NFL QB rankings, Week 5: Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott shake up top 5; who sank 12 spots?

NOTE: Up/down arrows illustrate movement from the Week 4 QB Index.

TIER 1

• Josh Allen threw one interception (and nearly tossed another) but otherwise carried Buffalo to a win over the Saints. He completed 72.7 percent of his passes in a game that included James Cook's third consecutive outing with 100-plus rushing yards.
• Patrick Mahomes moves back up to No. 2 after a masterful showing in a big game against the Ravens. His improvisation skills were on full display, he converted on key downs and was accurate throwing downfield. Mahomes arguably looked the best he has all season, tossing four touchdown passes for the first time since Week 7 of the 2023 season.
• After a strong start, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens looked disjointed for much of the afternoon against the Chiefs. The two-time MVP threw an interception and fumbled away possession before exiting with a hamstring injury in the second half.
• The Cowboys' 1-2-1 record doesn’t suggest it, but Dak Prescott is having a fantastic season. He put together an excellent performance in a shootout with the Packers, completing 31-of-40 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns, including arguably the NFL's best throw of the year to Jalen Tolbert for a 34-yard completion that set up their field goal in overtime. Prescott is firing some unbelievable passes into tight windows and propelling the offense, even with CeeDee Lamb sidelined.

TIER 2

• Baker Mayfield cost the Buccaneers when he refused to give up on a play and threw an interception in the end zone amid Tampa Bay's furious comeback attempt against the Eagles. He remains one of the most exciting quarterbacks to watch and is the primary reason Tampa Bay is 3-1 after four weeks, but his aggression hurt his team in a key spot.
• Matthew Stafford was largely fantastic against the Colts, completing 29-of-41 passes for three touchdowns, including a toss to Tutu Atwell on a slot fade for the go-ahead score. The Rams bounced back from a tough Week 3 loss with a Week 4 victory led by the determination and accuracy of their veteran quarterback.

TIER 3

• Jordan Love had a strong performance against a Cowboys defense that hasn't stopped anyone in 2025, completing 31-of-43 passes for 337 yards and three scores. He nearly botched the Packers’ final possession but wisely fired a pass into the end zone with one second remaining in overtime, setting up the game-tying field goal.
• Sam Darnold is fully embracing Klint Kubiak's offensive vision and executing it very well. His numbers don’t jump off the page, but the Seahawks are on a roll thanks in part to their quarterback.
• Drake Maye compiled one of the most efficient outings you'll see from a quarterback in today's NFL, completing 14-of-17 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns against the Panthers. Maye ran for a TD, too. He was very sharp and continues to trend upward.
• Tua Tagovailoa finally looked like 2023 Tua in Week 4, taking full control of Mike McDaniel's offense and executing it. He looked comfortable against the Jets and spread the ball among his pass-catchers, dropping a couple of great throws on tight end Darren Waller for scores. It was a much-needed win on a night where the Dolphins lost WR1 Tyreek Hill for the season.

TIER 4

• Bo Nix certainly has his highlight-reel moments and delivered a few more against the Bengals. He also is proving his games can be a tumultuous experience, demonstrating a tendency to force passes and/or make mistakes by trusting his arm and playmaking ability a bit too much. The Broncos rolled to a win in Week 4, but they'll only reach their potential if Sean Payton reins in Nix going forward.
• After a blemish-free first three weeks, Daniel Jones took a step back in Los Angeles, throwing interceptions on a pair of underthrown passes. Jones and the Colts committed too many errors to finish the job against the Rams.
• Brock Purdy returned from injury to throw two touchdown passes and two interceptions in a loss to the Jaguars, tossing up a tipped pass that was easily snagged by Jacksonville linebacker Devin Lloyd. A fourth-quarter strip-sack marked Purdy’s third turnover of the day. It doomed San Francisco’s hopes of a comeback in a frustrating loss, with Purdy aggravating his toe ailment along the way.
• Kyler Murray is still struggling to get on the same page with Marvin Harrison Jr. and didn’t find a rhythm (or connection with Harrison) until late in last week’s loss to the Seahawks. Prior to the rally, Murray threw an awful interception that was fumbled back to the Cardinals and logged a second pick because Harrison couldn't grasp an accurate throw. The quarterback’s task to uplift (and perhaps carry) the offense seems to be growing more difficult with each week.

TIER 5

• C.J. Stroud finally found some relief in a fourth-quarter scoring explosion against the lowly Titans, tossing touchdowns to Jayden Higgins and Woody Marks. Stroud rediscovered his big-play potential with a third-quarter strike to Nico Collins. We'll see if he can do it again against a tougher opponent in Baltimore on Sunday.
• Michael Penix Jr. was much better against the Commanders after a career-worst showing in Carolina a week earlier, taking shots and firing accurate passes on an explosive afternoon for Atlanta's aerial attack. It was good to see him get back on the horse without fear.
• Spencer Rattler told reporters he came into Week 4 intending to use his legs more often, and he did just that in a surprisingly competitive game against Buffalo, running six times for 49 yards. Frankly, I like what I've seen from Rattler so far; he's exceeded my expectations and is largely playing good football.
• Jaxson Dart's debut as QB1 saw him make plays with his legs, distribute the ball and handle the duties of a starting quarterback with confidence. The numbers weren't exactly prolific, but it was a quality first start.

TIER 6

• Bryce Young looked very sharp on Carolina's opening drive and never found the ability to repeat that showing for the rest of an ugly day in Foxborough. He's clearly focusing on Tetairoa McMillan as his top target so far, but Young's accuracy issues limited that connection. The 2025 season has been a roller coaster, with more dips than climbs for Young after a month.
• Justin Fields returned after missing Week 3 with a concussion, completing 20-of-27 throws (including a TD pass to Garrett Wilson) and running for an electrifying 43-yard TD in a game that was much uglier than the box score suggests. New York's lack of pass protection is worrisome, as was Fields’ strip-sack fumble. He seems to have more conviction in his decision-making this year, but this group hasn't jelled yet.

TIER 7

• The Bengals’ offense is in a terrible place. The pass protection is poor, they can't run the ball at all and are putting far too much responsibility on the shoulders of Jake Browning, who is often faced with firing a 50/50 ball to Ja'Marr Chase or Tee Higgins and hoping for the best. It's not really his fault, but Browning also isn't equipped to overcome so many challenges.