| 1 |
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| Predictably on point in critical spots, Mahomes also had plenty of confidence sending it downfield in Week 1 thanks to the added speed of Xavier Worthy out wide. No one is more trustworthy. |
| 2 |
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| New wide receiver corps? No problem. Allen was a one-man wrecking crew to stave off the resurgent Arizona Cardinals. The only concern is how long he can withstand such a burden. |
| 3 |
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| He missed a few must-have throws down the stretch, but he also looked plenty capable of winning a third NFL MVP against a stingy Kansas City Chiefs defense. Can Baltimore’s O-line help him out? |
| 4 |
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| He may not always have huge rushing support from Joe Mixon, as he did against the rival Indianapolis Colts, but the young man still looks like one of the game’s most polished arms. (+1) |
| 5 |
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| The third-year pro was more impressive than his numbers indicate against a tough New York Jets defense. He continues to thrive as a supremely underrated off-schedule play-extender. (+1) |
| 6 |
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| His debut against the Green Bay Packers felt a lot like 2023, when he traded head-scratching tosses for clutch darts, but he had better answers against the blitz against a true contender. (+1) |
| 7 |
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| The numbers weren’t splashy against the Cleveland Browns, but they didn’t need to be. Freshly paid, Prescott has been doing all the little things well for a long time. The bar is always high. (+1) |
| 8 |
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| Without Puka Nacua for a big stretch of his latest return to Detroit, Stafford showcased All-Pro vision and passing touch down the stretch. Can he stay upright in a banged-up group? (+2) |
| 9 |
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| He was more uneven than former Lions star and Week 1 opponent Matthew Stafford out of the gate, but his resilience stood out, as did a big-play eye targeting breakout Jameson Williams. (+4) |
| 10 |
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| Mike McDaniel’s run game was surprisingly quiet against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but Tagovailoa picked up the slack with a couple of signature bombs, feeding their speed out wide. (+4) |
| 11 |
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| Another September, another sluggish start from one of the NFL’s most respected precision passers. Burrow wasn’t jarringly bad to start the year; he was simply uninspiring in a vanilla offense. (-7) |
| 12 |
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| Like Dak Prescott in Dallas, Herbert had the benefit of playing shepherd rather than superhero of a nice Week 1 win, throwing just 144 yards but controlling the ball for a run-first attack. (-1) |
| 13 |
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| On one hand, the former MVP struggled to make the Jets competitive against the 49ers. On the other, he showed plenty of vintage passing zip in his first real action since 2023’s Achilles tear. (-1) |
| 14 |
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| Is it still 2023? Lawrence wasn’t perfect, completing just 57% of his throws against Miami, but he also encountered drops, poor protection and uneven play-calling. The talent is still apparent. (+1) |
| 15 |
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| Critics went overboard harping on his failure to make Marvin Harrison Jr. a Week 1 star, but the elusive Murray did a solid job building a passing rapport to take the superior Bills to the wire. (+2) |
| 16 |
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| Maybe his 2023 breakout wasn’t a fluke, after all. Dealing against an overmatched Washington Commanders secondary, Mayfield wasn’t just scrappy in Week 1; he was truly in command. (+5) |
| 17 |
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| Things weren’t always pretty against the Denver Broncos, but Smith clearly still has juice in both his arm and legs at 33. His wheels were particularly impressive on a long touchdown scramble. (+2) |
| 18 |
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| Washington seems hesitant to let the LSU product really air it out, but his legs alone should make the Commanders a potential spoiler, fresh off an 88-yard rushing debut against Tampa Bay. (+2) |
| 19 |
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| Perhaps no aging signal-caller did more for his stock than Carr, who took full advantage of a thin Carolina Panthers secondary by showcasing a rejuvenated arm in a motion-heavy attack. (+9) |
| 20 |
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| Richardson completed just nine passes against the Houston Texans, but his rocket of an arm and supersized scrambling skills kept things close. He’s a walking roller-coaster ride under center. (+5) |
| 21 |
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| Forget the pressure of keeping Michael Penix Jr. on the bench. The $180 million man now has to prove he can at least look comfortable in the pocket after an immobile return from 2023’s injury. (-5) |
| 22 |
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| Carving up the New York Giants may not hold a ton of weight in 2024, but Darnold’s calm, collected debut in Kevin O’Connell’s system is a major plus for an NFC North squad widely overlooked. (+5) |
| 23 |
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| Thrust into QB1 duties with Russell Wilson nursing a bad calf, the ex-Chicago Bears prospect was surprisingly protective of the ball in his debut. Will he try to branch out with his splashy athleticism? |
| 24 |
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| Maybe we all put a little too much stock in the No. 1 overall pick’s dazzling preseason, as Williams couldn’t find a rhythm despite a Week 1 win. The arrow should only point up from here. (+6) |
| 25 |
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| The journeyman is rising up the ranks primarily due to the shortcomings of other quarterbacks, as his two turnovers helped put a cap on a frustratingly conservative start for Las Vegas. (+6) |
| 26 |
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| The veteran placeholder managed just 121 passing yards against the Cincinnati Bengals, but he didn’t throw the ball to the opposition, preserving a sterling effort from Jerod Mayo’s defense. (+6) |
| 27 |
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| He’s pretty similar to AFC South rival Anthony Richardson in terms of boom-or-bust play style, but Levis more severely fell victim to his own gung-ho attitude in an erratic, turnover-littered start. (-2) |
| 28 |
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| Now in Year 3 with the Browns, has Watson yet to string together consecutive drives where he looks comfortable? Cleveland’s battered line doesn’t help, but he’s had precious few answers. (-5) |
| 29 |
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| Sean Payton apparently loves the rookie’s readiness, and maybe working against non-Mike Macdonald defenses will help, but Nix struggled when pushing the ball even remotely downfield. |
| 30 |
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| New year, same ugly situation here: Jones’ supporting cast and offensive design aren’t overly encouraging, and yet he continues to throw himself into trouble. How long before Drew Lock? |
| 31 |
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| There’s so much to like about this young man’s character. Watching him listlessly reach for answers in a rebuilding offense is tough. Maybe Dave Canales’ arrival won’t be a major fix. We’ll see. |
| 32 |
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| With star gunslinger Jordan Love sidelined due to an MCL sprain, it’s Willis’ time to hold down the fort in Green Bay, just weeks after his arrival following a bumpy run with the Tennessee Titans. |
