NFL Week 12 Backup Quarterback Rankings For 2024

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We were right about the Giants and before that the Browns, so which of our famed backup QBs will be next to play? NFL Week 12 is where everything hits the fan.

Prepare for the intense sports debate that only sibling rivalry can conjure. Seesaw Sports, where Dan Salem and Todd Salem throw down on the NFL, MLB, NBA and more. Only on BuzzChomp. Two brothers from New York yell, scream and debate sports.

 

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. As we roll into NFL Week 12, several well known backups deserve extra attention, because the rockiest part of the season is happening now. 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 12, zero players were elevated off the list this week, but one is 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 12 Backup Quarterback Rankings

 

 

1. (–) Drew Lock – Tommy DeVito’s backup, New York Giants

Todd Salem: They didn’t play a game, but the Giants made serious progress toward their offseason goal this past week. They finally pulled the trigger and benched Daniel Jones. Not only that, but they demoted him to third string so he won’t see game action except in an emergency, hopefully avoiding his injury guarantee in his contract. 

With the move to third string, Drew Lock finally moves…nowhere. The Giants’ brass chose to leapfrog Lock in favor of fan-favorite Tommy DeVito. Will DeVito find similar magic to last year? Fans actually hope not, as it bounced them out of top draft pick positioning and could do so again this season. The Giants currently have a clear path to the number one pick in the draft, but DeVito could “ruin” that. DeVito himself, and the coaching staff, are instead trying to win games to save their jobs. And Lock continues to sit in wait.

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If DeVito doesn’t find his Cutlets magic, I could see New York immediately turning to Lock. He was deemed the better player in the preseason and every week leading up to now, with DeVito sitting at third on the depth chart. What changed? It’s hard to know. Either way, Lock is certainly stewing and waiting for any slipup from the new starter.

Dan Salem: I’d be surprised if Lock gets a shot to play this season. Daboll is coaching like a man with job safety, because it made sense to bench Jones a few weeks ago, but he didn’t. Now DeVito gets the call because he will excite the fans even if the Giants fail to win another game. I’m not sure Lock is better, but it’s irrelevant. He was brought in to be the backup and that is where he remains.

2. (⬆3) Michael Penix – Kirk Cousins’ backup, Atlanta Falcons

Todd Salem: Kirk Cousins got outplayed by Bo Nix, and it wasn’t even close. Nix may finally be turning a corner in his rocky rookie season, but for the Falcons, is this a sign of too much wear hitting Cousins? Penix saw the field again in mop-up duty, but if Cousins continues to struggle, it may be time to consider a more plentiful look at the young backup. 

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We knew it was going to be tough for Cousins to start the season. He was coming off a major injury and lots of missed time. He was just a tad shaky, but really hit the ground running. However, it isn’t absurd to consider that he might be getting worn down after 11 more weeks of pounding. I don’t expect the Falcons to enter any kind of timeshare. Instead, Cousins may simply need a game to recover before the year is out. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Penix grab a start for a too-banged-up Cousins at some point soon.

Dan Salem: Both Cousins and Rodgers have mixed results in their return from major injuries. No real surprises there, but the difference in Atlanta is Penix and a real shot at winning the division. Since Penix was supposed to sit for the year, I’m betting he stays on the bench. Cousins is their guy to elevate Atlanta into the playoffs, but only for this year.

3. (⬇1) Tyrod Taylor – Aaron Rodgers’ backup, New York Jets

Todd Salem: Nothing to see here.

Dan Salem: As noted above, Rodgers is not doing great in his return from injury. That said, he isn’t playing nearly as bad as people think. We are simply comparing him to the old Aaron Rodgers. New York has a bad offensive line and no defense, apparently. Rodgers played well enough to beat the Colts, but the team did not. With both the head coach and GM fired, I see no season for Taylor to play unless Rodgers wants to protect his body over the final meaningless month of games.

 

 

4. (–) Jake Browning – Joe Burrow’s backup, Cincinnati Bengals

Todd Salem: Nothing to see here.

Dan Salem: Burrow is having a great year, but his team sucks. There’s a chance he too wants to protect his body once his team is eliminated, but it’s less likely.

