Tag: NFL News

Why Richie James is a sleeper

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Richie James is a sleeper in 2022

By: Nathan Nguyen

When Richie James signed with the New York Giants as a free agent, no one expected him to be more than anything but a solid backup receiver. If anything, he would serve as a kick returner because of his experience with previous teams serving that role.

Fast forward to today, and James looks like more than just a guy. In fact, he may be the only one keeping this receiving corps afloat. With Sterling Shepard out for the year, Daniel Jones may need to rely on James more than ever this season.

James was drafted in the seventh round by the San Francisco 49ers in 2018. Appearing in 13 games, he caught nine passes for 130 yards. He also caught his first career touchdown against the Rams in week 17. The wide receiver also returned a kickoff for a touchdown in his rookie season.

He set career highs in receiving yards and receptions in 2020. But, he would miss the entire 2021 season after being placed on the injured reserve list. This was due to a knee injury.

The 49ers decided to not bring him back for 2022 and let him walk into free agency. On March 25th, 2022, the New York Giants decided to take a chance on the former Middle Tennessee State receiver.

Through three games, James has shown that the 49ers may have made a mistake not bringing him back. He’s been clearly the best receiver on the Giants, leading the team in receptions and a close second in receiving yards.

Put this into perspective: Deebo Samuel leads San Francisco in receiving with 12 catches and 131 yards. James has 14 catches for 146 yards. He would have been the best receiver on the 49ers. Jimmy Garoppolo could have used him after leading his team to just ten points last Sunday night.

Thankfully, James has been as close to a star as possible for Big Blue. With the Giants having the most expensive receiving core in the NFL, they have underwhelmed in the worst way possible.

Shepard is out for the year, Kenny Golladay can’t catch, David Sills has lost his magic, and Darius Slayton has been in a reduced role. Oh, and both Kadarius Toney and Wan’Dale Robinson are hurt. Daniel Jones cannot perform to the best of his abilities if his weapons can’t stay on the field or perform well enough to be reliable.

This is where James steps in. Take the Dallas game, for example.

This man is getting open for his quarterback, something the other guys have struggled to do.

This man is getting open for his quarterback, something the other guys have struggled to do. James has at least four catches through three games, and he may be targeted even more in the coming weeks. He’s not a superstar, but he is sure looking like one.

Joe Schoen: you got a bargain with this guy. Let’s hope Richie James continues to show out against Chicago.

Saquon Barkley or Nick Chubb: who is the better RB?

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Does Saquon Barkley or Nick Chubb have a brighter outlook?

By Charlie Vakassian

Three weeks into the NFL season, and the running back situation has been unexpected and injury marred for fantasy owners and NFL teams. But there have been two constants withstanding the storm. Saquon Barkley is a man on a mission, second in the NFL in rushing yards, as well as the overall RB1 for fantasy. He looks like his old self, leading the Giants to a 2-1 record. Nick Chubb has been tearing it up as well, leading the NFL in rushing yards while being the RB2 for fantasy. In this article, we will look at the styles and stats of both players, as well as their situations for this season and beyond. In the end, we will be able to answer: who is the better player?

Skills and Stats

Saquon Barkley: 53 carries, 317 yards, 2 TDs, 15 targets, 13 catches, 91 yards (5.98 YPC)

Nick Chubb: 62 carries, 341 yards, 4 TDs, 5 targets, 4 catches, 28 yards (5.5 YPC)

Chubb has been the beneficiary of a functioning offensive line, outscoring Barkley by two touchdowns. Surprisingly, Barkley has been the more efficient runner, thanks to his big play ability. Barkley has been the better fantasy performer because he is the true bell-cow and better receiver. Chubb has Kareem Hunt taking away all the passing work.

Barkley is the undisputed 3 down back and primary weapon on a Giants team with no healthy or talented wide receivers. Daniel Jones frequently targets him for check-downs and screenplays. Barkley also has amazing big play ability, with multiple 30-plus yard runs already this season.

Chubb has the misfortune of being handicapped by Kareem Hunt, who as I said before takes all the passing game work and even vultures a few carries. The Browns also have a competent QB in Jacoby Brisset and good weapons in Amari Cooper and David Njoku.

Outlook for 2022 and Beyond

Barkley is playing under his team option for this season and has the potential to become a free agent after this year, pending trade or extension. Chubb has more security, currently playing under a 3-year extension. Barkley has more to play for this year, with the chance to earn a nice payday on the open market. He is also the younger back, only 25 years old, and looks healthy 2 years removed from his ACL injury. Chubb has more long-term security, but is older, playing into his age 27 seasons, and has an annoying handcuff in Hunt. Running backs do not age well, and Chubb is a risky play for the dynasty except for contending teams. Redraft the two are essentially equal, but dynasty Barkley takes the cake. Overall, a slight edge over the Giants star RB.

Fantasy: 3 WRs to trade for, 3 WRs to trade away

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Latest WRs to trade away in Week 3

By Charles Vakassian

Two weeks of the NFL season are now in the books, and we now have a better idea of how well players at each position have performed thus far. In this article, we will delve into the wide receivers, and advise on some receivers you should be adding to your squads, as well as a few who you should move on from.

WRs to Buy Now

Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears

Mooney has been the victim of an incredibly poor Bears offense. Dreadful weather in Week 1 plus a Justin Fields letdown in Week 2 has left Mooney’s stock in the dumps. But there is room for optimism. Mooney took over as the number one weapon last year and developed great chemistry with Fields, despite the presence of Allen Robinson. A juicy Week 3 matchup with the Texans, who surrendered over 300 passing yards to Matt Ryan in Week 1, is on the horizon. Justin Fields should be able to sling it all game long. Mooney is a great buy low and is someone you should be targeting, especially in dynasty leagues.

Drake London, Atlanta Falcons

This is a case of adding someone before their value skyrockets even further. London has been the undisputed alpha in the Falcons offense so far, despite the presence of Kyle Pitts. Marcus Mariota has been targeting London constantly. A 48% target share in Week 1, and a similarly commanding 46% share in Week 2. Pitts will obviously start to be more involved in the coming weeks, but London is still a must-have for rosters, and his value will only get better in the dynasty. Get him now before you have to pay even more.

Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers have seen a lot of offensive turnovers, with Eli Mitchell’s knee injury and George Kittle missing time as well. Starting QB Trey Lance is now down for the season with his broken ankle. With the return of Jimmy Garoppolo, a player who stands to gain is Aiyuk. He saw the largest target share of the Niners weapons when Jimmy G came into the game (33%) and will continue to see a large share with Deebo Samuel working out of the backfield more often.

