The first two weeks of the 2026 NFL season have already turned the quarterback landscape upside down. Several stars have struggled, while a few unexpected names have quickly pushed themselves into the spotlight.
These rankings are based only on what quarterbacks have done through Week 2 of the 2026 season, not their past performances or career reputation. And judging by the early results, there are plenty of surprises.
Table of Contents
32. Cooper Rush
Last Week: 32
Rush entered the season as Atlanta’s third-string quarterback but was forced into action with Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix dealing with injuries. Unfortunately, the opportunity has not gone well.
He has completed just 56.4% of his passes for 229 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. After being benched, his time on this list may be running out quickly.
31. Drake Maye
Last Week: 31
New England picked up a 20-3 victory over Pittsburgh, but Maye was hardly the reason for the offensive fireworks.
The Patriots quarterback finished with 208 passing yards, no touchdowns and one interception. Through two games, he has just one touchdown against four interceptions. That’s a stat line that makes fans reach for the panic button.
30. Justin Herbert
Last Week: 25
Herbert has been one of the biggest early disappointments. Even against Arizona and Las Vegas, two defenses that have struggled, he has completed only 59.3% of his passes.
He has 401 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. For a quarterback with Herbert’s expectations, the opening two weeks have been rough.
29. Baker Mayfield
Last Week: 28
Mayfield signed a major extension before the season, but Tampa Bay has not received the expected return so far.
Although he has completed 71% of his passes, Mayfield has four total turnovers and only two touchdowns. The Buccaneers’ loss to Cleveland added another frustrating chapter to his start.
28. Aaron Rodgers
Last Week: 18
Rodgers has slipped dramatically after beginning the season at No. 18.
The veteran has completed only 59.5% of his passes for 408 yards, one touchdown and one interception. With weapons such as DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman around him, the lack of production has become increasingly noticeable.
27. Malik Willis
Last Week: 23
Willis has not been disastrous in Miami, but there is clearly room for improvement.
He has 417 passing yards, 45 rushing yards and two total touchdowns. With limited help at wide receiver, the Dolphins quarterback could benefit from using his legs more often and creating another problem for opposing defenses.
26. Daniel Jones
Last Week: 27
Jones has shown flashes of solid game management, but he still does not look completely comfortable following his Achilles injury.
He has completed 66.1% of his passes for 376 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. His near-upset of Kansas City was encouraging, but consistency remains the bigger question.
25. Bo Nix
Last Week: 26
Nix has almost identical numbers to Jones, including a 66.1% completion rate, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
The difference came against Jacksonville, where Nix played well against a strong defense. That performance gives him a slight edge in this week’s rankings.
24. Jacoby Brissett
Last Week: 10
Brissett’s ranking takes one of the biggest hits this week.
After helping Arizona win in Week 1, he struggled badly against Seattle as the Cardinals managed only seven points. Brissett still has plenty of offensive talent around him, but the Week 2 performance was difficult to overlook.
23. Cam Ward
Last Week: 29
Ward made one of the week’s biggest jumps.
Against Philadelphia, he completed 13 passes for 183 yards and also scored a rushing touchdown. The performance was not perfect, but he kept the Titans competitive against a strong Eagles team.
Considering how inconsistent this offense has been, that is a meaningful step forward.
22. Geno Smith
Last Week: 21
Smith continued to protect the football, throwing for 247 yards and a touchdown without an interception.
The bigger issue was how the Jets finished the game. New York managed only 58 yards across its final five possessions, allowing Green Bay to recover and eventually win. Smith needs to help the offense close games more effectively.
21. Jayden Daniels
Last Week: 16
Daniels has produced some strong numbers, including 260 passing yards, 100 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Unfortunately, another injury has interrupted his season. His elbow injury means Washington will now have to navigate another quarterback setback after Daniels had shown encouraging signs early on.
20. Carson Wentz
Last Week: 17
Wentz had three touchdowns in Week 1 but was much quieter in Week 2.
The poor weather played a role, and neither offense produced much in the game. With Kyler Murray expected back next week, Wentz’s stay in these rankings could be brief.
19. Matthew Stafford
Last Week: 30
Stafford delivered one of the biggest rebounds of the week.
