2021 NFL Fantasy Rankings: AFC East & AFC North

 

Photo Credit: BillsWire/Nick Wojton

Gettin' started early! Here's what I have thus far... 

Quarterbacks

 

1.    John Allen – Bills

2.    Lamar Jackson – Ravens

3.    Ben Roethlisberger – Steelers

4.    Baker Mayfield – Browns

5.    Joe Burrow – Bengals

6.    Tua Tagovailoa – Dolphins

7.    Sam Darnold – Jets

8.    Ryan Fitzpatrick – Dolphins

9.    Cam Newton – Patriots

10.  Mason Rudolph – Steelers

11.  Jarrett Stidham – Patriots

12.  Ryan Finley – Bengals

13.  Case Keenum – Browns

14.  James Morgan – Jets   

Running Backs

 

1.    Nick Chubb - Browns

2.    JK Dobbins – Ravens

3.    Damien Harris – Patriots

4.    Joe Mixon – Bengals

5.    Kareem Hunt – Browns

6.    James Conner – Steelers

7.    Myles Gaskin – Dolphins

8.    Salvon Ahmed – Dolphins

9.    Devin Singletary - Bills

10.  Zack Moss – Bills

11.  Gus Edwards – Ravens

12.  Sony Michel – Patriots

13.  Josh Adams – Jets

14.  Ty Johnson – Jets

15.  James White – Patriots

16.  La’Mical Perine – Jets

17.  Anthony McFarland – Steelers

18.  Benny Snell - Steelers

19.  Giovani Bernard – Bengals

20.  Mark Ingram – Ravens

21.  Rex Burkhead – Patriots

22.  Trayveon Williams – Bengals  

23.  D’Ernest Johnson – Browns

24.  Justice Hill – Ravens

25.  Matt Breida – Dolphins

26.  TJ Yeldon – Bills

Wide Receivers

 

1.    Stefon Diggs – Bills

2.    Diontae Johnson - Steelers

3.    JuJu Smith-Schuster - Steelers

4.    DeVante Parker – Dolphins

5.    Tyler Boyd – Bengals

6.    Tee Higgins – Bengals  

7.    Odell Beckham – Browns

8.    Marquise Brown – Ravens

9.    Jarvis Landry – Browns

10.  Chase Claypool – Steelers

11.  Denzel Mims – Jets

12.  Rashard Higgins – Browns

13.  A.J. Green – Bengals

14.  Jamison Crowder – Jets

15.  John Brown - Bills

16.  Gabriel Davis – Bills

17.  Cole Beasley – Bills

18.  Jakobi Meyers – Patriots

19.  Jakeem Grant – Dolphins

20.  Preston Williams – Dolphins

21.  Lynn Bowden – Dolphins

22.  N’Keal Harry – Patriots

23.  Donovan Peoples-Jones – Browns

24.  Willie Snead – Ravens

25.  Breshad Perriman – Jets

26.  Damiere Byrd – Patriots

27.  Devin Duvernay – Ravens

28.  James Washington – Steelers

29.  Isaiah Ford – Dolphins

30.  Isaiah McKenzie – Bills

31.  Miles Boykin – Ravens

32.  Gunner Olszewski – Patriots

33.  Vyncint Smith – Jets

34.  Mack Hollins – Dolphins

Tight Ends

 

1.    Mark Andrews – Ravens

2.    Austin Hooper - Browns

3.    Mike Gesicki – Dolphins

4.    Eric Ebron - Steelers

5.    Dawson Knox – Bills

6.    Devin Asiasi – Patriots

7.    Chris Herndon – Jets

8.    David Njoku - Browns

9.    Drew Sample – Bengals

10.  Harrison Bryant – Browns

11.  Dalton Keene – Patriots

12.  C.J. Uzomah – Bengals

13.  Ryan Griffin – Jets

14.  Tyler Kroft – Bills

Kickers

 

1.    Justin Tucker – Ravens

2.    Jason Sanders – Dolphins

3.    Tyler Bass – Bills

4.    Chris Boswell - Steelers

5.    Randy Bullock – Bengals

6.    Nick Folk – Patriots

7.    Cody Parkey – Browns

8.    Chase McLaughlin - Jets

Defenses

 

1.    Steelers

2.    Dolphins

3.    Ravens

4.    Patriots

5.    Bills

6.    Browns

7.    Jets

8.    Bengals

Double Feature: Frascella's Reviews of CITIZEN KANE and MANK

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

I think a lot of us think we are movie buffs. 

I certainly consider myself a "movie guy," but I've come to the realization that I need to expand my horizons. Perhaps I am a contemporary movie buff - specializing in the work of Leonardo Di Caprio, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep and the like - but I'm 34 now, and I need to delve a little deeper into the past. 

With that in mind, this week brings us Mank, the great David Fincher's latest film, one that immediately screams AWARDS BAIT. Here's a black-and-white film - see recent Oscar winners Roma and The Artist - about old Hollywood starring Gary Oldman, a darling of The Academy. 

Sure, Fincher's helmed popular films like The Social Network, Fight Club, Se7en, Gone Girl and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but he's only been nominated for Best Director for Social and Button. He's never won. 

Many consider Zodiac his masterwork (including acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro), and his others like Panic Room and The Game are popular in different circles (Steven Soderbergh recently picked Panic as his buddy Fincher's best), but the gold statuette Fincher covets remains elusive. 

So, yeah, I'm seeing right through this. Fincher is going for it, whether he says so or not. 