WRs to Sell Now

Allen Robinson, Los Angeles Rams

Robinson delivered after a subpar Week 1, reaching the end zone and catching 4 balls for 53 yards. While this looks good on the surface, Robinson was still outplayed by Cooper Kupp, and even tight end Tyler Higbee saw more targets. A 14% target share is very concerning, and while he has upside in a very good Rams offense, the lack of consistency will hurt him. Sell high after a good Week 2 performance.

Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints

Thomas has been fantastic for the first two weeks of the season, scoring three touchdowns and seeing a large target share. While this is good news on the surface, there are some other factors that need to be considered. Rookie Chris Olave saw a team-high 13 targets in Week 1, and is going to be even more involved as the weeks pass on. Alvin Kamara will be returning from injury soon as well, and he commands a decent target share as a dual-threat running back. Jarvis Landry isn’t going anywhere either. A lot of mouths to feed, and we could see different players balling out each wheel. Thomas is riding high right now, and it is a perfect time to capitalize on his value and sell high.

Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns

The Browns were a much more competent offensive team Week 2, and Cooper got more involved, with nine catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Operating as the number one weapon for Cleveland in the air, you would think this outing is a sign of better things to come. I am incredibly skeptical of Jacoby Brissett as a signal caller, and consider this high-scoring performance as an outlier. Use this Cooper performance to sell him for another player who can more consistently help your squad.

2022-23 Fantasy Football-Start Em, Sit Em Week 2

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Latest Start Em, Sit Ems in Week 2

By Charles Vakassian

Welcome to Week 2 of the NFL season! I hope you found the Week 1 Start Em Sit Em to be helpful in assembling your squads. Without further ado, let’s get back into it!

Start Em-QB

Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders (Vs. Cardinals, 4:25 EST)

The Cardinals were just lit up to the tune of 5 touchdowns and almost 400 passing yards by Patrick Mahomes. Now Derek Carr comes into town, having struggled a bit against a tough Chargers defense (2 TDs, 3 INTs). This is a get-right matchup if there ever was one. The Raiders love to throw the football, and with all the weapons at his disposal (Davante Adams, Darren Waller, Hunter Renfrow), Carr should have no trouble slinging the ball around and carving up a suspect Arizona defense.

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (Vs. Falcons, 4:05 EST)

Stafford certainly had a game to forget against the Bills, turning the ball over four times and getting sacked seven times by a ferocious Bills pass rush. Better days are ahead though, as the Rams get a juicy matchup against a poor Falcons team whose defense just collapsed in the second half to give the Saints a win in Week 1. The Bills arguably have the best defense in the NFL and would give any QB fits. Give Stafford a pass for a bad Week 1, and reinsert him in your lineups for a rebound Week 2.

Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers (Vs. Seahawks, 4:05 EST)

Lance didn’t have the best game Week 1, but the field conditions were simply horrendous in Chicago, with the field drenched from torrential rain. Lance was also missing a top weapon in George Kittle and lost Elijah Mitchell to a knee injury. Better days are ahead, are they get a Seahawks team on a short test following a Monday night game. Their best defensive player in Jamal Adams is out foir the season, and they were just carved up for 350 plus yards by Russel Wilson. I don’t expect Lance to throw for that many yards, but he will use his legs and make things happen to compensate, especially with Mitchell absent.

Sit Em-QB

Justin Fields, Chicago Bears (Vs. Packers, 8:20 EST)

Similar to his Week 1 counterpart in Trey Lance, Fields struggled in the pouring rain in Chicago. He barely threw for over 100 yards and rushed for 28. A matchup against an angry Packers defense in their home opener spells disaster for the Bears. Fields should only be used as a QB2 option in Superflex leagues.

Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Vs. Saints, 1:00 EST)

You will rarely ever see Brady on this side of the list, but this is the one matchup that gives him fits. With Chris Godwin out, and potentially his starting LT Donovan Smith out as well, Brady will be under duress all game long. The Saints have held Brady to less than five fantasy points multiple times in the last couple of seasons, and he could be in line for a repeat performance.

Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans (vs. Bills, 7:15 EST Mon)

We saw what the Bills defense did to a much better team in the Rams, and to a much more talented QB in Matthew Stafford. Imagine what will happen to an inferior QB in Tannehill. If the Titans want to win it will be on the back of Derrick Henry and strong defensive performance. Tannehill couldn’t slice up a middling Giants defense last week, and there isn’t much hope here.

Start Em-RB

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs (Vs. Chargers, 8:20 Thurs)

Edwards-Helaire balled out against the Cardinals in Week 1, despite only having 10 touches, as he turned two of them into touchdowns. If the game had not turned into a blowout, he would have seen more touches. A high-scoring game against the Chargers awaits, and Edwards-Helaire will be used in the passing game and near the goal line. The Chargers were awful against running backs last year, adding more incentive to starting CEH in all your lineups.

Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders (Vs. Cardinals, 4:05 EST)

The Cardinals were brutal against the Chiefs last week and gave up multiple touchdowns to the running back position. Look for the Raiders to establish a lead early, and ground and pound most of the way with Jacobs. He could potentially see some early receiving work as well, putting him on the flex radar at worst.

Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills (Vs. Titans, 7:15 EST Mon)

The Titans were just obliterated by Saquon Barkley for 194 total yards, and now have to face a dynamic Bills passing attack. But the run game should not be ignored. Singletary averaged six yards a carry in Week 1, and saw multiple targets in the passing game as well. He should see some goal-line opportunities this week with high volume.

Sit Em-RB

David Montgomery, Chicago Bears (Vs. Packers, 8:20 EST)

Montgomery struggled in a game that was friendly for the run, carrying 17 times for 26 yards. By contrast, backfield mate Khalil Herbert carried 9 times for 45 yards. Monty did see four targets to Herbert’s one, but the lack of efficiency is concerning, as this backfield becomes more of a committee by the week. A matchup against the Packers does Montgomery no favors either, as the ground game will be secondary towards passing to try and keep up with Aaron Rodgers.

Chase Edmonds, Miami Dolphins (Vs. Ravens, 1:00 EST)

Edmonds was the primary back in Week 1 against New England, getting 16 touches to the 6 by backup Raheem Mostert. He didn’t do much with it against a stout New England defense, only totaling 65 yards. A matchup with Baltimore doesn’t look favorable either, as they just held down the Jets rushing attack, only allowing yards when the clock and game were heavily in their favor. Edmonds is a desperation flex play this week only.

Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans (Vs. Broncos, 4:25 pm EST)

Pierce was a disappointment his first career game after all the preseason hype. He was out-touched by Rex Burkhead, and Week 2 does not look any more promising. A matchup with the Broncos looms, and with the Texans likely to be trailing for a majority of the game, Burkhead could see even more work as the primary pass-catching back.

Start Em-WR

Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars (Vs. Colts, 1:00 EST)

All of us in the fantasy community laughed when Kirk was given that monster contract by the Jags, but he certainly performed up to it in Week 1. Six catches on 12 targets for 117 yards was nothing short of spectacular, and he could quickly become a regular fixture in your fantasy lineups. His matchup this week is very friendly, as the Colts were horrendous against WRs for fantasy last year. Kirk is a solid WR2 this week.

Sterling Shepard, New York Giants (Vs. Panthers, 1:00 PM EST)

Shepard showed he was back and ready to roll with a 65-yard touchdown reception in Week 1 against the Titans. An even better matchup is on tap with a suspect Panthers defense. Daniel Jones will look to his security blanket, especially with Kadarius Toney questionable to play with a hamstring injury. With the Panthers wanting to key in on Saquon Barkley, the middle of the field will be wide open for Shepard to take advantage of.

Julio Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Vs. Saints, 1:00 PM EST)

Chris Godwin is out for multiple weeks, and Russel Gage is questionable for this week. The door is open for Jones to ball out, and he was very solid in his Week 1 debut ( 3 catches on 5 targets, 69 yards). Jones will be operating as the WR2 and will need to help take the heat off of Mike Evans. Jones is a solid flex play this week in what should be a competitive game.

Sit Em-WR

Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns (Vs. Jets, 1:00 EST)

I remember being incredibly excited for the prospects of Cooper in fantasy after the Deshaun Watson trade. Not so much anymore. With Jacoby Brissett under center, Cooper had a bad Week 1 (3 catches, 17 yards) and this coming battle with the Jets will not serve him any better. Sauce Gardner and DJ Reed did a good job in holding down the Ravens offense and should be able to hold down Cooper pretty handily.

Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings (Vs. Eagles, 8:30 PM EST Mon)

This is Justin Jefferson’s offense. Thielen only had three catches for 36 yards and is becoming more and more dependent on the touchdown. A matchup against an improved Eagles secondary is no good thing for him either. Thielen is someone you should keep on your bench this week, as the offense will run through Jefferson and Dalvin Cook.

Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens (Vs. Dolphins, 1:00 PM EST)

Bateman had a nice Week 1, finding the end zone and serving as the number one wideout in Baltimore. This week’s matchup is less then favorable, howeever. The Dolphins boast an elite secondary, and have held down opposing wide receivers in fantasy. Bateman will likely see a lot of Xavien Howard this week, and it will limit his ceiling, as Lamar Jackson looks elsewhere to find points (Mark Andrews).

Start Em-TE

Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams (vs. Falcons, 4:05 PM EST)

Higbee, much like most of the Rams offense, was held in check against the Bills despite having 11 targets But we can expect a big rebound this week against a subpar Falcons team. Higbee will serve as Matthew Stafford’s target over the middle and in the red zone. We likely won’t see 11 targets for Higbee again, but there is a much better chance for more yards per catch and a touchdown.

Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys (Vs. Bengals, 4:25 PM EST)

With Dak Prescott sidelined, most of the Cowboys pass catchers will take a big hit. Schultz is the exception, as he is the reliable short yardage machine backup QBs like Cooper Rush rely on. In a matchup against a superior Bengals team, the Cowboys will more than likely be playing from behind. This is a recipe for success with Schultz, as a conservative passing game with Rush will target him plenty of times.

Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers (Vs. Chiefs, 8:25 PM EST)

Keenan Allen will be absent from this game due to his hamstring injury, and Mike Williams is notoriously boom or bust. Justin Herbert will need a reliable target over the middle, and Everett can be that guy. In a high scoring matchup with the divisional rival Chiefs, in a pass-happy offense, this is a chance for Everett to thrive.

Sit Em-TE

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (Vs. Steelers, 1:00PM EST)

Henry was a disappointment Week 1, only catching two balls for 20 yards, and was out-touched and outperformed by fellow tight end, Jonnu Smith. In an offense that leans heavily on the run, and with a struggling QB in Mac Jones, Henry is best left on your benches or even on the waiver wire.

Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks (Vs. 49ers, 4:05 PM EST)

Fant was supposed to be the TE1 in Seattle this year, but looks to be in a committee with Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson. Parkinson and Dissly each caught touchdowns and outperformed Fant. In an offense that is already projected to struggle with Geno Smith under center, Fant is best left on your bench until the TE rotation is figured out.

O.J Howard, Buffalo Bills (Vs. Titans, 7:15 PM EST Mon)

Howard burst onto the scene in his first game as a Bill, catching two touchdown passes. Now a matchup with the Titans looms and they did a good job against opposing TEs last year and this past week against the Giants. With Dawson Knox also there to take away targets, Howard is a hard fade this week.

Fantasy: 3 RBs to trade for, 3 RBs to trade away

Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

3 RBs to trade away in 2022

By Charles Vakassian

With Week 1 of the NFL season now in the books, we have a slightly clearer picture of the situations in each team’s backfield. Some players exceeded their expectations. Others not so much. In this article, we will look at 3 running backs you should be trying to buy on the low, and 3 you should trade away now while their value is sky-high.

RBs to Buy Low

Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars

Etienne split the snaps with James Robinson in Week 1, but saw 7 fewer carries and dropped an easy TD pass on fourth down. Robinson scored two touchdowns and was efficient with his 11 carries. While the initial results may not seem too encouraging for Etienne, we have to remember that this was his first ever NFL game. Also, after spending so much time recovering from the brutal Lisfranc injury, it’s possible the Jaguars were simply being careful with one of their best offensive weapons. Etienne is the better receiving back between him and Robinson, and he has the college connection with Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars will be playing some tough teams coming up (Colts, Chargers, Eagles) which will likely see them playing from behind. This sets up Etienne nicely for a bounceback to his slow start.

