The NFL’s Top QBs in 2021 per PFF, QBR, Passer Rating Formula

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports.

The following scores reflect the entire 2021 regular season.

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.

Next year, we plan to incorporate EPA+CPOE and DVOA.


34. Zach Wilson (NYJ), 49.0

PFF = 59.3, QBR = 28.5, P-Rating = 69.7

33. Sam Darnold (CAR), 49.7

PFF = 55.2, QBR = 33.3, P-Rating = 71.9

32. Justin Fields (CHI), 50.7

PFF = 64.2, QBR = 26.0, P-Rating = 73.2

31. Trevor Lawrence (JAX), 51.6

PFF = 59.6, QBR = 33.6, P-Rating = 71.9

30. Ben Roethlisberger (PIT), 54.1

PFF = 56.2, QBR = 35.8, P-Rating = 86.8

29. Davis Mills (HOU), 55.3

PFF = 58.3, QBR = 35.6, P-Rating = 88.8

28. Baker Mayfield (CLE), 56.1

PFF = 63.6, QBR = 35.3, P-Rating = 83.1

27. Taylor Heinicke (WAS), 57.0

PFF = 59.4, QBR = 40.3, P-Rating = 85.9

26. Jared Goff (DET), 58.1

PFF = 60.7, QBR = 39.0, P-Rating = 91.5

25. Tyler Huntley (BAL), 61.9

PFF = 68.3, QBR = 48.3, P-Rating = 76.6

24. Taysom Hill (NO), 62.0

PFF = 74.8, QBR = 42.6, P-Rating = 75.4

23. Daniel Jones (NYG), 62.2

PFF = 71.6, QBR = 41.5, P-Rating = 84.8

22. Tua Tagovailoa (MIA), 65.6

PFF = 68.4, QBR = 50.6, P-Rating = 90.1

21. Lamar Jackson (BAL), 65.8

PFF = 70.2, QBR = 51.0, P-Rating = 87.0

20. Matt Ryan (ATL), 66.8

PFF = 75.8, QBR = 46.2, P-Rating = 90.4

19. Teddy Bridgewater (DEN), 67.4

PFF = 73.5, QBR = 47.7, P-Rating = 94.9

18. Carson Wentz (IND), 69.0

PFF = 70.9, QBR = 54.4, P-Rating = 94.6

17. Jalen Hurts (PHI), 69.2

PFF = 80.8, QBR = 54.4, P-Rating = 87.2

16. Derek Carr (LV), 70.4

PFF = 76.3, QBR = 52.7, P-Rating = 94.0

15. Mac Jones (NE), 70.7

PFF = 79.3, QBR = 51.3, P-Rating = 92.5

14. Jimmy Garoppolo (SF), 70.9

PFF = 75.5, QBR = 52.6, P-Rating = 98.7

13. Russell Wilson (SEA), 71.7

PFF = 73.9, QBR = 53.9, P-Rating = 103.1

12. Ryan Tannehill (TEN), 73.8

PFF = 83.6, QBR = 56.3, P-Rating = 89.6

11. Patrick Mahomes (KC), 75.7

PFF = 77.5, QBR = 62.6, P-Rating = 98.5

10. Jameis Winston (NO), 76.0

PFF = 74.2, QBR = 64.6, P-Rating = 102.8

9. Dak Prescott (DAL), 76.3

PFF = 83.8, QBR = 54.9, P-Rating = 104.2

8. Kyler Murray (ARI), 76.4

PFF = 84.0, QBR = 56.8, P-Rating = 100.6

7. Kirk Cousins (MIN), 76.6

PFF = 88.2, QBR = 51.9, P-Rating = 103.1

6. Josh Allen (BUF), 77.4

PFF = 86.5, QBR = 61.0, P-Rating = 92.2

5. Matthew Stafford (LAR), 78.2

PFF = 80.7, QBR = 63.5, P-Rating = 102.9

4. Joe Burrow (CIN), 80.1

PFF = 91.7, QBR = 54.4, P-Rating = 108.3

3. Justin Herbert (LAC), 82.0

PFF = 90.1, QBR = 66.1, P-Rating = 97.7

2. Tom Brady (TB), 84.6

PFF = 92.0, QBR = 68.5, P-Rating = 102.1

1. Aaron Rodgers (GB), 85.9

PFF = 90.0, QBR = 68.8 , P-Rating = 111.9

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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