2025 NFL QB rankings, Week 3: Russell Wilson bounces back; Jayden Daniels exits top 10

NOTE: Up/down arrows illustrate movement from the Week 2 QB Index.

TIER 1

• Josh Allen's totals from his second game of the season might seem pedestrian compared to other outings. That doesn't matter to me; he guided the Bills to a lopsided win that included an explosive day for James Cook.
• Patrick Mahomes' stat line from the Chiefs' loss to the Eagles suggested he played poorly, but those who watched the game know Travis Kelce failed the QB on the interception charged to Mahomes (yet another example of why we need earned and unearned interceptions). Mahomes' combined yardage total for the season more accurately reflects how he continues to carry the Chiefs even in these close losses.
• Lamar Jackson overcame a stingy Browns defense that bottled up Derrick Henry, injecting life into the Ravens' offense by continuing to make spectacular plays -- thus maintaining his place as the most frustrating quarterback to defend in the NFL.
• Justin Herbert has quickly boosted his reputation among the general NFL population through two weeks, authoring two excellent performances in front of national audiences. He's used both his cannon for an arm and his legs to keep this offense moving and is very clearly on the same page as Keenan Allen, who has fleshed out Los Angeles' receiving corps. The pair are a dangerous matchup for any defense.
• We all saw what Baker Mayfield did on Monday Night Football. Yes, through two games, Mayfield has willed the Buccaneers to unlikely road victories in the final stages of each contest, all while remaining the fiery competitor he's always been. Face it: It's Baker SZN.

TIER 2

• Yes, the Rams danced with the Titans too closely for too long in Week 2. What's more important, though, is the Matthew Stafford-Davante Adams connection, which is gaining steam through two weeks. The QB is still slinging it in vintage Stafford fashion and now has a veteran receiver to work with who is very much on his level. I'm looking forward to the art they're going to produce in the weeks ahead.
• After two weeks, I've corrected Jordan Love's ranking. I just needed to see two sharp and efficient games from him before I could justify moving him up, and while he took some shots that lowered his completion percentage, it's very clear he's working in beautiful concert with Matt LaFleur.
• Congratulations to Jared Goff and the Lions, authors of an emphatic bounce-back performance that should correct Goff's standing in the public eye. They returned to their bread and butter in Week 2, empowering Goff to post a gaudy stat line that might make folks forget how uncomfortable he looked in Week 1.

TIER 3

• Jayden Daniels and the Commanders haven't yet found their big-play magic from a year ago. He took what was available and generally worked through his progressions quickly, but Green Bay's defense made life very difficult for Washington's offensive operation. Daniels' knee injury and uncertain status for Week 3 won't ease Commanders fans' worries, either. (EDITOR'S UPDATE: Daniels has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Raiders.)
• First, I must acknowledge and appreciate Russell Wilson for his vintage Russ performance against the Cowboys. That was the kind of game that propelled him toward MVP contention back in his glory days. He's climbing significantly this week because of it, but I fear it will prove to be the anomaly, especially because it came against a Dallas defense that isn't going to be a tough matchup in 2025. Still, beyond the gaudy numbers, I was pleased to see Wilson stop breaking the pocket if his first read wasn't open after doing it far too often in Week 1. His patience and persistence allowed him the extra beat or two necessary to find his target on some of his most impactful throws of the day, opening up an offense that had appeared clogged.
• Daniel Jones continues to steadily direct the Colts' operation through two weeks, a stretch that has included a few highlight-worthy tosses. Most importantly, he hasn't yet committed a turnover.
• Bo Nix had a better outing in Week 2 than he did in Week 1, but he still needs to be better in the risk-taking department. His interception in the fourth quarter cracked the door open just enough for the Colts to complete the comeback.
• Aaron Rodgers fell back to earth in Week 2. While his first interception against the Seahawks wasn't entirely his fault -- in fact, it was an accurate throw that produced the worst outcome -- he wasn't as sharp as he was in his debut.
• Geno Smith had one of the worst games of his career against a shockingly stingy Chargers defense in Week 2. I believe he'll bounce back, but much of that will depend on Brock Bowers' health, which doesn't seem to be in a great place as he plays through the knee injury he suffered in Week 1.
• Michael Penix Jr. hasn't put up big totals in the passing game, but he has done the little things to push his team forward. Most importantly, he seems to have a great grasp of the responsibilities of a starting quarterback in the NFL.

TIER 4

• C.J. Stroud seems to be in the same bad place he was in last season. His offensive line can't hold up against manufactured pressure, the offensive scheme is uninspiring, and the combination appears to be drastically affecting his accuracy. I'd like to believe they'll sort it out eventually, but I don't like the way this is trending right now.
• The Saints are 0-2, but Spencer Rattler has done a commendable job of keeping them competitive through two weeks. He's trending in the right direction.
• Week 2 produced a much-needed rebound for Tua Tagovailoa, who looked significantly better than he did in his dreadful season-opening showing in Indianapolis. However, the end of the game -- with Tagovailoa taking back-to-back sacks in a loss to the Patriots -- lingers like a dark cloud over the Dolphins.
• Justin Fields' ugly Week 2 outing reminded me of the struggles he's endured for most of his career. If he hadn't had such an excellent Week 1, he'd rank even lower on this list. Unfortunately, he's dealing with a concussion that will keep him out in Week 3.
• Bryce Young's first half was dreadful against the Cardinals. His second half was excellent, save for the ending. If he can find some consistency over four quarters, he and the Panthers will land on a much better track.

TIER 5

• Cam Ward is good for some highlight-worthy passes (including an early candidate for throw of the year) and has the talent to own the starting job in Tennessee for the long haul. He's just fighting an uphill battle given the deficiencies of his supporting cast right now.
• Jake Browning led the Bengals to a comeback win against the Jaguars, but he made some ugly mistakes along the way. We'll see how he looks with a full week of preparation as the starter.
• Joe Flacco looked old and slow against the Ravens. His scrambling efforts, while courageous, must have been tough to watch for Browns fans who understand he is their best option at quarterback, at least for now. I wonder if Cleveland will be considering a change before October arrives.