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NFL Week 11 Backup Quarterback Rankings For 2024

Dan Salem

Posted on

November 13, 2024

Every QB’s positioning remains secure, but there’s real turmoil on the field in NFL Week 11. Who will be the next man up? The top 10 backups for NFL Week 11 of 2024.

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Anyone can list the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL. Heck, one could throw together a top 32 pretty easily based on all the evidence we have of these pros and rookies coming in, how they fit in their offense, and what success they may or may not find.

However, it takes a different mind entirely to rank QBs 33 through 42. That’s what we attempt to do at the Backup QB Rankings. We deep dive the top three players in NFL Week 11, because jockeying for position has come to an end. While a select few await their name being called, many more backups continue to build upon their proven track record of successfully standing there quietly holding a clipboard.

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Entering NFL Week 11, zero players were elevated off the list this week, but three are now the starter without EVER making our list! So, what makes the best backup QB? It certainly isn’t NFL success.

Perhaps its the best pure passer who happens to not hold a starting gig. Or maybe its the best situation, someone primed for starts in the future. However, it’s a fine line, because as soon as that backup becomes a starter, he drops off the Backup QB Rankings until he’s back on the sidelines with that clipboard. Guys have to be careful if they want to hold their standing.

NFL Week 11 Backup Quarterback Rankings

1. (–) Drew Lock – Daniel Jones’ backup, New York Giants

Todd Salem: Playing in Germany in Week 10, against the supposed worst team in football, Daniel Jones threw 37 passes for fewer than 200 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. He wasn’t exactly outplayed by Bryce Young, the first overall bust who was forced back into the lineup due to injury. But he wasn’t not outplayed.

At this point, it seems strategically saavy for the New York Giants to stick with Jones at quarterback. His shortcomings are now a net positive. This team has a legitimate shot at the league’s worst record and “earning” the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. They already have the worst record in the NFC, a game clear of the aforementioned Panthers. The Giants have a loss banked against some bye teams and only have Jacksonville currently matching their 2-8 record.

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Would Drew Lock or Tommy DeVito ruin the run for the top pick by winning games? Perhaps; it happened last year! DeVito caught lightning in a bottle and pushed the Giants out of a top three pick. In fact, they started an identical 2-8, and then went 4-3 down the stretch with DeVito and Tyrod Taylor being back-and-forth injury replacements.

I’d still be interested in mixing up the dynamic this season by seeing what Lock or DeVito brought to the table in real game action, but I can understand an argument to the contrary.

Dan Salem: We must assume that Dabol has somehow been guaranteed job safety, because his actions certainly indicate as much. Normally when an owner publicly backs their coach mid-season, it’s a sign that they are about to fire said coach. But if Dabol was worried about losing his job at the end of the year, one would think he would do anything and everything to try and win more games. He is not.

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Jones no longer gives the Giants the best chance to win, but he certainly gives them the best chance to earn the number one pick in next year’s draft. Drew Lock will remain on the bench until the time where Jones’ injury clause kicks in. They don’t want him to get hurt and receive guaranteed money for being hurt, so the Giants will bench Jones before then. That’s about another week or two I’d say.

2. (–) Tyrod Taylor – Aaron Rodgers’ backup, New York Jets

Todd Salem: In a battle of the New York teams, the Jets would win a silver medal by default. (The Buffalo Bills would obviously be first.) The Jets are only overshadowed in ineptitude by the Giants. Unfortunately for them, an all-in season doesn’t really leave many levers to pull when trying to mix up the dynamic. New York already fired its head coach, and in this discussion of quarterback depth charts, they have no youngish quarterback to turn to for upside. Only Rodgers and Taylor are on the roster.

Rodgers seems cooked. He averaged 4.3 yards per attempt on Sunday, against one of the least talented defenses in the sport. Does that mean it’s worth turning to Taylor? I’m not sure there’s anything to gain.

Dan Salem: People love to rail on Aaron Rodgers and sure, he’s not the transcendent player he once was. But Rodgers is also not awful, he’s simply old and not particularly mobile, playing behind a fairly poor offensive line for a team that can’t consistently do much of anything. Tyrod Taylor would not suddenly make the Jets better. I’m not sure any quarterback would make them significantly better right now.

3. (–) Joe Flacco – Anthony Richardson’s backup, Indianapolis Colts

Todd Salem: The Colts took the opposite approach to the two New York clubs before it was too late. They bailed on their starter, hoping for an injection of competency from the veteran backup before a playoff spot became out of reach. It is dicey whether that was the right move. Indy has lost two straight after the change back to Flacco, though the schedule hasn’t helped. Now they’ve changed course AGAIN, benching Flacco in favor of Richardson.

The Colts were entering their toughest stretch of the season, which also may have played into the initial decision. Things let up starting in Week 13. The final five games of the season are all against teams that are mediocre or far worse. Who knows if Flacco could have done enough by then to warrant stunting Richardson’s development. We won’t find out. It was a fascinating decision by the coaching staff, one which they apparently have second guessed.

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Dan Salem: Flacco did exactly what I expected of him. He fell to earth against better competition. Apparently the Colts also saw the writing on the wall. Facing the Jets presents an opportunity, but I doubt the Colts seize it.

Richardson certainly needs to grow and learn, but I’m dubious of the fact that he’s better off being on the field to do this. Growing and learning from the safety of the sidelines also has its merits. After another beat down or two, I expect yet another QB change and for him to stay put off the field for quite some time, because this is not a playoff team.