After a disappointing opening performance in Australia, the reigning MVP responded with four touchdowns and 475 passing yards through two games overall.
If this version of Stafford sticks around, his climb up the rankings could continue quickly.
18. Kirk Cousins
Last Week: 19
Cousins has been both productive and a little turnover-prone.
He has thrown for 413 yards and six touchdowns but has also been intercepted three times. Still, his efficiency has been impressive considering the weapons around him, and his production has kept him firmly in the conversation.
17. Deshaun Watson
Last Week: 24
Watson has quietly moved up the rankings.
He has completed 76.9% of his passes for 443 yards, added 60 rushing yards and produced three touchdowns against one interception. His Week 2 performance, which included 238 passing yards and two touchdowns, was particularly encouraging.
16. C.J. Stroud
Last Week: 12
Stroud threw for 353 yards in Week 2, giving him 627 passing yards for the season.
The problem was that Houston’s offense struggled to turn those yards into consistent production. The running game offered little help, and Stroud could not generate enough offense when the Texans needed it most.
15. Jordan Love
Last Week: 11
Love struggled early against the Jets but eventually helped Green Bay erase a 10-point deficit and win in overtime.
He now has 532 passing yards and four touchdowns. Still, scoring only seven points through the first three quarters against New York highlighted some concerns about the Packers’ offensive consistency.
14. Joe Burrow
Last Week: 15
Burrow has not produced the monster numbers some expected, but Cincinnati is 2-0, and that matters.
He has thrown for 461 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while completing 68.2% of his passes. With Pittsburgh and Jacksonville coming up, however, the Bengals quarterback will soon face tougher tests.
13. Trevor Lawrence
Last Week: 3
Lawrence suffered one of the biggest ranking drops this week.
After an outstanding Week 1, he struggled against Denver, throwing an interception without a touchdown in Jacksonville’s 20-13 loss. His recent form before this game had been strong, so one rough outing does not erase the bigger picture.
12. Drew Lock
Last Week: 20
Lock deserves plenty of credit for his recent turnaround.
After entering Week 1 as a replacement for Sam Darnold, Lock gradually found his rhythm. Since the second half of the opener, he has thrown for 400 yards and four touchdowns while completing nearly 73% of his passes.
That’s quite a way to turn a temporary opportunity into a headline.
11. Caleb Williams
Last Week: 2
Williams came crashing down after a difficult Week 2.
The Chicago quarterback struggled to move the offense and managed only three points before his injury. He is now dealing with a hamstring issue, making an already difficult situation even more complicated for the Bears.
10. Lamar Jackson
Last Week: 5
Jackson looked electric in Week 1 but had a much tougher afternoon against New Orleans.
He finished with 235 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. His late interception helped seal the Saints’ victory, while New Orleans adjusted defensively and made life increasingly difficult for Baltimore.
9. Jalen Hurts
Last Week: 9
Hurts remains steady rather than spectacular.
He has 467 passing yards, 62 rushing yards and five total touchdowns through two games. Philadelphia has yet to reach its offensive ceiling, but Hurts continues to make important plays when the Eagles need them.
8. Jaxson Dart
Last Week: 4
Dart’s ranking drops because of an unfortunate injury rather than poor quarterback play.
After an impressive opening week, Dart had a chance to challenge one of the league’s top teams before a knee injury forced him out early. His 79.3% completion rate and three total touchdowns show just how productive he was before the setback.
7. Jared Goff
Last Week: 14
Goff has quietly put together strong numbers.
He has completed 67.5% of his passes for 533 yards and six touchdowns without an interception. Some of that production came while Detroit was already trailing badly against Buffalo, but the numbers still represent a significant improvement from his Week 1 ranking.
6. Dak Prescott
Last Week: 22
Prescott made one of the biggest jumps in the rankings.
Against Washington, he threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns while completing 83.9% of his passes. After a shaky opening week, Prescott looked much closer to the quarterback Dallas expected to lead its offense.
From No. 22 to No. 6 in one week — that’s basically the NFL version of skipping several floors in an elevator.
5. Patrick Mahomes
Last Week: 13
Mahomes is climbing quickly after returning from his ACL injury.
He looked rusty in his first game back but exploded in Week 2, throwing for 382 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Through two games, he has 566 passing yards and six total touchdowns.
