Week 6 QB Index: Texans QB Deshaun Watson takes a huge leap

By: Josh Shippen and Sid Kalyani

@NflHeads2020 is back with another QB Index, check out where your favorite quarterback landed on our rankings, only at nfldraftdiamonds.com!

1. Ryan Tannehill (+2)

Tannehill was a savior for Tennessee, who nearly blew a huge lead to a 1-4 Texans team that looked lost and directionless. Tannehill led the Titans to a 42-36 win over the Texans, while throwing for 4 touchdowns and no only one pick.

2. Deshaun Watson (+6)

Oh Watson it was so so close. Deshaun Watson looked a little more like himself on Sunday against Tennessee, nearly leading them to a surprising win over the undefeated Titans. Watson threw for 335 yards, 4 touchdowns, and no interceptions. This was the first really good Watson game of 2020, and I believe this is a sign of more things to come.

3. Matt Ryan (+17)

Good Lord why wasn’t Ryan playing like this when Dan Quinn was there? Oh yeah, because Dan Quinn was there. Here’s the big difference for me with Matt Ryan, usually the Falcons have been a very good offense in the first half, but now they also play football in the second half team, scoring 20 points in both the first half and the second quarter. If Ryan’s offense had been playing like this when Quinn was there, they would be in contention right now.

4. Tom Brady (+9)

In this very rare matchup between Brady and Rodgers, Brady won this fight by a landslide. The Bucs O-Line was keeping Brady clean and Brady was making smart, decisive throws. This Bucs offense has the potential to be the best, and they are showing that. If they keep playing like this, and Brady keeps throwing the ball like he did, it’s going to be a long day for the opposing defense.

5. Patrick Mahomes (-3)

Mahomes was on the money with almost every throw for the Chiefs on a day when the Bills could not get anything done at all. Mahomes dropped 30 points on the once dominant Bills defense, and two touchdowns and no picks in passing. Mahomes did what he needed to do, but he did not destroy this team which honestly worries me.

6. Ben Roethlisberger (+5)

Ben Roethlisberger was commanding the Steelers offense against the Browns. He didn’t have a spectacular game, but he did what was needed and the defense took care of the rest. This type of play from Big Ben is why the Steelers are 1 of 3 teams that are still undefeated, and they can stay undefeated if they keep playing like this.

7. Lamar Jackson (-2)

The Ravens have been mildly disappointing in 2020, and that includes the quarterback. It seems like they should repeat what happened in week 1 every week, but they have not been blowing opponents out, and nearly LOST against an Eagles team with one win and no excitement. This recession is shared by the performance of the 2019 MVP, who has had plenty of rough spots in 2020. Do not be surprised if they get hot again, but don’t count on a deep run unless they start shutting out their opponents.

8. Josh Allen (-2)

Allen has been rough the last two weeks, and throwing a late pick against the Chiefs did not help. Allen has receded but keep in mind it has been against the two best AFC teams. Maybe they are not quite ready yet, but Allen and the Bills are close.

9. Jared Goff (-2)

Goff looked very good against the 49ers, but the resurgence of Jimmy G had the defense looking dumb. Of course, Goff could have not thrown the pick and things may have been different, but the reality is that this Rams defense is going to have to make plays if they want to win games.

10. Aaron Rodgers

Before this game, Aaron Rodgers only had 15 games in his entire career where he threw two or more interceptions, and only one game where he threw no touchdowns, and two picks. Those games increased to 16 and 2 after Rodgers’ start against the Buccaneers who frankly looked amazing. All quarterbacks are bound to have a bad game in their season so I wouldn’t be too concerned about this, but Rodgers disappointed pretty heavily on Sunday, and really hurt his MVP chances.

11. Jimmy Garoppolo (+18)

After a couple weeks of worrying about whether the 49ers goose had been cooked, the 49ers turned up the heat against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football, and Garoppolo got hot right along with them, throwing for three touchdowns and 268 yards. 

12. Matthew Stafford

Stafford looked pretty good on Sunday against the Jaguars, and honestly that’s all you really need to beat the Jags these days. Stafford went for 225 yards, and a touchdown and a pick to help beat the Jaguars 34-16.

13. Philip Rivers (+10)

Rivers was able to rally the Colts out of a double digit deficit to beat the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, which to me was one of the more shocking developments of the entire day. Rivers threw for three touchdowns, and only threw one interception with the game on the line. How kind of him. Don’t expect this production every week, but this was one good week for a Colts team that needs to have good games to stay in the race.

