NFL’s Top QBs after Week 4: PFF, QBR, Passer Rating Formula

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports.

The following scores are “good” through October 7, 2021.

There is a healthy fight within the stat community on which quarterback metric is most coherent. Passer rating is bashed as too antiquated. When used to compare quarterbacks from eras of yesteryear, passer rating is indeed skewed and inflated. But touchdowns, passing yards, interception, and completion percentage will never be wholly irrelevant.

ESPN’s QBR is said to factor in more intangible-type ratings. It can be interpreted as a more detailed and comprehensive version of passer rating and then some.

Pro Football Focus uses its grading system to assess the x’s and o’s of each game and pump out a yearly score.

The following scores and rankings are weighted. Passer rating accounts for 20% of the score, QBR at 40%, and PFF at 40%. Skill position players and players with menial pass attempts were excluded.


32. Davis Mills, HOU (31.1)

PFF = 35.1, QBR = 17.6, P-Rating = 50.4

31. Justin Fields, CHI (40.5)

PFF = 57.5 , QBR = 16.9 , P-Rating = 40.5

30. Zach Wilson, NYJ (47.1)

PFF = 61.4 , QBR = 25.0 , P-Rating = 47.1

29. Trevor Lawrence, JAX (49.4)

PFF = 54.0 , QBR = 36.3 , P-Rating = 66.4

28. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT (51.8)

PFF = 53.8 , QBR = 36.3 , P-Rating = 78.9

27. Baker Mayfield, CLE (61.3)

PFF = 68.8 , QBR = 39.8 , P-Rating = 89.7

26. Jared Goff, DET (62.0)

PFF = 66.1 , QBR = 40.6 , P-Rating = 96.8

25. Jimmy Garoppolo, SF (63.5)

PFF = 60.8 , QBR = 49.5 , P-Rating = 96.9

24. Matt Ryan, ATL (64.7)

PFF = 74.5 , QBR = 40.7 , P-Rating = 93.5

23. Jacoby Brissett, MIA (65.0)

PFF = 72.0 , QBR = 51.6, P-Rating = 77.8

22. Mac Jones, NE (65.0)

PFF = 71.8 , QBR = 48.5 , P-Rating = 84.7

21. Carson Wentz, IND (67.2)

PFF = 72.6 , QBR = 49.5 , P-Rating = 92.1

20. Jalen Hurts, PHI (67.3)

PFF = 79.2 , QBR = 38.5 , P-Rating = 101.1

19. Taylor Heinicke, WAS (68.4)

PFF = 58.8 , QBR = 59.4 , P-Rating = 105.9

18. Aaron Rodgers, GB (70.0)

PFF = 68.9 , QBR = 55.8 , P-Rating = 100.8

17. Josh Allen, BUF (72.0)

PFF = 74.1, QBR = 57.6 , P-Rating = 97.0

16. Sam Darnold, CAR (73.8)

PFF = 74.2 , QBR = 62.7 , P-Rating = 95.4

15. Lamar Jackson, BAL (74.8)

PFF = 83.8 , QBR = 58.6 , P-Rating = 89.3

14. Ryan Tannehill, TEN (74.8)

PFF = 90.0 , QBR = 53.7 , P-Rating = 86.9

13. Jameis Winston, NO (76.8)

PFF = 73.0 , QBR = 65.9, P-Rating = 106.4

12. Dak Prescott, DAL (77.1)

PFF = 76.0 , QBR = 58.5 , P-Rating = 116.9

11. Derek Carr, LV (77.3)

PFF = 83.2 , QBR = 61.1 , P-Rating = 98.1

10. Daniel Jones, NYG (78.3)

PFF = 86.9 , QBR = 59.8 , P-Rating = 98.3

9. Joe Burrow, CIN (78.7)

PFF = 86.1 , QBR = 53.8 , P-Rating = 113.8

8. Justin Herbert, LAC (78.9)

PFF = 87.5 , QBR = 59.9 , P-Rating = 100.1

7. Teddy Bridgewater, DEN (79.5)

PFF = 77.9 , QBR = 65.6 , P-Rating = 110.6

6. Kirk Cousins, MIN (79.8)

PFF = 85.0 , QBR = 61.9 , P-Rating = 105.6

5. Tom Brady, TB (81.7)

PFF = 92.8 , QBR = 61.4 , P-Rating = 100.3

4. Russell Wilson, SEA (83.5)

PFF = 83.0 , QBR = 60.9 , P-Rating = 129.9

3. Matthew Stafford, LAR (86.4)

PFF = 80.7 , QBR = 76.6, P-Rating = 117.6

2. Kyler Murray, ARI (87.8)

PFF = 87.6 , QBR = 74.5 , P-Rating = 115.0

1. Patrick Mahomes, KC (89.9)

PFF = 82.2 , QBR = 82.9 , P-Rating = 119.6

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).

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