We are halfway through the 2017
NFL Football season already. Many of us think we have a pretty good feeling or grasp as to who the top 4-5 or so teams are in the league, at least in each division. And we comfortably all feel that we have seen what the QBs have been able to do what on the field this year. We have our usual suspects, Brady, Rodgers, and Ryan, are always considered top guns in their conferences, but we also have some new and really good players that have more than shown they are ready to lead their teams as well.
Walk along at a calming pace as we take a look through the
top 5 QBs in the NFL, playing right now. Be ready, because these guys aren’t always going to be what you immediately thought you would see.
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5. Drew Brees
6-0/209lbs
New Orleans Saints
2214 YDs
71.6 completion percentage
13 TDs
4 ints
4.7 TD %
1.5 int %
Brees has had his issues with not a whole lot during this year. The 38 yr old vet is still lighting teams up with leadership and simply put, a massive ability to throw the ball. With a New Orleans Saints team that has had its problems with RBs, Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram have added some life for their QB.
It gives him a bit more time to be able to get to throw the ball. Drew has not been forced to throw the ball as much as he has in the past, at 275 attempts – which is towards the lower portion of his 17 years playing the game. Projecting he ends up throwing 34.3 times/game in 2017.
The Pats, and the Packers have both given up 300+ to Drew. He is a real competitor, as always, fighting the odds for many, many seasons. He has the vision of a 6-5 quarterback with his QB skill set, although, undersized at 6-0 and just over 200 pounds – his crafty arm and smarts keeps the Saints as a threat every game.
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4. Russell Wilson
5-11/215 lbs
Seattle Seahawks
2543 YDs
62.7 completion percentage
19 TDs
6 ints
5.7 TD %
1.8 int %
Russell Wilson has led his Seattle team to big W’s over the Rams and Houston this season. Coming into the 2017 season under some question marks for the 6 year QB for Seattle – that they just cant seem to decide what their team game plan is for the 28year old QB from Wisconsin. Wilson has done great things with a team that has just 1 lone WR on the team with any actual skills – and that guy is Doug Baldwin. And let’s not forget the disaster that has been their Oline – that has been falling apart at the seams for years and has been virtually invisible. He has been the anchor and the heart to a team that wholeheartedly trusts him, under such stressful circumstances, he has shown throughout, he gets it done when needed to.
He has put together some great games of 452 YDs, 373 YDs and 334. Russell uses his feet well with a great blend of good arm strength and slick playmaking ability, as his 5.7 YPC verifies. The Seattle offense has more than had its share of mishaps and dead ended plays with Eddie Lacy and Thomas Rawls trying to run the ball – Russell Wilson brings a heartbeat to their 10th ranked scoring offense.
He reads the entire football field, and he knows how to get the ball to the closing windows and fires balls into the tight spots that QBs need to get the ball to.
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3. Carson Wentz
6-5 / 240lbs
Philadelphia Eagles
2262 YDs
60.5 completion percentage
23 TDs
5 ints
7.9 TD %
1.7 int %
Carson Wentz is a pleasant and welcomed surprise on the list here. He has a passion about him that keeps people watching the games, and his Eagles on the field with awesome scoring ability. Leading his team to a 2nd ranked offense this year – putting up 31.4 /game in 2017.
As Carson has garnished much wonderful comparisons to Big Ben and even Bret Favre – Wentz is a comparable player in regards to some of his skills, but he also is very different in his approach and accuracy. When Wentz played Denver on 11.5.2017 – he tore up the 3rd ranked NFL passing defense for 4 TDs and 7.37 YPA. That secondary carries Bradley Roby and Chris Harris Jr. on their team – lighting them up like he did is no small task for any QB.
He has outstanding improvisation skills when looking to make a play, yet doesn’t get careless, as his play on the fly confirms. As well as his scrambling ability, Carson has a very powerful arm to blast the accurate bullets to the far sideline, when running out of the pocket. He has shown he can make the passes all over the field, throwing the deep pass has never been a problem for him – he can get the velocity to give his WRs the proper time to get to the ball and it gets there on time. Wentz has made good decisions in Philly – and he is very skilled at protecting the football to avoid the badly timed turnovers. Philadelphia is lucky to have their guy in # 11.
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2. Tom Brady
6-4 / 225lbs
New England Patriots
2541 YDs
66.7 completion percentage
16 TDs
2 ints
5.2 TD %
0.6 int %
You honestly didn’t think you really were going to get through this list without seeing “Tom Terrific” on here, did you? Until Brady has a clunker season that doesn’t include putting up tons of TDs and amazing numbers, then, and only then, will you not see him listed.
Got it?
The Patriots may not be the over-dominant team that they have been over the last 12 seasons, as they have “only” been 6-2 in 2017. And Tom Brady is nowhere near done as “the man” for that team. And all the haters know it. That is what makes it so tough with this guy. Brady just keeps on keeping on, tearing up teams for 300 passing yards and 2 TDs seemingly every single week.
Having rocked last years SuperBowl contenders, Atlanta and a tough pass defending Chargers team – Tom is still bringing his swagger and amazing abilities to the table. We have almost taken it for granted after so many years of watching it. We all know the resume, working through all of his progressions, calmly reading the field. He has amazing field vision to look off his primary read and get to his WR2 and WR3 to get everyone involved on his team, including 29 yr old WR Chris Hogan and RB James White who both have had their share of big plays this year. Brady is an amazingly accurate passer from the pocket, with 6 games so far, completing over 68% of his passes in a game. With perfect ball location and accuracy in every pass, he is and always will be, top notch.
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1. Alex Smith
6-4/ 220lbs
Kansas City Chiefs
2444 YDs
69.6 completion percentage
18 TDs
1 ints
6.1 TD %
0.3 int %
Who?
Really?
Absolutely, without question. Alex Smith is lethally accurate, taking this Kansas City Chiefs team on his shoulders, and making them a legit contender. Remember, when everyone laughed about Alex Smith?
I do.
And I am willing to bet, Alex Smith does too.
Playing in the AFC West is no easy task for any QB, let alone the guy who is always looked at as being at the bottom of the QBs who are playing the position there. But through it all he has more TDs than Brady. Crushes Wentz in YDs/game comparisons. And blows away Brees in the TD % category. You tell me, what Alex doesn’t have to not be on this top 5 list?
The Pats, Philly, and the Chargers have all fallen prey to the quiet assassin in Kansas City this year. Putting up a great season – with three 300 YD passing games, five games of 2+ TDs, and six games of 7.5 YPA performers, all the while charging his guys down the field.
Not only does Smith throw a really catchable ball – but he is slinging it downfield really well too. His short to intermediate game on the field, has always been great. But, now, he’s unleashing a dangerous deep ball that has brought the Chiefs to another level. His 8.34 YPA is a 13 year high for the former Niners QB.
Alex is always comfortable in the pocket, but he also has a smooth ability to move around to buy some extra time. Which is priceless for any QB. Alex Smith isn’t a “running quarterback” – but he is canny enough to avoid the big sacks and can move around easily, to help his offensive line and receivers when the pocket is falling into him. Smith is also carrying along 4.7 YPC this year, as he has more than shown his quick feet skills.
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