14. Kyler Murray (-2)

Murray looked awful at the start of the day, but improved down the stretch to a degree against the Cowboys defense. Murray was missing layups though, passes that were right there were either miscommunicated, overthrown, or just plain inaccurate. Murray needs to start passing better and make that second step for this team to start getting good.

15. Nick Foles (+4)

Nick Foles has done something that the Bears fans have been waiting for from Trubisky, be good and win games. I believe that this game solidifies Nick Foles as the starter for the Bears for the rest of the season

16. Carson Wentz (+8)

Now this is the Carson Wentz that Eagles fans have been waiting for. This showing by him shows that it’s not entirely Wentz’s fault for the Eagles being 1-4-1. The rest of the team, both offense and defense, needs to show up as well in order to turn the season around.

17. Joe Burrow (-3)

Now if you didn’t know about the stats of Joe Burrow, and you just saw the Bengals record, you would think that Burrow was a bust, but then you would look at his stats and say, “Whoops, I forgot he plays for the Bengals”. Joe Burrow is a ROY candidate and his record would say so if he was a team that was competent.

18. Ryan Fitzpatrick (+3)

We say it every week, Fitzpatrick does Fitzpatrick things. This week, it was running over the Jets, not really a difficult task considering a high school team could probably beat them but hey a win is a win. Fitz threw three touchdowns and two picks against the Jets, to help lead the Dolphins to a 24-0 win over the Jets.

19. Teddy Bridgewater (-2)

Teddy Bridgewater had an off day against the Bears. He was excellent the past three weeks, going 3-0 without Christian McCaffery. Once the Panthers get McCaffery back, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

20. Baker Mayfield (-5)

Just as the Mayfield hype train was trying to leave the station, an irresponsible passenger decided to toss a match in the coal bin. Mayfield did not do anything to stop a Steelers team that totally outshined Cleveland in everything, starting at quarterback play. Mayfield has been very up and down this year so evaluation is difficult, but I don’t think every week is going to be this bad.

21. Daniel Jones (+4)

Danny Dimes looked more like Danny Pennies against the Washington Football Team, but he did not collapse, and helped the Giants get their first win and move to 1-5 in this depressingly awful NFC East. Daniel Jones keeps showing little spurts of potential, but it is all hidden behind this terrible Giants team.

22. Cam Newton

Cam Newton came back from having COVID-19, and had a terrible game. He had multiple opportunities to score a touchdown, but he didn’t execute properly, and his team had to deal with the consequences of his decisions.

23. Kyle Allen (+8)

Kyle Allen didn’t implode on the Washington Football Team, which was enough to tie the game and go to overt- oh wait my bad. It wasn’t enough to pull off the win against the Giants in what I’ll call the Milktoast Bowl of 2020. Allen threw 2 touchdowns and a pick against the Giants D, and while he isn’t a franchise quarterback he was a good add by Rivera in the offseason.

24. Gardner Minshew ll (-2)

Minshew has been a pretty massive disappointment each week, it seems like he is progressively getting worse and worse. Minshew and the Jags offense were only able to score 16 points against a Lions defense that has the appeal of stale bread. While it’s entirely possible Minshew can be a really good quarterback on an actual NFL roster, it seems much more likely that he is a Fitzpatrick type that can have very good games, but shouldn’t be seen as a franchise quarterback

25. Andy Dalton (-7)

While I don’t think Dalton was all that bad because the team crumbled around him, Dalton did not exactly help them rise out of the ashes. Dalton threw for 266 yards, no touchdowns, and two picks. Dalton needs to show that he can be a leader in an offense that desperately needs one.

26. Drew Lock

The Broncos may have won the game but they did not move the ball down the field well at all. The Broncos-Patriots game was a field goal spectacular with no touchdowns, passing or otherwise, scored the entire game by the. Lock is still coming back from injury so i’d be patient, but this was certainly rough for Lock.

27. Joe Flacco (+1)

Flacco is a sad broken old man trying to play quarterback for a professional team, and it really pains me to say that’s probably their best chance at this point. Tank and get Trevor Lawrence or another skilled quarterback that Gase isn’t going to screw up.

28. Kirk Cousins (-1)

Cousins needs to be gone by the beginning of next year. Throughout the first five weeks of the season, the Falcons intercepted two passes, both against the Bears. Kirk Cousins had three by the end of the first half. That should tell you just how much faith you should have in Kirk from now on.