Breece Hall, New York Jets

While the stat line was not all that impressive for Hall (61 total yards, 1 fumble), the same could be sad for most of the Jets offense. Hall at least had some positives workng his way which should encourage fantasy managers to try and make a trade for him. Hall led the Jets with 10 targets, which should assuage fears about Michael Carter taking all the passing game work. In additon, Hall had a team high 17% target share, showing New York wants to get its new weapon as much work as possible. Something else to consider: Hall is the better first and second down runner, and when Zach Wilson is under center, he is much less inclined to check down to the RB than Joe Flacco. R ookies also tend to get more involved as the season goes along.So come Week 5, there will be a shift in the RB room benefiting Hall. He will still maintain flex value in the interim, but can be a solid RB2 in the near future.

A.J Dillon, Green Bay Packers

Many people saw Aaron Jones as the clear-cut RB1 coming into this season, or at least the 1A to Dillon’s 1B. Week 1 told a different story. Dillon saw more touches (15 to 8) more targets in the passing game (6 to 5) and scored the Packers only touchdown of the game. Frankly, this is the time to buy Dillon while the backfield still partially resembles a timeshare. He is the clear goal line back in this normally high-powered offense, and Aaron Rodgers clearly isn’t afraid to target him in the passing game either. Aaron Jones will still get him, but the majority of the scoring opportunities rest in Dillon’s hands, and that is what matters for fantasy.

RBs to Sell High

Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns

Hunt had an excellent Week 1, compiling 70 total yards and both Browns touchdowns on the day. This is likely to be a highpoint for him, as he operates in conjunction with Nick Chubb, and both backs are unlikely to see enough volume to warrant top dog status. Having to rely on touchdowns for production with Jacoby Brissett at QB is not a recipe for success. Chubb will be the back to own in Cleveland, as he is the typical goal line back and sees the most carries. Hunt is too volatile to rely on for consistent production. Capitalize on his strong Week 1 and sell him now while the value is high.

Cordarelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons

This may be an unexpected name to hear, as Patterson was essentially the bell cow in Atlanta for Week 1. However, this was due to Damien Williams leaving the game with an injury. With Tyler Allgier a healthy scratch for the game, the Falcons never had an alternative for if a back went down. Thus, Patterson was forced to take on a heavy workload. Williams is expected to be back for Week 2, and Allgier will likely be activated as well for insurance purposes. On a team with no playoff aspirations, it would behoove Atlanta to see the younger players get more of a chance and see if anyone is worth keeping long term. When both backs were on the field Week 1, Williams saw more time in the backfield than Patterson. Williams will likely split carries with Patterson, cratering his value. Now is the time to move on from Patterson before it is too late.

Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers

This one may get some hate, but there are a lot of question marks surrounding Najee. He was dealing with a Lisfranc injury before the season, which is known to hamper running backs when they try and play through it. Then, during the Steeler’s Week 1 tilt with the Bengals, Harris suffered a foot injury which caused him to leave the game. The talent Harris posses is undeniable. But he is quickly on his way towards having the injury bug tag being slapped on him. Having to play behind a subpar offensive line does him no favors either. Seeing if you can get a high caliber player in return for Najee would not be the worst strategy in the world at this point.

Is Clay Matthews A Future Hall of Famer?

Mike Morbeck, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Will Matthews be cast into Canton?

By: Andy Davies

Clay Matthews, a player synonymous with the green and gold of Green Bay.

He spent nine of his 10 years in the league with the franchise and is a surety for the Packers’ Hall of Fame. But is he set for the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Let’s take a look at whether Clay Matthews is a future Hall of Famer.

The Stats

In his NFL career, Matthews has recorded 519 tackles, 91.5 sacks 200 quarterback hits, 130 tackles for loss, as well as six career interceptions and 17 forced fumbles. He is also a six-time Pro Bowler, 1 time All Pro and a one-time Super Bowl champion.

The former Packers linebacker has not yet officially retired, which means that he would need to wait a little bit longer before the five-year mandatory waiting period begins.

Reasons For And Against His Inclusion

YearCombined TacklesRankTackles For LossRankQB HitsRankSacksRank
200951232nd175th21T-10th10T-11th
201060T-167th18T-3rd25T-4th13.54th
201137T-218th8T-76th2510th6T-49th
201243T-271st15T-150246th135th
201341T-305th960th11T-68th7.543rd
201461T-145th  16T-8th22T-9th11T-12th
201566T-118th14T-16th1924th6.539th
2016*24T-468th9T-50th  9T-93rd5T-58th
201743T-280th8T-76th21T-19th7.5T-36th
201843T-272nd7T-88th12T-70th3.5T-120th
201937T-341st9T-48th11T-73rd8T-33rd

* Started just 9 games

Matthews has six Pro Bowl appearances and in 2010, as can be seen in the above table, only three players recorded more than the 13.5 sacks he posted that season. This is a campaign that ultimately led to his one and only ring.

In Matthews’ career, only twice did he finish inside the top ten for tackles for loss (2010 and 2014). However, that is as good as it got with only two more seasons with double-digit sacks. Despite the 11 in 2014, there were still eleven players who recorded more than him.

Despite being a linebacker, a position that is meant to excel in tackles, he never once finished in the top 100. In fact, four of the ten leaders for career combined tackles are either inside or outside linebackers. 

Even in the 2015 campaign, where he recorded his best ever ranking for combined tackles, only three of the top 20 totals that seasons did not come from linebackers.

Matthews cannot even blame a lack of gametime for poor stats, with only one season where he started less than 10 games.

On the other hand, Matthews did lead the Packers in quarterback pressures and came third in the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting as well as setting the Packers record for most sacks by a rookie in a season (10). He became the first Packers to record six sacks in their opening two games in 2010 as well as only being beaten by Troy Polamalu in the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards.

In the end, Matthews had a good career but certainly should not be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

It is a different story for the Packers’ Hall of Fame. Matthews was part of the last team to win a Super Bowl, an integral cog also. He should be a no-brainer to receive such a honour.

Despite the lack of standouts from the above table, he has had an impact on the NFL in the aforementioned 2009 and 2010 seasons. It is some achievement to only have three players receive votes ahead of you across the 2009 and 2010 season for Defensive Player of the Year. However, it is questionable whether this is enough for Matthews to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Ranking the NFC North quarterbacks right now

All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Who is the worst NFC North quarterback?

By: Andy Davies

The 2022 NFL season is less than two months away. We have had Free Agency and the NFL Draft. We are currently in the training camp stage. 

The NFC North is not expected to be a widely competitive division, with the Green Bay Packers seen as the favorites despite losing Davante Adams and a fresh change at head coach in Minnesota. The Detroit Lions are seen by many as a dark horse and Chicago Bears aren’t seen as winning any more than six games. 

