NFL Week 18 Backup Quarterback Rankings For 2024-25

Share

Share

Share

Share

Email

Comments

Its the last week of the NFL season, so who will finish the year as the best of the backups? NFL Week 18 adds some flare to an otherwise forgettable affair.

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. The season is ending and NFL Week 18 means several backup QBs will end the year still holding those clipboards, having never seen the field. Usually players on this list can only hope their name is called, but no one wants to see it happen. Meanwhile, all of our backups solidified their proven track record of successfully standing there quietly holding a clipboard.

More BuzzChomp: From NFL Week 18 Back to Week 1 – How It All Began

Entering NFL Week 18, one player was elevated off the list and 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 18 Backup Quarterback Rankings

 

 

1. (–) Kirk Cousins – Michael Penix’s backup, Atlanta Falcons

Todd Salem: In a game Atlanta needed to have, Penix showed flashes of that first-round talent. He happened to go up against someone with more first-round talent and the presumptive Rookie of the Year. Jayden Daniels and Washington took down the Falcons, leaving them a game behind Tampa Bay for the NFC South title. It remains the only spot still open in the NFC playoff picture. 

More BuzzChomp: You Can’t Live Without These Tech Gadgets From Anker

Penix was shoved into the starting lineup at a hell of a time considering the playoff implications. Cousins was playing too poorly to keep trotting him out there, but it feels like Penix would have been better served to either start earlier or not start at all. Any misstep in these final two games, with a postseason berth on the line, is just ripe for second-guessing. “Would Kirk have made that mistake?” It’s simply a tough spot to put a rookie in when the guy hadn’t gotten any reps.  

Dan Salem: I still believe Penix would have benefited most from a season on the bench, watching a top level veteran lead the Falcons. Cousins is no longer viable, so here we are. While it would be nice to see Atlanta make the playoffs, they’ve been a step behind Tampa Bay all year. We would have never given the Falcons playoff aspirations with Penix starting all season, so I’m not going to right now. Cousins is done and the rest will be history.

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

Todd Salem: Week 17 marked the nadir of an all-encompassing bad season for New York. Rodgers was taken out of the blowout, allowing Taylor to see a little action. The latter went 11-of-14 for two touchdowns in mop-up duty. 

Don’t pull the Taylor bandwagon out of the garage quite yet, though. Rodgers was taken out because the game was a blowout, not because of his play specifically (though one certainly stems from the other). Rodgers is probably going to start Week 18, probably. With both guys being old vets with nothing to prove, there is no upside play in either direction.

Dan Salem: In hindsight, I would have loved to see a full year with Tyrod Taylor at quarterback. He’s a soft spoken leader who plays above average and galvanized teams throughout his career. But Rodgers is a hall of fame player and there was no decision to make. There is no decision to make in NFL Week 18 either.

3. (⬆1) Andy Dalton – Bryce Young’s backup, Carolina Panthers

Todd Salem: Carolina’s hand was forced when Dalton got hurt a couple months back. They had no choice but to put Young back in the lineup. It worked out swimmingly. If Dalton doesn’t get hurt, he may have started every remaining game of the season, and the Panthers would have learned nothing about Young.

Also on BuzzChomp: It’s What’s Inside Movie Review – Body Swap Fail

Dan Salem: I’m happy we’ve gotten to see Bryce Young improve and play well, but I expect Dalton to get his shot with another team next year. He proved he can still play, at least as a great backup.

 

 

4. (⬆1) Justin Fields – Russell Wilson’s backup, Pittsburgh Steelers

Todd Salem: An incredibly underwhelming performance by Wilson capped off more of the same for him these past weeks. Everything was underneath, nothing down the field; he took a whopping five more sacks; no touchdowns and one pick. Again we must ask ourselves if Fields could have done better against the Kansas City defense. Pittsburgh isn’t about learning what a young guy can do; they only want to put the best guy out there and win ball games. Nothing more. Wilson still feels like the right choice in that regard, but it has become what we all thought entering the year: two guys off the scrap heap who won’t help an offense much.

Dan Salem: Now THIS is the Wilson I expected, but that doesn’t make Fields better. Cold weather lowers the bar for everyone, so the Steelers are still playing it right.

5. (⬆1) Jameis Winston – Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s backup, Cleveland Browns

Todd Salem: Against a backup QB on the other side, one risen before his time due to injury, Thompson-Robinson and the Cleveland offense looked as bad as anybody, during an NFL weekend where a number of squads looked like they had already packed things in for the offseason.

Also on BuzzChomp: Best Bets for Super Bowl 59

DTR is not a starting-caliber quarterback, and may not even be a second-string-level player. Heck, he wasn’t this season either. But I get it. Winston is in the old vet category where Cleveland is not learning anything new, and he shouldn’t be in their long-term plan. DTR is at least young and inexperienced, which plays to his benefit in this scenario.

Dan Salem: Winston has earned another job, but he was too good to keep playing. Cleveland has no reason to win anymore games.

6. (⬆1) Jake Browning – Joe Burrow’s backup, Cincinnati Bengals

Todd Salem: Nothing to see here.

Dan Salem: He will end the season where he began, on the bench with a clipboard in hand.

7. (⬆1) Will Levis – Mason Rudolph’s backup, Tennessee Titans

Todd Salem: Nothing to see here.

Dan Salem: I’m curious if anyone will give him a chance to start next season.

8. (⬆1) Daniel Jones – (not technically) Sam Darnold’s backup, Minnesota Vikings

Todd Salem: Nothing to see here.

Dan Salem: I’m curious if anyone will give him a chance to be the backup next season.

9. (⬆1) Jimmy Garoppolo – Matthew Stafford’s backup, Los Angeles Rams

Todd Salem: Nothing to see here.

Dan Salem: I’m curious how much longer he can kick around the league.

10. (NEW) Trey Lance – Cooper Rush’s backup, Dallas Cowboys

Todd Salem: Lance came into the game in Week 17 to mop up a blowout loss. This, in and of itself, does not indicate any type of quarterback change moving into the season’s final week. However, considering we are at the end of the year, Dallas may be looking to gain some more information.

Rush is a career backup, and will remain so. He is simply filling in for the injured Dak Prescott. Lance is likely less than that, probably not even sticking as a backup the remainder of his career, however long it ends up being. And yet, the Cowboys have so little game tape on him, they might want to give him some run against Washington in Week 18. 

Also on BuzzChomp: Apartment 7A Movie Review – Missed Opportunity  

Of course, the obvious counter is if they felt this way, he would have been playing earlier than this. Hell, they would have put him into the Eagles game earlier than the final drive.

Dan Salem: Lance may be good enough to be the backup somewhere next season, but I doubt it.

Hath Risen (to starter, off the list): Joe Flacco (again)

Risen Before His Time (to starter, never on list): Tyler Huntley (again)

 

 

Meet our NFL Week 18 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 18 Backup Quarterback Rankings – This Is The End

NFL Week 18 Photo Credits: espn.com; profootballnetwork.com via Getty Images

BuzzChomp is an affiliate for products and services recommended herein. Please read our Full Disclaimer for further information on affiliate programs and opportunities.