NFL power rankings: 5 QBs primed for big Week 1
Which quarterbacks are going to put up huge numbers in Week 1? We break it down in the latest edition of NFL power rankings.
5. Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers
Garoppolo infighting off Trey Lance for the starting job in San Francisco, and he gets a gift from the football gods with the Detroit Lions in Week 1. Detroit is rebuilding under first-year head coach Dan Campbell, and it has no chance to cover receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, and All-Pro tight end George Kittle.
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4. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brady starts slow some years, but the Dallas Cowboys’ defense is going to be good medicine for those issues. The Buccaneers are loaded at the skill positions with tight end Rob Gronkowski, running backs Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette, and receivers Antonio Brown, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. While the Cowboys added young talent to the group led by linebacker Micah Parsons, it’s not ready to take on the defending champions.
3. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
The Cleveland Browns did a really nice job of upgrading their secondaries. General manager Andrew Berry signed safety John Johnson III and corner Troy Hill, before drafting corner Greg Newsome. However, the front seven remains iffy save for star edge rusher Myles Garrett, which could be the undoing of the Browns in Week 1 at Arrowhead Stadium. Nobody has an answer for Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and receiver Tyreek Hill unless they get ample pressure.
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2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Jackson rarely puts up huge passing numbers, but he’s going to light up the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night. Baltimore lost running back J.K. Dobbins and will be without rookie first-round receiver Reshod Bateman, but Jackson can run the read-option and when he decided to drop back, beat the Raiders with tight end Mark Andrews. Jackson also has a couple of deep threats to win with in Hollywood Brown and Sammy Watkins, against a Raiders defense with no answers.
1. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
Didn’t expect to see Cousins here, right? Well, it’s about matchups, and the Vikings are going against one of the league’s worst units from a year ago in the Cincinnati Bengals. Minnesota has issues up front but Cincinnati doesn’t have the pass-rushers to take advantage, having essentially replaced Carl Lawson with Trey Frederickson. Look for Vikings receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen to put up major numbers on the road.