But who has the best quarterback? In the penultimate division ranking, here is a ranking of NFC North quarterbacks.

1. Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers)

The easiest choice of the four positions. Rodgers is a back-to-back reigning MVP and is seen by many as the best in the league and most talented of all time. 

He may have lost Adams, but Rodgers will find a way to make it work as he always does.

There are some people in this world that make their skill look effortless and A-Rod is one of them. He has a 139-66-1 record as a starter and over the course of his career, he has thrown for 55,360 yards, 449 yards and 93 interceptions. He is a sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Whilst he often gets stuck for only making one Super Bowl and having the same number of rings as Nick Foles, there is no doubt that Rodgers is by far the best quarterback in this division.

2. Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings)

Whilst Rodgers’ record as a starter is 139-66-1, Even though these records are misleading due to it being a team effort, Cousins’ 59-59-2 is a perfect example of how his career has gone. 

If the film Dodgeball was released in 2022, Average Joes gymnasium would have Cousins’ face on it. He has been a constant figure of mediocrity, with fans often pointing out his lack of wins in ‘Primetime’ games. 

To put it in comparison, Cousins has only two fewer career interceptions than Rodgers but 226 less touchdown passes. However, he has more to his game than the other two quarterbacks below him.

3. Jared Goff  (Detroit Lions)

A former number one overall pick, Goff has not been awful since he entered the league in 2016. He was part of the Los Angeles Rams team that made it all the way to Super Bowl 53 in Atlanta. 

However, his relationship with Sean McVay deteriorated and he was traded to Detroit in exchange to Matthew Stafford. We all know what happened afterward. 

Stafford proved he was the missing piece in the Rams Super Bowl jigsaw, further damaging Goff’s stock. Despite the Lions going 3-10-1 and head coach Dan Campbell publicly criticizing his quarterback, he still threw for 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. 

Goff has shown his talent on occasions but never on enough occasions. 

4. Justin Fields (Chicago Bears)

Fields has the ceiling to be second on this list in a couple of seasons time but as it stands, he simply hasn’t played enough or to a good enough standard to be considered anything but the bottom of the pile.

He showed flashes during his 2021 rookie campaign but was also playing under Matt Nagy. The hiring of defensive-minded head coach Matt Eberfleus is a worry for Field’s progression. Fields showed during college that he has all the intangibles to become a top NFL quarterback, but right now, he is the fourth best in the division.

Ranking the NFC West Quarterbacks right now

All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Who is the best NFC West quarterback in 2022?

By: Andy Davies

The NFC West was considered the elite division in the NFL as little as a year ago but things have progressed since, despite having the current Super Bowl champions in the Los Angeles Rams. 

Russell Wilson is no longer in the division, and no one quite knows who will be the QB1 in San Francisco. 

But who is the divisions best quarterback? Here are the rankings of the NFC West quarterbacks from best to worst.

Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams)

What better place to start than with the QB1 of the Super Bowl Champions. Whilst Stafford was not the reason the Rams won Super Bowl 56 over the Cincinnati Bengals, with 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, he was certainly the final piece of the jigsaw as the Rams hoisted the Lombardi Trophy for the first time since the 1999 season. 

The Rams were always contenders, making it all the way to Super Bowl 53, but there was always something missing at the quarterback position. Jared Goff did well but even he would admit he was probably not good enough to take the Rams where they needed.

He was traded to the Detroit Lions in exchange for Stafford and the rest is history. Stafford had reached the postseason on three previous occasions, but each time came up short at the first attempt. His lack of playoff wins was a factor pointed out by sceptics when he arrived but when the Rams made the playoffs, Stafford showed why the team gave up so much to get him. In four games, he threw for 1,188 yards, 9 touchdowns and 3 interceptions as well as having a 70% completion percentage (98 from 140).

In the regular season, Stafford also impressed. Only Tom Brady (43) threw for more touchdown passes (41), with Stafford throwing for the third-most passing yards (4,886). 

Stafford is clearly the choice for the number one spot on this list and it will take a lot for the other players in this list to catch him up.

Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals)

Murray’s future is unclear, with his fifth option exercised but no longer-term deal in place at time of writing. 

The 2019 first overall pick has shown signs of his potential but is yet to fulfil this on a consistent basis. In three seasons, he has thrown for 11,480 yards, 70 touchdowns and 34 interceptions, whilst also recording  1,786 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. 

A trend of Murray’s career so far is starting off the season well but tailing off down the stretch. He will need a big year to convince the Cardinals front office that he is the player moving forward. Either way, he still remains second on this list.

Jimmy Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers)

When the 49ers lost to the Rams in the NFC Championship game back in January, it was seen by many to be the end of Jimmy G in San Francisco. However, he is still on the team.

Having missed OTA’s due to rehab on his shoulder,  he has yet to be traded. Say what you want about Jimmy G, but he wins games. Simple as that. Whilst he has never been the reason for the 49ers winning games, he is a very serviceable quarterback. With uncertainty over Lance after reports of the organisation being underwhelmed, Garoppolo is the right guy to be under centre for the 49ers in week one. 

Drew Lock/Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks)

Whether it is Lock or Smith, there is no way they aren’t at the bottom of this list. Lock has a great start to life in the NFL, when he started for the Denver Broncos towards the end of the 2019 season, his 2020 and 2021 campaigns flattered to deceive. Meanwhile, Smith has been a backup for most of his career. Neither of these quarterbacks, whoever starts against the Broncos in week one, are likely to inspire confidence from fans or the Seattle coaching staff. 

NFL Schedule Release: Previewing the best NFL match-ups next season

All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

NFL schedule release reflection

By: Sam Moores

Last Thursday (12th May) evening saw the 2022 NFL schedule released in its entirety to fans of all 32 franchises. This day on the calendar is always a special one as it gives you something football to look forward to in the space of time between the draft, and the start of training camp.

The NFL doing what the NFL does turned this year’s release into an 8-day event, releasing a select few games over that time period. It started with the announcement of the 2022 International Series matchups on May 4th, before television broadcasters revealed a selct few of their given games throughout the week leading up to the May 12th, 8PM ET, league-wide full schedule release. Today I’m going to take a look at two games from each week that you should definitely look out for.

