Week 2 NFL QB Power Rankings: Tom Brady cracks top three as Jalen Hurts, Jameis Winston soar upward

Ranking every starting quarterback, from 1-32

As goes the quarterback, so goes the team. It's not always true in the NFL, but it usually is. And it makes sense: In a passing league, the passers are like royalty -- the biggest influences on whether a team is destined more for a Super Bowl title or a No. 1 draft pick.

It's with that in mind that we come to you with the most important pecking order outside of traditional team power rankings: QB Power Rankings. Consider this your cut-and-dry guide to the best and worst of the NFL's signal-callers -- a weekly 1-to-32 rundown of every starter under center.

How are the QBs ranked? We try to factor in both current standing and future upside. So a long resume doesn't always guarantee an edge over untapped potential, just as a cold streak doesn't always erase a history of success. At the end of the day, we're simply trying to sort the QBs based on 2021 value, both now and in the near future.

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Now, without further ado, let's get to our Week 2 rankings:

Week 2 QB Power Rankings

1	Patrick Mahomes Kansas City Chiefs QB
Mr. Reliable. His ability to glide in and around the pocket, effortlessly slinging the ball with poise, is never not a joy to watch. It doesn't matter if the Chiefs are down three or 23; he's got the stuff to leave with the "W."
2	Russell Wilson Seattle Seahawks QB
The MVP campaign is back on! No one throws a deep-ball arc quite like this guy, and he was bombs away out of the gate.  (+1)
3	Tom Brady Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB
At 44, he might be in his prime. Seriously. Does his arm have more juice right now than, say, 20 years ago? It sure looked like that's possible on Opening Night. As always, he's also clutch as can be. (+2)
4	Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers QB
Exhibit A of past resume/proven talent offsetting recent performance. Mangy Rodgers was "meh" at best in an embarrassing debut, but everything says that should be an anomaly. (-2)
5	Dak Prescott Dallas Cowboys QB
Sharp and steady in the pocket, Dak may not be fully healthy, but he looks fully confident. A truly solid total package. (+2)
6	Justin Herbert Los Angeles Chargers QB
Huge arm. Smart mind. Both were evident in Week 1's win over a tough defense on the road.
7	Josh Allen Buffalo Bills QB
It's just one game, but it's also possible his lights-out MVP candidacy of 2020 was the mountaintop, at least production-wise. He's got all the tools, but he's got to be smart about the ball and his own body. (-3)
8	Matthew Stafford Los Angeles Rams QB
Look at what a move to the West Coast can do. Boy oh boy does his big arm look recharged throwing for Sean McVay's squad. Let's hope Los Angeles can keep him upright. (+2)
9	Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens QB
Same old, same old here: His legs are unmatched weapons, and he's still got deep-ball touch (see: Sammy Watkins vs. Raiders). But he's gotta take care of the ball if he's not gonna be super efficient. (-1)
10	Kyler Murray Arizona Cardinals QB
It feels like he's still a bit underrated on a national level. When his cannon is locked on the right targets, he might be the game's deadliest dual threat this side of Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. (+1)
11	Ryan Tannehill Tennessee Titans QB
Hard to pin too much blame on him for the Titans' slip-up when Chandler Jones was in his face all day. This is more a case of other QBs jumping ahead with flashier stuff. (-2)
12	Baker Mayfield Cleveland Browns QB
For most of the Browns' playoff rematch vs. the Chiefs, he was as advertised: steady, efficient and occasionally daring. Forcing a throw late in an attempt to play hero was a remnant of days past.
13	Kirk Cousins Minnesota Vikings QB
With or without O-line help, he stays zipping bullets to an elite starting WR duo. He just too often does it playing catch-up.
14	Derek Carr Las Vegas Raiders QB
Monday night offered the full Derek Carr experience. After at least a half of reckless hit-or-miss shots, he rallied his team with some gutsy crunch-time floaters. The guy doesn't quit, that's for sure.