The early question now is whether Mahomes can keep building toward an MVP-caliber season.
4. Tyler Shough
Last Week: 7
Shough continues to make a strong case as one of the league’s most impressive young quarterbacks.
He has thrown for 662 yards and five total touchdowns while completing 68.9% of his passes. His second-half numbers are particularly impressive, with 402 passing yards and three touchdowns.
He has also helped New Orleans erase deficits of 21 and 11 points. That’s the kind of comeback ability that gets a quarterback noticed very quickly.
3. Brock Purdy
Last Week: 8
Purdy has been remarkably efficient through two games.
He has completed 80.4% of his passes and produced six total touchdowns while helping San Francisco remain unbeaten. His ability to distribute the ball efficiently has made the 49ers’ offense look extremely difficult to slow down.
An MVP-level start? The numbers certainly make that conversation reasonable this early.
2. Bryce Young
Last Week: 6
Young is becoming one of the biggest stories of the opening weeks.
He has thrown for 648 yards, seven total touchdowns and only one interception while completing 63% of his passes. After showing progress in 2025, Young has taken another noticeable step forward in 2026.
The competition level will become an important factor as the season continues, but his production through two games is hard to ignore.
1. Josh Allen
Last Week: 1
Allen remains at the top after another productive start.
Through two games, he has 582 passing yards, 92 rushing yards and an eye-catching nine total touchdowns. He has produced against Houston and Detroit, showing the combination of arm strength and rushing ability that has made him one of the NFL’s most dangerous quarterbacks.
Right now, Allen is setting the pace at the top of the Week 2 quarterback rankings.
Two weeks into the 2026 NFL season, the quarterback picture is already changing quickly. Mahomes and Prescott have surged, Stafford has bounced back, while established stars such as Herbert, Rodgers and Lawrence have slipped.
Meanwhile, Bryce Young, Brock Purdy and Tyler Shough have emerged as some of the most intriguing early-season stories.
Of course, there are still 15 regular-season weeks remaining. In the NFL, a quarterback can go from hero to headline-maker — or from struggling to superstar — in a single Sunday.
FAQ:
Who is the No. 1 quarterback in the NFL after Week 2?
Josh Allen sits at No. 1 in the Week 2 quarterback power rankings after producing 582 passing yards, 92 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns through two games.
Where does Patrick Mahomes rank after Week 2?
Patrick Mahomes ranks No. 5 after a strong bounce-back performance in Week 2. He threw for 382 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.
Why did Dak Prescott move up in the rankings?
Dak Prescott jumped from No. 22 to No. 6 after throwing for 279 yards and four touchdowns against Washington while completing 83.9% of his passes.
Is Bryce Young having a strong start to the 2026 season?
Yes. Bryce Young ranks No. 2 after throwing for 648 yards and seven total touchdowns with just one interception through two games.
Where does Brock Purdy rank after Week 2?
Brock Purdy is ranked No. 3. He has completed 80.4% of his passes and produced six total touchdowns through the first two games.
Why did Aaron Rodgers fall in the NFL QB rankings?
Rodgers dropped to No. 28 after completing 59.5% of his passes for 408 yards, one touchdown and one interception through two games.
Why did Justin Herbert drop in the rankings?
Herbert fell to No. 30 after completing less than 60% of his passes through two games while recording two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Who made the biggest jump in the Week 2 QB rankings?
Dak Prescott made one of the biggest jumps, moving from No. 22 to No. 6 after his impressive Week 2 performance.
Is Matthew Stafford moving back up the rankings?
Stafford jumped from No. 30 to No. 19 after a four-touchdown performance. His Week 2 showing could be the start of another climb if he maintains that level.
Which quarterback has the most total touchdowns after Week 2?
Josh Allen leads the group highlighted in these rankings with nine total touchdowns through two games.
Are these NFL QB rankings based on career performance?
No. These rankings are based specifically on quarterback performance during the 2026 NFL season through Week 2. Past seasons and career reputation are not the primary factors.
Also Read: Is LSU Facing SEC Expulsion Over Its Pro Athlete Dispute?
👉 If you like our content, please click here and add us as your preferred source. It helps us a lot, and we are committed to delivering you the very latest sports news.