Week 1 – Bills @ Rams (TNF season opener, 8:20PM ET, NBC), Broncos @ Seahawks (MNF, 8:15PM ET, ESPN)

The 2022 season is kicked off in style as two of last year’s most exciting teams meet in the reigning Super Bowl champion, Los Angeles Rams’ home opener. They welcome Sean McDermott’s Bills to So-Fi Stadium. This will be our first chance to see Von Miller suit up for Buffalo, it’s fitting how it’s against the team he won the Lombardi trophy with just 9 months previous.

Joe Buck and Troy Aikman’s Monday Night gig at ESPN gets off to an interesting start as it sees Russell Wilson return to Seattle to make his Denver Broncos debut. How brutal for those 12’s. Speaking of the Seahawks, they’re one of the most interesting teams heading into the new season. Will it really be Drew Lock at QB?

Week 2 – Chargers @ Chiefs (TNF, 8:15PM ET, Amazon Prime), Buccaneers @ Saints ( 1PM ET, FOX)

TNF in Week 2 is the first-ever game on its new home of Amazon Prime Video. A division game is a great choice to start with too, especially within the stacked AFC West. This is our first primetime showing of a Chiefs offense without Tyreek Hill, whilst the same can be said for the Chargers with their new defensive additions, JC Jackson and Khalil Mack.

FOX has got a great one in the early Sunday slot, as Tom Brady and the Bucs’ go to New Orleans for the first of their two games with the Saints. Brady is 0-4 against NO in the regular season over his two years in Tampa, but this is the first without Sean Payton and Bruce Arians on the sidelines. Both retired from coaching in the offseason, one more surprising than the other, with their former DCs Dennis Allen and Todd Bowles getting second chances at a head coaching job in better-run organizations. This will tell us a lot about the two teams.

Week 3 – Bills @ Dolphins (1PM ET, CBS), Packers @ Buccaneers ( 4:25PM ET, FOX)

CBS’ first mention in the list is a battle with two AFC East rivals. Miami has had back to back winning seasons for the first time since 2002-2003, but has sustained 4 losses to Buffalo in that time period, and seven straight.

The Dolphins haven’t been able to keep up with the Bills offensively, but that could change with the hiring of Mike McDaniel as head coach, and the multiple big splash moves they’ve made to help Tua Tagovailoa. Something they failed at in the Brian Flores era.

FOX has another cracker in Week 3 as we get what could be the last regular-season meeting between Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. The two future HOF quarterbacks face off at Raymond James Stadium. They met twice in the 2020 season, with the Bucs winning both the regular and postseason fixtures en route to the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Will the Packers improved defense be able to assist their QB in what will be an important game when it comes to playoff seeding.

Week 4 – Chiefs @ Buccaneers (SNF, 8:20PM ET, NBC), Rams @ 49ers ( MNF, 8:15PM ET, ESPN)

The Buccanneers became the first team to win a ‘home’ Super Bowl in 2021, beating Kansas City 31-9 and embarrassing their offensive line. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs return to Tampa to play the Bucs in a rematch of Super Bowl 55 in Week 4 on Sunday Night Football. This is the end of an incredibly difficult 4 game stretch to open the year for TB12 and co.

Monday night sees another awesome rematch, as the Rams and 49ers play for the first time since last season’s NFC Championship game. It’s always chaos when these sides meet, so expect nothing less. Will it be Trey Lance at QB for the Niners? Or will it be Jimmy G? Who knows. I also wonder if it will be a different guy when they meet again in Week 8.

Week 5 – Giants @ Packers (London Game, 9:30AM ET, NFL Network), Bengals @ Ravens ( SNF, 8:20PM ET, NBC)

Green Bay becomes the 32nd and last team to have played a game in London, a massive milestone for all at NFL UK. This one should sell out incredibly quickly as these two sides are two of the most popular in Europe. This game features four first-round picks from April’s draft.

Sunday night sees the new generation of superstar QB’s in the AFC North duel once more as Joe Burrow and the Bengals travel to Baltimore to face Lamar Jackson’s Ravens. The result of this one will be crucial come the end of the season with how close the division is expected to be this year. Cinci scored 82 points in two victories over the Ravens last season.

Week 6 – Bills @ Chiefs (4:25PM ET, CBS), Broncos @ Chargers (MNF, 8:15PM ET, ESPN)

Possibly the most anticipated game of the 2022 season falls on Week 6 as the Buffalo Bills return to Arrowhead, the home of the Chiefs and the host of the greatest 2 minutes of playoff football you’ll ever see. Buffalo will be out for revenge with the world watching. They were incredibly unfortunate to lose out in that divisional-round game in January, which encouraged the playoff overtime rule change.

The other game to look out for sees two of the most aggressive teams in the offseason meet for their first of two division games, this one being on Monday Night Football. Russell Wilson vs Justin Herbert, two great defenses, stacked receiving cores, and decent offensive lines. This is football. 

Week 7 – Browns @ Ravens (1PM ET, CBS), Chiefs @ 49ers (4:25PM ET, FOX )

Another inter-AFC North affair is the highlight of Week 7. Will Deshaun Watson be playing by then? Who knows, but if he is then this is 100% a must-watch. If it’s a six-game suspension, then this could be his first game as a Brown. Kyle Hamilton should be embedded in the Ravens’ defense by this point, he was one of my favourite prospects in this year’s draft.

The late window on that Sunday sees a rematch of Super Bowl 54, the first time the two teams have met since. Two similar west coast offenses with different philosophies collide here as run-heavy Kyle Shanahan faces off against Andy Reid’s pass focused offense. I’m interested to see what the two defenses do to stop them.

Week 8 – Broncos @ Jaguars (London Game, 9:30AM ET, ESPN+), Packers @ Bills (SNF, 8:20PM ET, NBC)

Jacksonville returns to their London home of Wembley Stadium for the first time since 2019. They will play Denver in the first-ever game to be exclusively streamed on ESPN+. By then we’ll start to have an idea of how good Trevor Lawrence is. Russell Wilson put on a show at Wembley in 2018, will he do the same again? We’ll also see the Number 1 overall pick, Travon Walker, on a ‘primetime’ game for the first time.

Sunday night sees Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers do their thing at Orchard Park. These two were the best two quarterbacks in football last season, whilst both of their teams were in the last 8 of the playoffs, winning 24 games in the regular season between them. This is going to be one hell of a football game with a load of superstars on show.

Week 9 – Rams @ Buccaneers (4:25PM ET, CBS), Titans @ Chiefs (SNF, 8:20PM ET, NBC)

The past two Super Bowl champions meet in Tampa in a rare NFC game on CBS. The last time the sides met was in the divisional round of last year’s playoffs where LA almost blew a 27–3 lead by fumbling four times. They managed to get it together right in the last seconds of the game though, marching down the field to allow Matt Gay to hit a last-second field goal from 30 yards to win 30-27.