Now, the problem with Mank - for the average viewer - is the background. If you really want to understand the proceedings on first viewing, you should probably do a little research and get some context. This ties into my opening; I might think I'm a movie buff, but a real movie buff will have a far greater understanding of the names, places and machinations of Mank on the first go around. Here's where I started:

Part 1: They'll Love Me When I'm Dead on Netflix

Of course I'd heard of Orson Welles, but I've never been to film school. When I heard "Orson Welles" in the past, I immediately thought of The War of the Worlds, and maybe sometimes Citizen Kane. I knew he was a major name - a juggernaut, a giant of the industry - but the documentary They'll Love Me When I'm Dead gave me a lot more of the context I needed. 

They'll Love Me When I'm Dead chronicles Welles' many difficulties directing The Other Side of the Wind; but for me, its greatest asset was fleshing out Welles' beautiful mind and eccentric personality. He was once a "boy wonder" and "wunderkind" atop his industry, but it was almost as if the industry didn't want him to remain there. Sure, Welles was to blame for his demise in many instances - he was known as a difficult personality, sometimes his vision led nowhere - but he was ultimately given a very short leash, in my opinion. 

So why does all this matter, relatively speaking? Because Mank is about Herman Mankiewicz, the drunken screenwriter of Citizen Kane, Welles' universally-acclaimed masterwork. You need a little context on Welles, and a little context on Kane, to at least get going in the right direction with Mank. Welles was a radio man, stage player, writer, director and on-screen actor. He could truly do it all, and he was only 24 years old when given full creative control over his first film behind the camera. 

That film was Citizen Kane, one that many believe to be greatest film ever made. 

In Mank, Welles is portrayed by Tom Burke - I'll admit, I don't know much about him, either - who does a fantastic job in a role that looms over the picture. Sure, Orson Welles is a key name within the overall scope of Mank, but the part itself has a come-and-go feel to it. If you watch They'll Love Me When I'm Dead and then Mank, you'll see what a fine job Burke has done. With that as a segue, let's head into the totality of Fincher's newest film... 

Part 2: My Review of Mank

I'll admit - I went a little bit out of order, here. Yes, I started with They'll Love Me When I'm Dead a few months ago - that was a "happy accident," as Bob Ross would say - but then I watched Mank before Citizen Kane. I know, I know... you've never seen Citizen Kane?? 

Some movie buff I am. 

In all honesty, I saw Mank pop up on Netflix, and I wanted to jump right into it. I thought it might take me awhile to find Kane, but I ended up being wrong about that (more on that later). 

So, coming into Mank before Citizen Kane, I was a little behind the eight ball. First impression: Mank's dialogue is fast and furious. Screenwriting credit is given to David's father, Jack, who passed away back in April of 2003. As you can see, this has been a shelved passion project of David's for quite some time. Jack was undoubtedly a quick-witted writer, and I should also mention Eric Roth (writer of Forrest Gump, The Insider, Munich and A Star Is Born) who certainly appears to be a script supervisor of sorts, here. 

So yeah, Mank's dialogue is sharp and snappy. Upon first viewing, for me, that's the unquestioned strength of the film. Immediately I think of a chipper scene where Mank's writing team pitches an unwritten movie on the fly; I also think about the fact that Mank always has to get the last word, and it's usually a zinger. This is a weird intersection of styles for Fincher; we think of Se7en, Fight Club, Zodiac and Panic Room and we think "dark and edgy." But Mank is a warmhearted biopic as much as it is a "he said, she said" about the origins of Citizen Kane's genius. 

Keeping it simple: I like most of the dialogue, I like Oldman's performance - which I wasn't expecting, because I assumed he would ham it up and overact for another Oscar run - and I like a number of the individual sequences, including walk-and-talks between Mank and William Randolph Hearst (an especially dignified Charles Dance) in one instance, and the legendary Louis B. Mayer (the always-game Arliss Howard) in another. 

Let's back up one second to that phrase "walk-and-talk" - that's an Aaron Sorkin staple, is it not? Think of The West Wing and Steve Jobs, among others. And what I'm seeing lately is a hodgepodge of styles swimming together. Fincher was always procedural and dark; Soderbergh was cool and stylistic and Sorkin was wordy and energetic. Now, oddly enough, I see Soderbergh borrowing Fincher's visuals while Fincher falls into Sorkin's fast-talking ways. If you aren't already aware, Fincher and Soderbergh are very close friends, and of course, Sorkin was the screenwriter of Fincher's The Social Network (arguably his best movie). 

So, you see what I'm getting at here. Mank doesn't feel like a typical Fincher film. 

Since I already laid out the positives, one glaring negative immediately jumps to mind: Mank falters mightily when Fincher tries to get political. When you watch the movie, you will know exactly the section I am speaking of. Look, sometimes people have to simply stay in their lanes. Fincher doesn't belong in that territory, and it shows very quickly. 

Also, the film feels thin, on the whole. There are strong performances, snappy dialogue and some innovative shots, but I honestly don't think it all comes together. The whole thing feels like a reach, a stretch. Fincher is reaching and stretching for that elusive Oscar, but I don't believe he should get it. Again, this is awards bait, and I truly feel like Fincher should be above that. He should just do what he does best; but he's 58 years old and I guess he's ready for "proper" recognition in his industry. 

Be careful what you wish for... just ask Orson Welles. 

Before I move on to Citizen Kane, one more mention of the superb performances: Oldman, Amanda Seyfried (solid as actress Marion Davies), Howard, Burke, Dance and Tuppence Middleton give us immediately memorable characters. Special mention for Middleton, who turns "loyal wife" into a role all her own. There's no overacting or LOOK AT ME stuff from Middleton, but she earns every bit of that "Poor Sarah" nickname the film utilizes quite successfully. 

I will definitely watch Mank again soon - now that I have a far better understanding of each character's individual significance - but for now it's a tepid 7.5 out of 10. Maybe, like Sorkin's Steve Jobs, it will grow on me over time. 

