Week 8 NFL quarterback rankings show Burrow, Williams rise while Mahomes falls
Nick Shook's latest NFL quarterback rankings place Joe Burrow and Caleb Williams among the top five, with Patrick Mahomes dropping after a difficult game against Seattle.
Joe Burrow led a second-half surge that helped the Cincinnati Bengals finish a 35-0 run to defeat the Baltimore Ravens, highlighting connections with Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase and tight end Drew Sample. Caleb Williams returned from a hamstring injury and performed at a level that could put him in the MVP conversation, keeping the Los Angeles Chargers offense in sync with his receivers.
C.J. Stroud showed precision in a overtime loss to the New York Giants, notably delivering a touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. Jared Goff posted a 22-of-32 completion rate for 303 yards and two touchdowns in Detroit’s win over Green Bay, though his performance varied between zone and man coverage.
Dak Prescott rebounded with a strong showing against the Philadelphia Eagles, completing 16 of 27 downfield attempts and recording three touchdowns on throws of at least ten yards. Jordan Love overcame a costly interception to finish drives for the Las Vegas Raiders.
"Patrick Mahomes was overwhelmed and ineffective against the Seahawks defense on Sunday night," the analysis noted, adding that the Chiefs struggled without a strong running game and that tight ends Travis Kelce and Noah Gray led the receiving corps.
Other quarterbacks received mixed reviews: Michael Penix Jr. spread the ball effectively for the Cleveland Browns, Matthew Stafford remained steady for the Los Angeles Rams, and Bryce Young endured a difficult outing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The rankings also highlighted emerging performances from Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy and Malik Willis, while veteran starters such as Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers faced scrutiny over consistency and future roles.