5. (⬇2) Joe Flacco – Anthony Richardson’s backup, Indianapolis Colts

Todd Salem: That may have been the last we see of Flacco for the season. The team benched Richardson in favor of the veteran, only to reverse course and see the young signal-caller find some juice and late success in a win against the Jets. He went 20-30 through the air for a whopping 9.1 yards per attempt and registered three total touchdowns (two on the ground and one in the air). Compared to Aaron Rodgers, it was stark to see the difference in down-field attacking, even if Richardson didn’t always hit his targets. 

And now, the Indy schedule is about to lighten up. As we mentioned last week, after getting through Detroit, the final five weeks of the season are as easy as any team could get. I don’t see Indianapolis making a swap back to Flacco for anything other than injury.

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Dan Salem: Let’s not heap praise on Richardson just yet. He had a great week one, then pooped the bed from there on out. The Jets defense seems to have quit on the season and may be the worst in the league right now, so his “triumphant return” is good timing. It would be foolish to bench him again, but since they’ve done it twice already this season, I’m betting on one more Flacco game before the year is said and done.

6. (–) Jimmy Garoppolo – Matthew Stafford’s backup, Los Angeles Rams

Todd Salem: Nothing to see here.

Dan Salem: Staying put… on the sidelines.

7. (–) Justin Fields – Russell Wilson’s backup, Pittsburgh Steelers

Todd Salem: Nothing to see here.

Dan Salem: Fields won’t be seeing the field again this year. Maybe not for a very long time.

8. (NEW) Mason Rudolph – Will Levis’ backup, Tennessee Titans

Todd Salem: We know Rudolph isn’t a long-term answer, which is why the team hasn’t given him a chance except as an injury replacement. But, after a while, this looks like a Giants situation where the starter is bad enough that any change could be a positive if just to get a different look.

Levis pushes the ball and takes chances. He also makes a lot of mistakes and takes a lot of sacks. Two really hard games are on the docket next for Tennessee. I wouldn’t rule out a change by Week 14 if things continue the way they are heading.

Dan Salem: You found a way to get excited for Mason Rudolph. Congratulations on accomplishing the near impossible!

9. (NEW) Tyson Bagent – Caleb Williams’ backup, Chicago Bears

Todd Salem: The team already fired its offensive coordinator. Other than head coach, there is no other string to pull besides benching its struggling rookie quarterback. We assumed Chicago would give Williams the entire length of the longest leash possible, but now, seeing him out there feels like it is actively hurting his development.

Williams couldn’t do much through the air again Sunday, though he did find success on the ground, a la former Bears quarterback Justin Fields. Fields fit that same mold long enough for the team to dump him for nothing in the offseason. Williams isn’t that, mainly because he hasn’t been playing long enough to even become a weapon with his legs.

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Enter Bagent, a player in contention for our midseason award for worst NFL backup. The dude has nothing going for him here other than opportunity. He steals the Jarret Stidham spot and may be moving up the rankings, as Chicago has an impossibly hard schedule the rest of the way. 

Dan Salem: Bagent should probably be number one or two on this list, because the Bears don’t know what they are doing. This gives him a real shot at taking over sooner than later.

10. (⬇1) Sam Howell – Geno Smith’s backup, Seattle Seahawks

Todd Salem: Nothing to see here.

Dan Salem: Mitch has fallen off the list once again. Will he stay irrelevant, or regain his last place standing?

Hath Risen (to starter, off the list): none

Risen Before His Time (to starter, never on list): Tommy DeVito

 

 

Meet our NFL Week 12 Writers:

Dan Salem is Lead Editor and Co-owner of BuzzChomp. He’s an award winning Actor, Director and Producer. Visit M Square Productions for his film work, or get lost in his old-school comedy on Pillow Talk TV. You can follow him on X, TikTok and Instagram. His latest film ‘Alone’ is now on Amazon.

Todd Salem is a Staff Writer and Contributing Editor at BuzzChomp. He’s also a champion of fantasy football and fantasy baseball, dominating leagues for over two decades. Comment below on his unfiltered opinions.

The NFL Week 12 Backup Quarterback Rankings – This Is The End

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