Part 3: My Review of Citizen Kane

It's pretty tough to be fair when you go in hearing, "This is the greatest movie ever made." That can go one of two ways: (1) You give the film too much credit (essentially, you go easy on it based on reputation) or (2) You are automatically disappointed, because the film has been hyped beyond the realm of reasonable expectations. 

My first experience with this phenomenon was The Godfather. It did not disappoint. I can continue to say the same today, including The Godfather II. Two of the greatest films ever made; hands down. 

And ya know what? Citizen Kane didn't disappoint, either. We're talking about a film from 1941 here, and the visuals remain jaw-dropping. Some initial reactions, comments and "first impression" feelings:

1.  The opening is quite exquisite. Welles' depiction of Charles Foster Kane's dark, doomed mega-mansion "Xanadu" is a marvel of visual acuity and movie magic. The film actually opens with the feel of a horror flick, given the legend Bernard Herrmann's ominous, pounding score and Gregg Toland's knockout cinematography. It's a memorable start, indeed. 

2. I immediately think of a young boy's future, being decided without him knowing. He's outside, playing in the snow, seen through the front door. The adults - large in the frame - are making decisions that will impact the course of a child's entire life. Somehow, that shot in the doorway really sticks. Again, I've only seen Citizen Kane once. 

3. Another incredible shot in the playhouse theater. The camera pans up and up...and up. 

Frascella's Top 85 QBs: 3 Rookies Crack My Top 30

 Photo credit: AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Along with turkeys, menorahs and Christmas trees, the holidays also bring my controversial yearly quarterback power rankings. Shout to my buddy DJ Toby (@mrmaritime) on Twitter, who always claims this is his favorite time of the year. I think he's asked me for this list a handful of times, already. Here are the recent years:

Frascella's 2019 QB Power Rankings

2018 Rankings

2017 Rankings

2016 Rankings 

I say this every time, but... I hate intros. You'll figure out what I'm doing as you read along. The main note is this: these rankings aren't ONLY based on this season. Logic must be used, and overall context must be considered. All right, let's roll...

** KEY: "N/A" = Not Available or not enough information to date. **

-For context, a B- would basically be an "average" NFL quarterback. 

(EDITOR'S NOTE: I started this piece the morning of Sunday, November 22 and continued on the 25th, 26th and 27th. Some things have changed, quickly.) 

 TIER 9: BAD STUDENTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THEIR CLASS

86. Chris Streveler, Arizona Cardinals

Current status: Backup (Ourlads says No. 2 QB, but I'm not sure I agree)

Season stats (includes rushing): N/A

Ability to dominate on his own (not system-related): N/A

Decision-making + talent: N/A

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: N/A

The bottom line: Streveler beat out Jacob Eason and Kurt Benkert for my final spot because Ourlads listed him as the Cardinals' No. 2 QB over Brett Hundley, who is more established. 

UPDATE: Streveler was originally my QB85, but Brandon Allen's promotion over Ryan Finley has earned the former an official spot on my list. 

85. Nate Sudfeld, Philadelphia Eagles

Current status: Backup (Ourlads says No. 2 QB, but again I'm not sure I agree)

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: N/A

Decision-making + talent: N/A

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A 

Frascella's overall grade: N/A

The bottom line: At least I've heard of him. He might actually be better than this next guy... 

84. Ben DiNucci, Dallas Cowboys

Current status: 3rd string (with Dak, he'd be out of a job)

Season stats: D-

Ability to dominate on his own: D-

Decision-making + talent: F

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: F

Frascella's overall grade: F

The bottom line: I watched his entire start - he should have been picked about 4-5 times. He doesn't have the mental clock for the speed of NFL defenses. 

83. James Morgan, New York Jets

Current status: 3rd string

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: N/A

Decision-making + talent: N/A

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: N/A

The bottom line: Rumor has it that New York's GM Joe Douglas drafted Morgan to keep him away from Belichick, McDaniels and the Patriots. Maybe they liked his film? That's enough for me. 

82. Easton Stick, Los Angeles Chargers

Current status: 3rd string

Season stats: 1-for-1 for 4 yards, lol 

Ability to dominate on his own: N/A

Decision-making + talent: N/A

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: N/A

The bottom line: That one pass resulted in an 83.3 QB rating. Kid is a beast. 

81. Ryan Griffin, Tampa Bay Bucs

Current status: 3rd string

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: N/A

Decision-making + talent: N/A

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: N/A

The bottom line: He seems to be able to keep a professional job. I remember him from Hard Knocks that one year. 

80. John Wolford, Los Angeles Rams

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: N/A

Decision-making + talent: N/A

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: N/A

The bottom line: Sean McVay knows what he is doing, and he's only carrying 2 QBs here. Wolford must be good enough, in the event Goff goes down. 

79. Brett Hundley, Arizona Cardinals

Current status: Backup

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: D

Decision-making + talent: D

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: D-

Frascella's overall grade: D

The bottom line: He wasn't good when he filled in for Aaron Rodgers in the past, but at least you didn't lose your game automatically with him under center. 

78. Trevor Siemian, New Orleans Saints

Current status: 3rd string (probably jobless if Brees is healthy)

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: D+

Decision-making + talent: D+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: D

Frascella's overall grade: D+

The bottom line: He went down quickly when he played briefly for my Jets, but in that short stint he looked mentally gone. Too much stress and disappointment from his time with the Broncos. 

77. Tim Boyle, Green Bay Packers

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: N/A

Decision-making + talent: N/A

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: N/A

The bottom line: When the Packers blew out the 49ers on national television, Boyle entered the game before Jordan Love. I guess that's a compliment of sorts. 

