Williams, Jackson and Lawrence rise to top five in Week 2 QB rankings
Quarterback rankings for Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season show Caleb Williams, Lamar Jackson and Trevor Lawrence entering the top five, while several other QBs move up or down based on their opening performances.
Quarterback rankings for the second week of the 2026 NFL season have shifted significantly after the opening games. Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars have all moved into the top five of Nick Shook's QB Index.
Williams delivered multiple high-impact throws in the Bears' 59-37 victory over Carolina, including a deep pass to Cole Kmet for a touchdown and a long strike to Rome Odunze that set up another score. His top speed reached 20.8 mph on a 29-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
Jackson contributed 324 passing yards in Baltimore's win over Indianapolis, maintaining a balanced attack even after wideout Zay Flowers left with a hamstring injury. His performance is being noted as a potential factor in the MVP conversation.
Lawrence helped the Jaguars dominate Cleveland, connecting with receivers Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers and Brenton Strange as the offense continued the momentum from the previous season.
Other notable movements include Bryce Young surpassing Matthew Stafford in the rankings after a 289-yard, 14.5-yard-per-attempt performance for Carolina, and Brock Purdy matching his career-high with seven consecutive dropbacks for the 49ers in Australia.
Quarterbacks such as Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott, Joe Burrow and Jared Goff showed mixed results, with Mahomes displaying reduced mobility and Prescott throwing an interception. Justin Herbert dropped further after a 200-yard game that ended with a costly interception.
The rankings also reflect volatility, with Drake Maye falling after three interceptions in the Patriots' loss and Tyler Shough rebounding in the second half for the New Orleans Saints.
Overall, the updated QB Index reflects a blend of early-season performance and established reputation, setting the stage for the upcoming weeks of competition.