Later that Sunday we see the 2021 top two seeds in the AFC meet on SNF. When these two met in Week 7 last year it was in the midst of Mahomes’ and the offense’s run of poor games last season, scoring only 3 points in a 27-3 defeat at Nissan Stadium. This time it’s at Arrowhead. I wonder how good the Chiefs will be by Week 9. They certainly face a lot more competition in the AFC West, and appear to have slightly less talent on the roster.

Week 10 – Seahawks @ Buccaneers (Munich Game, 9:30AM ET, NFL Network), Cowboys @ Packers (4:25PM ET, FOX)

Germany becomes the third country to host a regular-season NFL game in Week 10, as Allianz Arena in Munich hosts Seattle @ Tampa Bay. Tickets for this one will sell out in minutes, as not only is it a chance for so many German fans to watch one of the fastest-growing sports in Europe live for the first time, but it’s also a chance to see Tom Brady play before his retirement.

FOX has the best game in Week 10, one that will probably go down as the most viewed in the regular season as well, except Thanksgiving, as two of the most popular teams in America face off. Mike McCarthy and his Dallas Cowboys travel to Lambeau Field to play the Packers. This will be Green Bay’s Super Bowl winning coach’s first time back to the iconic stadium since he was fired in 2019.

Week 11 – Browns @ Bills (1PM ET, CBS), 49ers @ Cardinals (Mexico Game, 8:15PM ET, ESPN)

What looks like Week 11’s best game comes in the early window on Sunday as we see the Bills host the Browns. This will be the first time the franchises have met since the 2019 season. Cleveland romped away 19-16 winners. It’ll probably be a Deshaun Watson vs Josh Allen QB battle, which could have been an AFC East matchup had Brian Flores remained as Dolphins HC.

ESPN broadcast their second international game of the season in Week 11, this one from Mexico City. It’s an NFC West matchup between two teams expected to be challenging for spots in the postseason. This is the first time the sides meet this season, if the 49ers win this one on a neutral site then things could be looking good for them by the time they play at Levi’s Stadium in Week 18. Arizona swept them last year. 

Week 12 – Giants @ Cowboys (Thanksgiving, 4:30PM ET, FOX), Rams @ Chiefs (4:25PM ET, ESPN)

Thanksgiving Thursday sees the Cowboys’ NFC East rival New York Giants become their opponents for this year’s middle game. The G-Men have only beaten Dallas once in their last 10 meetings. Hopefully, the Schoen, Daboll era goes better than the last couple regimes  have.

The last time the Rams and Chiefs met they were one point short of a record for the most points in a game ever and became the first two teams to score 50+ in the same game, at the Colosseum in 2018. Things are a little different now, but both teams have won a Lombardi since then and the last time either of them had a losing season was the Rams in 2016. They’ve been must-watch TV for ages and will remain to be in 2022.

Week 13 – Bills @ Patriots (TNF, 8:20PM ET, Amazon Prime), Chiefs @ Bengals (4:25PM ET, CBS)

The last time the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots met, Sean McDermott’s Bills embarrassed Belichick’s Pats in the postseason. Week 13 sees them meet for the first time since then, on TNF. Buffalo appears to have got stronger, whilst New England has lost the majority of their offensive staff and looks weaker. Will the same thing happen again?

CBS has got one hell of a game in the late window that week, a rematch of the AFC Championship Game they showed back in January. Kansas City got out to a hot start at home but offensively were absent in the second half, allowing the Bengals to get back into, and then go on to win the game in OT. This time it is in Cincinnati, meaning they’ll probably be the favourites. Will Kansas City pull off the upset?

Week 14 – Dolphins @ Chargers (4:05PM ET, CBS), Chiefs @ Broncos (4:25PM ET, CBS)

Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa face off again for the first time since their rookie year. The latter’s Dolphins team came out on top in that game, but neither looked great. The better defense won a sloppy game with two rookie QBs. This time both have absolutely stacked rosters, if Tua makes the jump many hope he will, then we could have a shootout on our hands.

I feel like this list is full of matchups with at least one AFC West team, and spoiler alert there’s more. Week 14 sees Russell Wilson and Patrick Mahomes meet for just the second time ever. A QB matchup that we’ll see a lot of over the next few years, but one I’m certain we’ll never get tired of. A win could put Denver closer to their first division title since 2015.

Week 15 – Bengals @ Buccaneers (4:25PM ET, CBS), Patriots @ Raiders (SNF, 8:20PM ET, NBC)

You’d expect Nantz and Romo to get the assignment for the Bengals, Bucs game, providing both teams live up to the expectation many have of them. If they do then I just know the ex-Cowboys QB is going to love calling this one. Joe Burrow and Tom Brady face off for the first time, what’s not to like?

Sunday night in Week 15 sees Bill Belichick face off against his former offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels’ Las Vegas Raiders team. McDaniels and new Raiders GM Dave Ziegler have brought a fair few members of staff over from their former place of work, putting together an interesting primetime matchup. We’ve got two coaching staffs that know each other very well, and two teams who could be challenging for the postseason come Week 15.

Week 16 – Packers @ Dolphins (Christmas Day, 1PM ET, FOX), Broncos @ Rams (Christmas Day, 4:25PM ET, CBS)

2022 sees the NFL play 3 games on Christmas Day for the first time ever. Both of these games are to be nationally televised on the 25th of December. The rest of the games, bar TNF and MNF, will be played on Saturday, the 24th. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers take their talents to South Beach in the early window, whilst the Broncos make the trip west to LA to play the Rams at 4:25.

As games to be played on Christmas go, these two have to be up there. Not only are they AFC-NFC Matchups, but they also include four offenses that we expect to rack up a tonne of points in 2022. On top of that, these four teams also have some of the most talented defensive units out there, especially at the cornerback position.

Week 17 – Rams @ Chargers (SNF, 8:20PM ET, NBC), Bills @ Bengals (MNF, 8:15PM ET, ESPN)

Providing that nothing is flexed into this spot, SNF sees the two Los Angeles teams face off for only the second time since both relocated. This could be a Super Bowl matchup within the next few years. I certainly wouldn’t be surprised by that. Imagine how awesome that would be. I wonder which team will have the most fans in the stadium, which is essentially a tenth Rams home game.