76. Logan Woodside, Tennessee Titans

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: N/A

Decision-making + talent: N/A

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: N/A

The bottom line: Similar situation to John Wolford, here; like McVay, Mike Vrabel knows what he is doing. The Titans only carry 2 active QBs, despite the fact that Tannehill can be injury-prone. This says enough about Woodside. 

75. Ryan Finley, Cincinnati Bengals

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: F

Ability to dominate on his own: D-

Decision-making + talent: D

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: D-

Frascella's overall grade: D-

The bottom line: Yes, I gave Siemian a higher grade (D+), but he'd probably still be jobless if Brees didn't get hurt. We have to at least consider the player's overall status in the league; Finley is the only backup to Joe Burrow. 

UPDATE: Finley has been immediately benched in favor of Brandon Allen, who was promoted from the practice squad. 

74. Jake Fromm, Buffalo Bills

Current status: 3rd string

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: N/A

Decision-making + talent: N/A

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: N/A

The bottom line: The Bills kept him despite his unacceptable racist remarks/comments. He must be pretty decent. 

73. Josh Dobbs, Pittsburgh Steelers

Current status: 3rd string 

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: D-

Decision-making + talent: D-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: D-

The bottom line: Devlin Hodges beat him out last season; he can't be particularly good. 

TIER 8: D-PLUSES, C-MINUSES & C'S...OH MY 

72. Jarrett Stidham, New England Patriots

Current status: Backup (nip-and-tuck with Hoyer)

Season stats: F

Ability to dominate on his own: D-

Decision-making + talent: D

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: D+

The bottom line: His 23 passes have not been pretty this season. In an eye-blink performance last year, he was also terrible. Seems a bit overmatched. 

71. Nathan Peterman, Las Vegas Raiders

Current status: 3rd string 

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: D+

Decision-making + talent: C-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: D-

Frascella's overall grade: D+

The bottom line: Sean McDermott and Jon Gruden both know what they are doing, and they both see/saw something in this kid. Gruden is a QB guru of sorts - Peterman looked much sharper in last year's preseason. Maybe coach has coached him up a bit. 

70. Sean Mannion, Minnesota Vikings

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: N/A

Decision-making + talent: N/A

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: N/A

The bottom line: Another Hard Knocks memory. Kid has a very strong arm but never gets an opportunity to play; Goff and Cousins are both durable. 

69. Brandon Allen, Cincinnati Bengals

Current status: Starter (would be No. 2 to Burrow)

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: N/A

Decision-making + talent: N/A

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: N/A

The bottom line: Finley barely played after Burrow went down, and he already got benched. I'm comfortable trusting Zac Taylor in the sense that Allen immediately gives them a better opportunity to be competitive. 

68. Brian Hoyer, New England Patriots

Current status: Backup 

Season stats: D-

Ability to dominate on his own: D+

Decision-making + talent: C

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: C-

Frascella's overall grade: C-

The bottom line: He's not gonna kill you as much as Stidham will, in my opinion. Hoyer certainly isn't what he used to be, though. 

67. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: C-

Decision-making + talent: C-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: D+

Frascella's overall grade: C-

The bottom line: Being the only backup to the great Russell Wilson is an important job. Pete Carroll must still have a bit of faith in Geno, the former Jets' starting QB. 

66. David Blough, Detroit Lions

Current status: 3rd string

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: C-

Decision-making + talent: C

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: D+

Frascella's overall grade: C-

The bottom line: I liked what I saw from him last Thanksgiving. He doesn't have a strong arm in the slightest, but he has guts and is a good leader for a backup. Teammates will rally behind him. 

65. Will Grier, Carolina Panthers

Current status: 3rd string

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: C-

Decision-making + talent: D+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: C-

The bottom line: He showed some flashes in limited playing time last season, but ultimately he lacks the polish and awareness necessary to be a full-time starter at this level. 

64. Brett Rypien, Denver Broncos

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: D

Ability to dominate on his own: C-

Decision-making + talent: D+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: D+

The bottom line: He showed grit and moxie during his stint as Denver's starting quarterback, but he also showcased a foolhardy spirit prone to careless throws unworthy of an NFL QB. 

63. Josh McCown, Houston Texans

Current status: 3rd string

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: D+

Decision-making + talent: C+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: C

Frascella's overall grade: C

The bottom line: Did a pretty decent job filling in for Carson Wentz in last year's Philly playoff loss to the Seahawks. Was also pretty solid with my Jets, considering his advanced years. 

62. Mike Glennon, Jacksonville Jaguars

Current status: Starter (would be backup to Minshew)

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: D+

Decision-making + talent: C-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: D+

Frascella's overall grade: C-

The bottom line: Couldn't beat out Jake Luton for playing time, so I can't really say anything too nice, here. 

UPDATE: Doug Marrone has inexplicably switched to Glennon. I already had a dream that Glennon threw a pick six on his first attempt. 

61. Colt McCoy, New York Giants

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: C-

Decision-making + talent: C

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: C+

Frascella's overall grade: C

The bottom line: A battler. A gamer. Always a popular teammate. 

TIER 7: A C+? MOM AND DAD THINK YOU CAN DO BETTER

60. Robert Griffin III, Baltimore Ravens

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: C+

Decision-making + talent: C+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: C+

Frascella's overall grade: C+

The bottom line: Was a star for one, singular healthy season... I guess that's enough to stay ahead of the likes of McCoy and Glennon. 

59. Blaine Gabbert, Tampa Bay Bucs

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: C+

Decision-making + talent: C+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: C

Frascella's overall grade: C+

The bottom line: When he got relatively significant playing time with San Fran in '15 and '16, he was better than I thought. He's nothing to write home about, but he's athletic and seems to extend plays in beneficial ways. 

