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| The Pittsburgh Steelers remain his kryptonite, which could be an issue in the playoffs. He’s still been the most impactful quarterback of the year, single-handedly saving the Ravens‘ offense on plenty of occasions. That said, it might not be long before a certain rival overtakes him here … |
| 2 |
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| Holy smokes has this guy been airing it out with authority. Consistency’s been a major issue for the Bengals as a whole, but Burrow’s been nearly unmatched when it comes to keeping his eyes downfield, eluding early pressure and uncorking precision bombs. He’s been MVP-caliber. |
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| The new popular pick for NFL MVP thanks to a clutch scramble to hand the Kansas City Chiefs their first loss, Allen’s certainly done more with less than most. He’s a one-man wrecking crew. |
| 4 |
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| It speaks volumes that he can throw five picks in a single game and still, week in and week out, look even sharper than he did during his 2023 revival. He’s averaging 9.2 yards (!) per throw. (+1) |
| 5 |
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| The Chargers are quietly contenders thanks largely to Jim Harbaugh’s more grounded attack, but Herbert is rediscovering elite form in the process, showcasing his laser arm while controlling the ball. He’s now up to 13 touchdowns and just one pick, fresh off a tight prime-time win. (+1) |
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| The Eagles remain a touch erratic offensively, but boy do they deliver when it counts. Hurts is back to automatic as a rusher, and his downfield touch shows up late. Don’t sleep on Philly in the NFC. |
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| Back-to-back games against legit defenses have taken a toll on his once-soaring rookie campaign, but that’s more a testament to those teams. Daniels’ natural tools still give Washington life. (-3) |
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| It’s not unreasonable to worry about the 49ers, who’ve lacked the physical touch and durability of recent years. Purdy has been one of the steadiest hands in the building, especially extending plays. |
| 9 |
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| Some have begun throwing his name into MVP discussions, and it’s not crazy: He’s got Arizona atop the NFC West, throwing with more decisiveness while remaining an elite scrambler. (+1) |
| 10 |
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| Is he taking care of the ball? Not really. The Chiefs’ sluggish offense finally resulted in a loss in Week 11. But his penchant for seizing on late-game opportunities has helped keep K.C. afloat. (-1) |
| 11 |
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| Aside from a single off-target toss, he was surprisingly sharp against a tough Chicago Bears defense. It was a positive step forward for a guy whose snappy arm is often boom or bust. (+1) |
| 12 |
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| Mayfield has been more accurate than usual, even as a high-volume thrower, but he may be hard-pressed to stay smart while pressing to get the injury-bitten Bucs back in the playoff mix. (-1) |
| 13 |
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| He didn’t exactly ball out against the Ravens, but he’s now 4-0 as the shepherd of Mike Tomlin’s old-school Steelers squad. His willingness to chuck it off play action remains an asset for them. (+1) |
| 14 |
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| After back-to-back turnover sprees, Darnold stayed aggressive to capitalize on a bad Tennessee Titans team, quietly lifting Minnesota to 8-2. He benefits greatly from the Vikings‘ physical “D.” (+2) |
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| Is he closer to retirement or another Pro Bowl? It depends on the week. His vision led to a rush of splash plays in Week 11, but his challenge has been stringing A-plus efforts together. (+2) |
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| He faces more heat in the pocket than all but four active starters, which probably helps explain his iffy TD:INT ratio. Don’t ever count him out in the clutch, though; he always finishes with energy. (+3) |
| 17 |
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| The Joe Mixon-led ground game has been invaluable for DeMeco Ryans’ squad, as the ever-poised Stroud has struggled to find a serious rhythm without a stable/healthy receiving corps. (-2) |
| 18 |
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| The only reason his Falcons might be safe atop the NFC South is the hole in which his rivals find themselves. He’s been lights out in some big spots, but also ranks third in total turnovers (11). (-5) |
| 19 |
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| In three games since his return from injury, the pinpoint passer has been, well, pinpoint. He leads the NFL in completion rate (73.8%). Can he sustain it down the stretch to make a real run? (-2) |
| 20 |
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| In the two games since Dennis Allen’s exit, Carr has logged a 125+ passer rating with four scores and zero picks. It helps that Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Taysom Hill exploded as weapons. |
| 21 |
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| It’s no longer wild to suggest he belongs in the Offensive Rookie of the Year discussion. Even on a rebuilding offense, he’s consistently extended plays with his legs, keeping Denver competitive. |
| 22 |
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| Speaking of athletic young quarterbacks, the Patriots finally have one in Maye. Working with an iffy supporting cast of his own, the North Carolina product isn’t afraid to air it out against the blitz. |
| 23 |
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| After a two-week stint on the bench, Richardson flashed his first-round traits in a triumphant return to the lineup. He looks the part as a supersized dual threat. The next part is staying consistent. (+4) |
| 24 |
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| Go figure that on the day he approaches 400 yards through the air against his old team in the Saints, Winston’s own squad fails to secure the “W.” He remains an entertaining but volatile fill-in. |
| 25 |
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| In a six-week span, he and the Jets‘ failings have resulted in the abrupt firings of both coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas. The worst part: He continues to look his age. (-2) |
| 26 |
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| No one should question his ability to launch the ball, as he did for a 98-yard score against the Vikings. Without steady protection, though, he’s merely a mercurial player in the pocket. (-1) |
| 27 |
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| Shane Waldron’s exit as offensive coordinator seemed to calm him down in a winnable matchup with the Packers in Week 11. The Bears offense still seems to run through D’Andre Swift. (+1) |
| 28 |
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| The Raiders will roll with Minshew for yet another start in Week 12, despite the veteran tossing a ninth pick to help Las Vegas drop to 2-8. Aidan O’Connell could get another shot soon. (-2) |
| 29 |
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| After two straight solid, if unspectacular, wins, the 2023 No. 1 overall pick will face a much tougher task in Week 12, matched up with the suffocating Kansas City Chiefs defense. Hold your breath. |
| 30 |
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| A year after going 3-3 as an injury replacement, the New Jersey native is back, taking over for the demoted Daniel Jones. He should offer a bit more juice through the air, at the very least. |
| 31 |
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| The Jaguars are on a bye week, but ailing starter Trevor Lawrence may or may not be back in time for their next game. In his place, Jones has basically been a sitting duck under center. (-1) |
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| With Dak Prescott done for the year, he’s in the saddle for the home stretch, at least until Mike McCarthy finally unlocks Trey Lance. The backup’s completing just 57% of his throws. |