Week 17 comes to a close with a bang as the Bills and the Bengals clash on Monday Night Football. This game could have huge playoff-seeding implications by the time it comes around, it could maybe even decide the one seed in the AFC. Burrow v Allen in primetime? Yes, please.

Week 18 – Chargers @ Broncos (TBD), Raiders @ Chiefs (TBD)

Predicting which games will be the best ones for Week 18 is virtually impossible. That’s not only because it’s a full slate of division games, but also because we have no idea how good these teams will be, which ones will be in what window, or what each team is playing for.

My best guess is that the AFC West will be the division that is the closest, so I believe these games will be the ones that you should look out for. Imagine if one was for the division title and the other the final wildcard spot, that would be epic!

Ranking the AFC North Quarterbacks right now

All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Who is the best AFC North quarterback?

By: Andy Davies

The AFC West is now considered the best division in the NFL, but the AFC North should not be forgotten about. 

Both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals made the most recent postseason, with the latter making it all the way to Super Bowl 56. The Baltimore Ravens would have most likely made the playoffs had the injury crisis not hit them. 

The four teams are expected to contend for the playoffs once again in 2022, but who has the best quarterback?

Here is a ranking of the best to worst QB in the division.

1. Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals)

The decision to decide who made it to number one was very hard as the top three quarterbacks on this list all have genuine reasons to be number one. 

However, the league is often known as a ‘What have you done for me lately’ league and Burrow is the most recent quarterback and in fact the only one to play in a Super Bowl. 

They may have lost but Burrow had a truly fantastic season, one of the greatest sophomore campaigns in NFL history.  

Part of arguably the greatest ever college football team, Burrow was picked number one overall and his statistics since coming into the league are astounding. He has recorded 7,299 yards, 47 touchdowns and 19 interceptions in 26 career games. This works out as an average of 281 yards and 1.8 touchdowns per game. 

He showed great potential during his rookie season before the ACL injury cut it short. Fears surrounded Burrow as to whether he could come back the same player. He soon showed the entire league that the concerns were a waste of time. 

As the Bengals secured their first AFC North since 2015, Burrow was a demon to fellow division rivals Baltimore as he threw for a combined total of 941 yards and seven touchdowns with just one interception. 

Weeks 17 and 18 in the 2021 season saw Burrow put up astronomical numbers, with the second most passing yards in a two-game stretch (971), just three yards behind record holder Dak Prescott (974). This was also with a 78.8 completion percentage and zero picks. 

And he did all this with a bad offensive line. The Ravens are the one team that could argue to have as bad an offensive line as the Bengals in 2021, but this was without an injured Ronnie Stanley. 

Burrow’s 4,611 passing yards was the sixth best in the league in 2021, which is 1,729 more than any other AFC quarterback. He was also eighth for passing touchdowns (34), which is 18 more than Jackson. He did all this despite being the league’s most sacked quarterback. 

Burrow has shown throughout his time in Cincinnati that he never gives up. He has overcome so much in his short career, from injury to bad o-line. He broke the record for the most sacked QB in postseason history, including nine times against the Tennessee Titans in the Divisional Round yet the Bengals made it to the Super Bowl. He also tied the record for most sacks in a Super Bowl (7), yet the team lost by seven points.  

It should be noted that Trubisky was Josh Allen’s backup at the Buffalo Bills in 2021, Jackson only played 12 games due to injury and Deshaun Watson missed the entire season due to legal issues. Despite this, Burrow has been the most productive of late and this is the reason why he has taken up the number one spot.

2. Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns) 

The aforementioned missed season for Watson means no one knows if he will come back the same player but on paper, he should be able to carry on from where he left off. Firstly, it should be noted that even though there will be no criminal charges, he may still face punishment from the league. 

If he does play all sixteen games, then the Browns should be in the conversation for Super Bowl runs.  Watson is an extremely talented quarterback. With 4,823 yards in 2020, he was the NFL passing yards leader despite the team going 4-12. He also racked up 33 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. He did this despite losing Deandre Hopkins in the offseason. Imagine what he could have done with the three-time All-Pro to throw to. 

Watson can make any receiver look good and this will be a source of encouragement for Browns fans, with Amari Cooper the only reliable receiver on the depth chart in Cleveland.  

He has 14,539 career passing yards and 104 career passing touchdowns in 54 games along with 1,677 career rushing yards and 17 NFL rushing touchdowns. Purely the fact that no one knows his status in the league even after his move to Cleveland means he can be nothing higher than second.

3. Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens)

Burrow may have earned the ‘Comeback Player of the Year’ award, but Jackson is the only quarterback on this list to have won MVP. 

Behind a bad offensive line, Jackson’s was at one point considered an MVP contender in the 2021 campaign but yet still had three more touchdowns than he did interceptions. 

Lamar is an excellent quarterback when using his feet, by far the best at doing so not only in this division but also the entire NFL. However, his passing is still yet to convince the majority. 

He has never had a 4,000-yard season, with the most yards of his career 3,127 back in 2019. There is no doubt that Jackson would have beaten these numbers in 2021 had injury not occurred, a campaign that finally saw him get the better of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. 

This does not even make the top 250 for passing yards in a single season. In fact, 250th placed Jake Delhomme recorded 3,886 yards in 2004 with the Carolina Panthers. This is 759 more than than Lamar’s best ever passing season (2019).

The fact that his best passing yards total in a season, which was his MVP campaign, is 759 behind the 250th best ever passing yards total in a season shows the limitations of Lamar when throwing the ball.  

Even Trubisky, the much-teased quarterback fourth on this list has twice thrown for more yards than Jackson, including his 2019 campaign.

Lamar is a quarterback that is fun to watch, arguably in the top three most aesthetically pleasing to watch in the NFL at the position. However, his passing is yet to convince and even though he is great at the ground game, his all-round game is behind Burrow and Watson.

4. Mitchell Trubisky (Pittsburgh Steelers) 

The easiest choice on this list. Whilst it would be hard to argue against any of the other three quarterbacks being ranked number one, Trubisky is by far the worst of the four. 

He is a great candidate for Comeback Player of the Year considering that he now is working under a brilliant head coach in Mike Tomlin. He spent most of his time with the Chicago Bears coached by Matt Nagy and Mike Tomlin coached the Steelers to 8-8 with Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges as their starting QBs. 

We should be set for a much-improved Trubisky, who could play his best football of his career, just like Jameis Winston did under Sean Payton last season before his injury. However, due to the sheer talent of the other three players in this list, Trubisky is bottom of this list. 

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