58. A.J. McCarron, Houston Texans

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: C

Decision-making + talent: B-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: C+

Frascella's overall grade: C+

The bottom line: Certainly known better for his college days than the pros; hasn't gotten many full-time opportunities at this level. 

57. Matt Schaub, Atlanta Falcons

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: C

Decision-making + talent: B

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B

Frascella's overall grade: C+

The bottom line: Originally I had him in the low 70s or high 60s, but his pocket awareness alone makes him more valuable than some of these other, younger backups. Schaub's experience renders him a puppeteer at the line of scrimmage. 

56. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Current status: No. 3 QB

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: N/A

Decision-making + talent: N/A

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: N/A

The bottom line: If LaFleur and the Packers were willing to piss Aaron Rodgers off, Love must really have some potential. Sure this is a "spec" ranking, but I gotta rank him somewhere reasonable. 

55. Jake Luton, Jacksonville Jaguars

Current status: No. 2 QB (would be 3rd string with Minshew)

Season stats: D+

Ability to dominate on his own: C

Decision-making + talent: C

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: C

Frascella's overall grade: C

The bottom line: Maybe some of these preceding guys are safer than Luton, but the kid showed moxie against the Packers in his opening start. I think the Jags should still be starting him in Minshew's absence. Can't judge Luton off a bad performance against the No. 1 rated Steelers' D. 

54. Chad Henne, Kansas City Chiefs

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: 5 of 6 for 30 yards, lol 

Ability to dominate on his own: C

Decision-making + talent: C+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: C+

Frascella's overall grade: C+

The bottom line: Gets a bump in the rankings because of something were to happen to Mahomes, Henne would step into the best situation in the league considering Andy Reid, Eric Bienemy, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, CEH, etc. Improves an average quarterback's chances of succeeding. 

53. Chase Daniel, Detroit Lions

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: 8 of 13 for 94 yards

Ability to dominate on his own: C

Decision-making + talent: B-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: C

Frascella's overall grade: C+

The bottom line: I think people think he's better than he actually is. He's made some good money at the NFL level, but I can't exactly say he's earned it. I actually think he is an overrated backup, all aspects considered (not an accurate thrower). 

TIER 6: A B- IS BARELY GETTING BY 

52. Matt Barkley, Buffalo Bills

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: C+

Decision-making + talent: B-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: C+

Frascella's overall grade: B-

The bottom line: I've always been impressed by Barkley in his limited opportunities. He has a good understanding at the line of scrimmage and doesn't overestimate his own ability. He plays within himself in a positive way. 

51. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Current status: Backup

Season stats: 2 of 2 for 27 yards 

Ability to dominate on his own: N/A

Decision-making + talent: N/A

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: N/A

The bottom line: Another "spec" ranking by default - his opportunity to start has to be coming soon, right? 

50. Tyrod Taylor, Los Angeles Chargers

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: 8 of 13 for 94 yards

Ability to dominate on his own: B-

Decision-making + talent: C+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B-

Frascella's overall grade: B-

The bottom line: Hasn't been good since his brief stint in Cleveland. Was at the height of his limited powers during his Buffalo days. 

49. Marcus Mariota, Las Vegas Raiders 

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: B-

Decision-making + talent: B-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B-

Frascella's overall grade: B-

The bottom line: Got injured; hasn't had to do anything for the Raiders yet. Started off as a personal favorite of mine, but completely fell off the map due to nagging injuries, indecision and so-so all-around talent. 

48. Garrett Gilbert, Dallas Cowboys

Current status: No. 2 QB (would be 3rd string w/Dak)

Season stats: B-

Ability to dominate on his own: B-

Decision-making + talent: B-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: B-

The bottom line: Well... look at how young Luton played against the Steelers - Gilbert looked a helluva lot better! I thought he actually showed some real potential. He'd still be my QB, if I were Dallas' decision-makers. 

47. Jeff Driskel, Denver Broncos

Current status: 3rd string

Season stats: B-

Ability to dominate on his own: B-

Decision-making + talent: B-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B-

Frascella's overall grade: B-

The bottom line: Not sure why he falls out of favor so quickly... I think he's much better than Brett Rypien and was surprised the latter passed him on Denver's depth chart in a bizarre blink of an eye... Driskel has actually racked up some quite strong fantasy games in the past. He has a bit of a run-pass option out there; he's not afraid. 

46. C.J. Beathard, San Francisco 49ers

Current status: 3rd string 

Season stats: B

Ability to dominate on his own: B-

Decision-making + talent: B-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B-

Frascella's overall grade: B-

The bottom line: The first time Jimmy G got hurt this season, Shanahan went to Mullens first; he faltered, then C.J. came in and provided a real spark. Jimmy G goes down again... and Shanahan goes back to Mullens. It's as if Beathard's good performance was completely ignored or removed from memory. 

45. P.J. Walker, Carolina Panthers

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: B-

Ability to dominate on his own: B

Decision-making + talent: B-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: B-

The bottom line: This kid has something. Give him 5-6 games and he'll really start to figure things out at the NFL level. He's confident and gives you the run-pass flexibility under center. 

44. Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: B-

Decision-making + talent: B-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B-

Frascella's overall grade: B-

The bottom line: In my opinion, he did an admirable job filling in for Ben Roethlisberger last season. I know others don't agree, but I felt he did a solid job of NOT losing games. That's what you wanna do as a backup on a team with a tier-1 defensive unit. 

