be over.

MORE: NFL running back power rankings entering Week 4

28. Drake Maye

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) loses the ball on a fumble turnover during the first quarter of an NFL football
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) loses the ball on a fumble turnover during the first quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Patriots 35-6. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

What the heck is going on with this guy? Even the biggest Patriots haters have to be confused about the mindbogglingly bad numbers Drake Maye is putting up this season. He leads the NFL in interceptions and had one of the funniest turnovers of the season on Sunday.

27. Cam Ward

The head coach is starting to field questions about whether or not he’ll bench the top pick from the 2025 draft.

26. Kyler Murray

Kyler Murray came back from that Week 1 concussion, and the Vikings won. This week he should crack the 200-yard passing mark for the season.

25. Deshaun Watson

He threw for 114 yards and two touchdowns in the Browns’ second straight win. Deshaun Watson and Aaron Rodgers on a short week should be appointment viewing on Thursday night.

24. Daniel Jones

He has thrown one touchdown and one interception in each game this season and he can’t run anymore.

23. Justin Herbert

There’s a lot of time to turn things around, but Justin Herbert is on pace to have his worst season by far right now. He’s played poorly, and that has translated to an 0-3 start.

22. Jacoby Brissett

Jacoby Brissett was winging it on Sunday. He completed 38 of 52 pass attempts and accounted for three touchdowns.

MORE: Bold predictions for Week 4 of 2026 NFL season

21. Kirk Cousins

NFL: Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints
Sep 27, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) reacts after defeating against the New Orleans Saintsat Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Kirk Cousins is playing well enough that the general public has forgotten about Fernando Mendoza, and the Raiders are undefeated. He’s even creating viral clips. Kirk Cousins is truly ageless.

20. Geno Smith

Geno Smith is 10th in the NFL in passing yards after a big game against the Lions. The Jets have been competitive, and he leads the league in completion percentage.

19. C.J. Stroud

The Texans are 0-3. C.J. Stroud has been fine.

17. Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers has never completed less than 60 percent of his passes in a season since he became a starting quarterback. He’s the No. 1 42-year quarterback on this list.

16. Bo Nix

Bo Nix has also been fine.

15. Jordan Love

Only Jameis Winston has a lower completion percentage, but Jordan Love is racking up yards. It’s unfortunate that the Packers have given up the third-most points this season.

MORE: Fantasy Football studs & duds for Week 4 of 2026 NFL season

14. Marcus Mariota

NFL: Seattle Seahawks at Washington Commanders
Sep 27, 2026; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) reacts with tight end John Bates (87) after a first down against the Seattle Seahawks at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Three touchdowns and zero interceptions against the Seattle Seahawks. He filled in admirably for Jayden Daniels last week.

13. Jalen Hurts

Who knows what Jalen Hurts’ numbers and the Eagles record would be if Hurts hadn’t taken that huge hit on Monday.

12. Sam Darnold

Darnold wasted no time airing the ball out once he was finally healthy. He was 31-of-45 for 279 yards and four touchdowns in his first game back. Unfortunately, those two interceptions he threw led directly to two touchdowns in a two-point loss.

11. Dak Prescott

Some people picked the Cowboys to make the Super Bowl. Wasn’t that fun?

10. Byrce Young

The NFL’s leading passer through three weeks.

9. Jared Goff

He’s on pace for another great season. That’s just what he does. He throws the ball around accurately. His teams move the ball and score touchdowns.

MORE: NFL MVP odds entering Week 4: Brock Purdy is moving up

8.Tyler Shough

NFL: Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints
Sep 27, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) enters the field before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Tyler Shough has been everything people thought he might be this season. He’s second in the league in passing yards.

7. Joe Burrow

Coming off a very good game that the Bengals lost he should feel right at home.

6. Trevor Lawrence

He is having a very good season and the juxtaposition with Drake Maye last weekend was jarring.

5. Matthew Stafford

He’s been slinging it since he returned to the States. He and Davante Adams are one of the top duos in the league.

4. Patrick Mahomes

Patrick Mahomes is firing on all cylinders. The Chiefs are undefeated, and they’re getting calls again. Mahomes is even keeping Travis Kelce involved, so the NFL viewership doesn’t drop.

3. Lamar Jackson

Typical Lamar Jackson stuff the last couple weeks without anything spectacular. Ravens are 2-1. He’s still one of the favorites to win MVP.

2. Brock Purdy

Eighth in passing yards. Fourth in completion percentage. First in touchdown passes. And he hasn’t been sacked once this season. He is substation proof. 49ers fans will probably want to knock on wood because he’s one of their only healthy players.

MORE: NFL power rankings entering Week 4: All 32 teams ranked worst to first

1. Josh Allen

Bills quarterback Josh Allen and the rest of the team wore their new Nickel City uniforms in their game against the Chargers
Bills quarterback Josh Allen and the rest of the team wore their new Nickel City uniforms in their game against the Chargers Sunday, September 27, 2026 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

He is the MVP favorite. He’s thrown five touchdown passes and scored more rushing touchdowns than anyone besides Derrick Henry. The Bills offense is humming. The team is rolling.

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