Throughout the 2016 NFL regular season, we’re ranking the league’s top 10 quarterbacks. Here’s how we view things after Week 2…
1. Eli Manning, Giants: I can’t believe I’m saying this, because I’ve often been critical of Eli, but the guy has been nearly perfect this season. Deep, short, intermediate, you name it. He’s hitting everything. Manning leads the league with a completion percentage of 73.9 and the Giants are off to a 2-0 start.
2. Matt Ryan, Falcons: It’s simple. He ranks first in the NFL with a passer rating of 121.4, first with a yards-per-attempt average of 10.0 and second with a completion percentage of 72.6. Tearing it up on a so-so team.
3. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers: The numbers aren’t as strong because poor weather conditions last week against Cincinnati limited his totals, but Big Ben has carried the shorthanded Steelers to two big wins over 2015 playoff teams to start the season.
4. Matthew Stafford, Lions: Dude’s receivers have dropped eight of his 79 pass attempts, and yet he still has a triple-digit passer rating. Take those drops away and he’d have a completion percentage of 83.6.
5. Sam Bradford, Vikings: Only one game, but it’s hard to deny a guy who was as dominant as Bradford was Monday night against the Packers. He ranks second to Ryan with a passer rating of 121.1, second to Ryan with a yards-per-attempt average of 9.2 and third to Manning and Ryan with a completion percentage of 71.0.
6. Philip Rivers, Chargers: Yes, it’s been quite the September for veteran first-round draft picks. Rivers has five touchdown passes, zero interceptions and a 120.3 passer rating for the 1-1 Chargers, and yet he two players from his draft class rank ahead of him on this list.
7. Carson Palmer, Cardinals: Another veteran former top pick with five touchdowns, zero picks and a triple-digit passer rating. That’ll do.
8. Drew Brees, Saints: Finally a second-round pick! Brees also has five touchdowns, no picks and a triple-digit rating, so we’ve got a bit of a crowd here.
9. Derek Carr, Raiders: The third-year Oakland signal caller has four touchdown passes, zero interceptions and a 107.4 passer rating. Too bad his defense is killing him.
10. Carson Wentz, Eagles: When you’re the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to start a season 2-0 with no turnovers, you belong on a list like this. Wentz looks like a veteran superstar for the Eagles.