43. Dwayne Haskins, Washington Redskins

Current status: No. 2 QB (would be 3rd string w/Allen healthy)

Season stats: B-

Ability to dominate on his own: B-

Decision-making + talent: B-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: C+

Frascella's overall grade: B-

The bottom line: I saw some positive flashes in two seasons of in-and-out play, but he's clearly not Ron Rivera's guy. Look, both Kyle Allen and Alex Smith are better than him, but I don't think Haskins is terrible. I do think, given more opportunities, he could move up to the 29-36 range on my list in the future. 

42. Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: B

Ability to dominate on his own: B

Decision-making + talent: B-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: C

Frascella's overall grade: B-

The bottom line: It's still funny how quickly Nagy gave up on him this season... 6/3 in TD to INT with an 87.4 QB rating (Foles is just 81.0 as a frame of reference). We know Trubisky isn't great, but right now he gives you more potential than Foles, who has become entirely limited. 

41. Sam Darnold, New York Jets

Current status: Starter (week-to-week injury)

Season stats: D-

Ability to dominate on his own: B+

Decision-making + talent: B-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: C-

Frascella's overall grade: B-

The bottom line: The poster boy for inconsistency. Always hurt, or only "flashing" greatness. Never puts it all together with any sort of consistency or toughness. I think he's soft as hell. 

40. Joe Flacco, New York Jets

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: B

Ability to dominate on his own: C+

Decision-making + talent: B-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B+

Frascella's overall grade: B-

The bottom line: Has truly outplayed his QB teammate this season. Flacco started slow, but showed really good things vs. both the Patriots and Chargers. 

39. Drew Lock, Denver Broncos

Current status: Starter

Season stats: D+

Ability to dominate on his own: B-

Decision-making + talent: B-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: C+

Frascella's overall grade: B-

The bottom line: Very Trubisky/Darnold esque. I don't see the all-around "it" factor from Lock. He strikes me as more of a backup, long-term. 

38. Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: N/A

Ability to dominate on his own: B

Decision-making + talent: B-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B-

Frascella's overall grade: B-

The bottom line: A tough kid. A well-respected leader. Like a better, younger, more usable version of Colt McCoy at this point. Brissett did a lot of productive things as a starting quarterback. 

37. Nick Mullens, San Francisco 49ers

Current status: Starter (would be No. 2 w/Jimmy G)

Season stats: B

Ability to dominate on his own: B-

Decision-making + talent: B-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B

Frascella's overall grade: B-

The bottom line: I think his numbers are better than his ability (credit Shanahan's coaching, probably). He's flashing an 89.1 QB rating with 79-like talent. 

TIER 5: VARYING DEGREES OF "B" - IT'S A WIDE-RANGING TIER

36. Case Keenum, Cleveland Browns

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: 5 of 10 for 46 yards

Ability to dominate on his own: B

Decision-making + talent: B

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B

Frascella's overall grade: B

The bottom line: One of the saddest stories in the league. The Vikings really screwed him over after the best season of his NFL career, and the Broncos weren't very patient with him, either. He rests now as one of the better backups in the game. 

35. Andy Dalton, Dallas Cowboys

Current status: Starter (would be No. 2 w/Dak)

Season stats: C

Ability to dominate on his own: B

Decision-making + talent: B

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B

Frascella's overall grade: B

The bottom line: The definition of average. We all know who "The Red Rocket" is at this point in his lengthy career. Not really gonna kill ya, not gonna win ya titles. 

34. Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints

Current status: No. 2 QB (would be 3rd string w/Brees)

Season stats: 7 of 11 for 75 yards

Ability to dominate on his own: A-

Decision-making + talent: B-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: C+

Frascella's overall grade: B

The bottom line: Was surprised that Taysom Hill basically beat him out for playing time. On the bright side, I'm pretty sure Winston led the entire NFL in passing yards last season. 

33. Nick Foles, Chicago Bears

Current status: Starter 

Season stats: B-

Ability to dominate on his own: B-

Decision-making + talent: B

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: A-

Frascella's overall grade: B

The bottom line: One of my favorite players of all time - because of "The Philly Special" and what he did to the Patriots in that epic Super Bowl - but he simply doesn't have much left. We like his experience and know-how, but he has zero mobility and his arm strength is slowly but surely fading away. 

32. Alex Smith, Washington Football Team

Current status: Starter (would be No. 2 w/Allen)

Season stats: B-

Ability to dominate on his own: B-

Decision-making + talent: B

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B

Frascella's overall grade: B

The bottom line: Bumped him up a few spots after Thursday's shellacking of the division-rival Cowboys. Things are really starting to come back for Alex; what a wonderful story, indeed. If he improves his TD/INT ratio he will likely jump into my top 30 before season's end. 

31. Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints

Current status: Starter (would be No. 2 w/Brees)

Season stats: B+

Ability to dominate on his own: A-

Decision-making + talent: B

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: B

The bottom line: You could go in a lot of different directions with this kid - he's probably worth a shot as a starter for someone. Why not? We know about his speed, toughness and athleticism, and he's been training as a QB under Sean Payton and Drew Brees. If you are an organization in no man's land at the QB position... why not try something wacky, here? The Bills did the same thing when they initially acquired Tyrod Taylor as a starter... 

30. Kyle Allen, Washington Redskins

Current status: Dislocated ankle, out for season (would be starter)

Season stats: B+

Ability to dominate on his own: B-

Decision-making + talent: B

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: B

The bottom line: That devastating injury was a real bummer. He looked nice and comfortable back there for Ron Rivera's Football Team. He knows the offense and was getting the ball out quickly to his playmakers, letting them do their thing in space. 