15	Joe Burrow Cincinnati Bengals QB
Who said he was rattled coming off knee rehab? The Kid looks plenty poised, even if the Bengals remain a work in progress, and more time will enable even more connections with his hot receiving corps.  (+3)
16	Jimmy Garoppolo San Francisco 49ers QB
Trey Lance sure feels destined to steal more snaps as the weeks go on, but he was exactly what he needed to be for Kyle Shanahan's run-first attack and first "W." (+1)
17	Jalen Hurts Philadelphia Eagles QB
Poise and mobility have never been questions, but Hurts was also extremely efficient inside the pocket in his first road start as the full-time QB1. The production matches the swagger early on. (+6)
18	Mac Jones New England Patriots QB
Win or lose, Jones looks like the real deal from both a mental and physical standpoint early on. He knows what he's doing. (+2)
19	Teddy Bridgewater Denver Broncos QB
Not sure he's gonna be able to imitate Patrick Mahomes when he's not playing the Giants, but this man has seen it all, and he always comes out polished and professional, even if his ceiling isn't particularly high.
20	Carson Wentz Indianapolis Colts QB
Mostly good (no picks, some nice tight throws) and a little bad (fumbled snap) in a solid but not-special Colts debut. Hopefully Frank Reich has a plan to comfortably expand his horizons sooner rather than later. (+4)
21	Jameis Winston New Orleans Saints QB
If Week 1 were the sole basis for the rankings, you better believe he'd be near the top. Who knows if Winston can sustain his deep-ball magic, but he sure looks comfy operating in the confines of Sean Payton's offense. (+6)
22	Matt Ryan Atlanta Falcons QB
Yikes. This might be the 2020 Matthew Stafford situation of 2021, in which a respected longtime QB finally melds with his team's mediocrity before campaigning for a change of scenery after the season. (-6)
23	Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh Steelers QB
It's not that Big Ben was totally bad in an important Week 1 win over the Bills. But there's little here to suggest his arm, clearly less than elite late in 2020, has the juice to show out if/when Pittsburgh's defense can't carry the club. (-9)
24	Sam Darnold Carolina Panthers QB
Playing the Jets can make you look better than you are (the irony here!), but seeing Darnold operate so smoothly and confidently is a minor miracle after his Big Apple devolution. (+5)
25	Zach Wilson New York Jets QB
No one will ever question his pure arm talent, which should slowly but surely move him up the board. But behind a shaky O-line, he's got a ways to go before he can settle in. (-4)
26	Trevor Lawrence Jacksonville Jaguars QB
When your coach asks you to throw it 51 times behind an iffy line, a few picks are bound to happen. Let's hope his football IQ isn't damaged by trying to make up for Jacksonville's countless other issues. (-4)
27	Tua Tagovailoa Miami Dolphins QB
Good for him grabbing the Week 1 win, but who knows yet whether he has the ability to open things up? (-1)
28	Jared Goff Detroit Lions QB
Nice work from Goff collecting stats (and making some tight throws) in a comeback effort. Let's see if he can start strong earlier next time, and against a more settled secondary.
29	Tyrod Taylor Houston Texans QB
The minute you fully count him out, he surprises with a big outing. But it was also the Jaguars. (+3)
30	Taylor Heinicke Washington Football Team QB
With Ryan Fitzpatrick sidelined for at least three games, he gets his first shot at the starting job since the playoffs. One thing he's got going for him: a knack for extending plays, which can go a long way.
31	Andy Dalton Chicago Bears QB
He wasn't horrible in his prime-time Bears debut, but that's not the point; he's both literally and figuratively a placeholder in Chicago, tiding the team over with milquetoast drives while the more talented Justin Fields awaits. (-1)
32	Daniel Jones New York Giants QB
The guy can move, but he's still giving up the ball like it's his job, and nothing else indicates a major breakthrough is coming in the passing game, at least when it counts. (-1)