29. Daniel Jones, New York Giants

Current status: Starter

Season stats: C+

Ability to dominate on his own: B

Decision-making + talent: B-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: B

The bottom line: One of the most polarizing QBs in the game - my instinct is to put him in a group with Darnold, Trubisky and Lock. Just feels like "his" peeps, right? DJ is probably the best of the bunch right now, but 8 touchdowns to 9 interceptions is an unacceptable ratio. He's clearly too confident in his own ability at many different junctures. 

28. Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles

Current status: Starter

Season stats: C-

Ability to dominate on his own: A-

Decision-making + talent: B

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B-

Frascella's overall grade: B

The bottom line: Yikes, yikes, yikes - the talk of the league, and not in a good way. The kid seems to have completely lost it. Obviously he has the potential to be a top-15 QB in the game, but will he "find" it again, eventually? 

27. Cam Newton, New England Patriots

Current status: Starter

Season stats: C+

Ability to dominate on his own: B+

Decision-making + talent: B

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B-

Frascella's overall grade: B

The bottom line: The Patriots are "hanging around, hanging around"...and it hasn't exactly been pretty. But Cam gives the run/pass option and New England's "weapons" are laughable, so we have to cut him just a little bit of slack. In the grand scheme, No. 27 seems appropriate to me. 

26. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

Current status: Starter

Season stats: B+

Ability to dominate on his own: B

Decision-making + talent: B

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: B

The bottom line: He's already become a polarizing figure in his short stint as the Dolphins' starter; will Flores ultimately go back to Fitz? Time will tell. In the meantime, Tua's QB rating is over 100 and he hasn't thrown a single pick. I know he can't really stretch the field, but he isn't killin' ya out there, either. 

25. Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars

Current status: Thumb injury, week-to-week (would be starter)

Season stats: B+

Ability to dominate on his own: B+

Decision-making + talent: B

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B

Frascella's overall grade: B

The bottom line: We all know about his moustache, moxie and bravado, but his actual stats are better than I thought this year. 13/5 is a really good ratio when you play for the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars, and 94.4 is a plenty solid QB rating. A very appropriate combination of confidence and stats for my No. 25 spot, a no man's land of sorts. 

24. Teddy Bridgewater, Carolina Panthers

Current status: Starter

Season stats: B+

Ability to dominate on his own: B

Decision-making + talent: B

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B

Frascella's overall grade: B

The bottom line: He is what he is - a solid game manager. Not gonna win games for ya, not gonna lose 'em either. Love his toughness and ability to bounce back from major injury. 

23. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins

Current status: No. 2 QB

Season stats: B+

Ability to dominate on his own: A-

Decision-making + talent: B

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B-

Frascella's overall grade: B

The bottom line: Was playing some of the best ball of his entertaining career this season; "FitzMagic" is a real thing, but he's also never reached the playoffs in his long career. He's the best backup quarterback in football right now. 

22. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns

Current status: Starter

Season stats: B+

Ability to dominate on his own: B

Decision-making + talent: B

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B

Frascella's overall grade: B

The bottom line: Not seeing anything special, but the Browns are winning games and Baker isn't getting in the way of their progress as a team. Credit Stefanski more than Baker, for sure. 

TIER 4: A B+ AIN'T HALF BAD 

21. Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers

Current status: On IR with a high ankle sprain

Season stats: B

Ability to dominate on his own: B

Decision-making + talent: B+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B+

Frascella's overall grade: B+

The bottom line: You see the dropoff in the 49ers when he isn't out there - from near-Super Bowl champ to non-playoff contender. Of course, we also have to factor the injuries to Kittle, Bosa, Samuel, etc... 

20. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Current status: Out for the season with a torn ACL

Season stats: A-

Ability to dominate on his own: A-

Decision-making + talent: A-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: B+

The bottom line: Damn it, man! What a terrible injury. Burrow has been a lot of fun to watch, in spite of Cincinnati's bad record and even worse defense. Burrow is smart, decisive and determined to succeed. He could have been a bit higher if not for the injury. 

19. Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams

Current status: Starter

Season stats: A-

Ability to dominate on his own: B

Decision-making + talent: B+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B+

Frascella's overall grade: B+

The bottom line: A mystery man, of sorts. Ya never quite know what you are gonna get, but his stats are still good enough and his Rams are an NFC Championship contender. Like Mayfield, he isn't getting in the way of his team's positive progress. 

18. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

Current status: Starter

Season stats: A-

Ability to dominate on his own: B+

Decision-making + talent: B+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B

Frascella's overall grade: B+

The bottom line: Always ends up with very respectable stats. Still has the strong arm and really understands his position back there. He's a solid, safe B+ to me. Did a good job taking down the Saints in the playoffs at crunch time last season. 

17. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Current status: Starter

Season stats: A-

Ability to dominate on his own: A-

Decision-making + talent: A-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B

Frascella's overall grade: B+

The bottom line: Simply isn't as good when Kenny Golladay is out. Has clearly become dependent upon him in a lot of different ways. Stafford's demeanor reminds me of Darnold's these days - losing seems like an inevitability to him. He's just out there playing, not expecting anything great of himself nor his teammates. 

TIER 3: AN A- IS ROCK SOLID 

16. Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts

Current status: Starter

Season stats: A-

Ability to dominate on his own: B+

Decision-making + talent: A-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B+

Frascella's overall grade: A-

The bottom line: So what if he has a noodle arm? Rivers controls the game at the line of scrimmage. His years of experience have made him a savant under center. He has everything trending in the right direction for Frank Reich's feisty Colts. 

15. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Current status: Starter

Season stats: A

Ability to dominate on his own: A

Decision-making + talent: A

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: A-

The bottom line: Up there with the best rookie play I have ever seen out of the quarterback position. Great mechanics, strong arm, timely throws with tremendous accuracy. His numbers are simply out of this world, and that must have been awfully hard to achieve during a COVID year with limited reps coming in. He's been fantastic, and that's the bottom line. 

14. Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders

Current status: Starter

Season stats: A

Ability to dominate on his own: A-

Decision-making + talent: A-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B+

Frascella's overall grade: A-

The bottom line: These Raiders are sneaky. Jon Gruden is a real Coach of the Year candidate. He and Carr are on the same page, and the latter is doing an excellent job protecting possessions in their playoff pursuit. 19 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions while completing nearly 70 percent of his attempts. Las Vegas has a good thing goin'. 

13. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Current status: Starter

Season stats: A-

Ability to dominate on his own: A-

Decision-making + talent: A-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: A-

Frascella's overall grade: A-

The bottom line: Still Steady Eddy - I'd trust him more than most. He does everything pretty well and No. 13 seems right on the nose, to me. He's not an A or A+ guy, but he's whip smart and knows exactly what to do with the rock. A real student of the game. 

12. Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans

Current status: Starter

Season stats: A

Ability to dominate on his own: A-

Decision-making + talent: A-

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B+

Frascella's overall grade: A-

The bottom line: Led the NFL in QB rating last season, and this year he is staying relatively consistent at 106.6 (7th-best this year). Mike Vrabel and Derrick Henry have worked wonders for his once-stumbling career. 

TIER 2: "STRAIGHT A'S" - SO CLOSE TO THE TOP 

11. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Current status: Compound fracture and dislocation of ankle, out for season

Season stats: A

Ability to dominate on his own: A

Decision-making + talent: A

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B

Frascella's overall grade: A

The bottom line: Would probably be No. 4 or 5 if healthy. This is such a devastating injury that we have to see him come back strong, before we can believe it. Wishing him a speedy and full recovery! 

10. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Current status: Starter

Season stats: A

Ability to dominate on his own: A+

Decision-making + talent: B+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: C

Frascella's overall grade: A

The bottom line: A "down" year with a 93.4 QB rating, 15/6 and 575 rushing yards (second-most to Kyler). The Ravens are still in this thing and Lamar is the reigning MVP of the league. I can't give up on him as quickly as others have. 

9. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Current status: Fractured ribs and collapsed lung, out indefinitely

Season stats: A

Ability to dominate on his own: A

Decision-making + talent: A+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: A

Frascella's overall grade: A

The bottom line: Would be No. 7 if healthy. These are scary injuries for a wily old vet. Hope he comes back looking like himself. Otherwise, his career could be in a bit of jeopardy. 

8. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Bucs

Current status: Starter

Season stats: A

Ability to dominate on his own: A

Decision-making + talent: A+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: A+

Frascella's overall grade: A

The bottom line: Something doesn't look exactly right, and I think it's this Tampa offensive line. In Tommy's advanced years, he really doesn't wanna be taking any vicious hits, and this has led to some uncharacteristic turnovers in big spots. He needs better protection to make a serious playoff run with this squad. 

7. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Current status: Starter

Season stats: A

Ability to dominate on his own: A

Decision-making + talent: A+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: A

Frascella's overall grade: A

The bottom line: Has bounced back incredibly from injury, with strong stats and an undefeated record. Not much else you could ask from Big Ben this season. 

6. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Current status: Starter

Season stats: A

Ability to dominate on his own: A+

Decision-making + talent: A

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: N/A

Frascella's overall grade: A

The bottom line: An MVP candidate who is currently dealing with a (somewhat) concerning shoulder injury. I hope he comes back strong this week, but I worry about future shots to his throwing arm. He's not a big guy, as we know. 

5. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Current status: Starter

Season stats: A

Ability to dominate on his own: A+

Decision-making + talent: A

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: B-

Frascella's overall grade: A

The bottom line: Kid just continues to improve every, single year. Has put a lot of the haters to sleep. His awareness of the position has improved exponentially, along with his accuracy and protection of valuable possessions. Don't forget about his productive rushing in the redzone, either. 

4. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans

Current status: Starter

Season stats: A+

Ability to dominate on his own: A+

Decision-making + talent: A+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: A-

Frascella's overall grade: A

The bottom line: Seems totally locked in in every aspect of the game right now. Too bad their defense mostly sucks and they don't have DeAndre Hopkins anymore. I very nearly put Deshaun into this next class... 

TIER 1: ONLY 3 AT THE TOP OF THEIR CLASS

3. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Current status: Starter

Season stats: A+

Ability to dominate on his own: A+

Decision-making + talent: A+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: A

Frascella's overall grade: A+

The bottom line: We start the same top 3 as my preseason rankings! I had Rodgers as the third-best player in the NFL heading into this season, and mostly everyone disagreed with me. I knew not to give up on him. Others were crediting LaFleur and Aaron Jones for the Packers' success last season - and I happen to like both guys a lot - but Rodgers' all-around mastery of the quarterback position should always be the greatest consideration. He still has a gun... meanwhile he has 29 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions! 

2. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

Current status: Starter

Season stats: A+

Ability to dominate on his own: A+

Decision-making + talent: A+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: A+

Frascella's overall grade: A+

The bottom line: If not for the careless interceptions of late, he might have claimed the No. 1 spot. I'm sure he will button things up down the stretch. He was a runaway MVP through 4-5 games, but now he's dropped off just a bit. Still, he's as amazing as it gets at his position. A true megastar. 

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Current status: Starter

Season stats: A+

Ability to dominate on his own: A+

Decision-making + talent: A+

Crunch time/playoff/Super Bowl pedigree: A+

Frascella's overall grade: A+

The bottom line: "The best of the best of the best...sir!" - Men In Black 

That's Pat Mahomes. I think we all know it. Need I say more?