NFL Week 7 Backup Quarterback Rankings For 2024

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Only a crazy person would rank the backup quarterbacks, so we did it! The top ten backups for NFL Week 7 of 2024. Once you see the field, you’re out.

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. Not much has shifted in NFL Week 7, but we are seeing the future. Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Las Vegas are about to make a change. However, many backups continue to build upon their proven track record of successfully standing there quietly holding a clipboard.

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As of Wednesday, zero players were elevated off the list this week, and zero 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 7 Backup Quarterback Rankings

 

 

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

Todd Salem: It took six weeks, but Mike Tomlin has finally addressed Wilson’s standing on the team. Wilson was active on Sunday, officially making him Justin Fields’ backup. We knew this was essentially the case all year, but now it is aligned on the depth chart as well. But wait, there’s more! This means Wilson is healthy enough to start but was relegated to backup duty in week 6. As for the game itself, Fields didn’t do much of anything throwing the ball. Pittsburgh won on the ground. Fields was a large part of that, yet now there are rumors that Wilson will get the start in NFL Week 7. He is now officially number one on our quarterback ranking, close to starting sooner than ever before.

Dan Salem: Will he or won’t he… make a difference? The Steelers can’t decide if he is the starter or an unofficial coach, because they don’t want to call him the backup. It’s probably not the ideal matchup for Wilson to get the start, facing the Jets defense, but it’s also unclear if he will get the start. So he’s number one on our list! Most likely to be promoted, most prestigious backup, and most likely to return to this list shortly after leaving it.

2. (⬇1) Jameis Winston – Deshaun Watson’s backup, Cleveland Browns

Todd Salem: The Browns are not making a change at quarterback. The Browns are not making a change at quarterback. The Browns are not making a change at quarterback.

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Dan Salem: Who exactly is making the personnel decisions in Cleveland? Watson has been forgettable, but more importantly, he hasn’t done anything to help his team win. If I was the coach and actually could make a QB change, I would slot in Winston in order to find any kind of spark to help my team. He’s not better, but he’s different.

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

Todd Salem: Rodgers was in the news for a conspiracy theory about getting his coach fired to protect his friend the play-caller, who then lost play-calling duties anyway. The scene would certainly be more serene if Taylor was starting, and the results may not be any worse.

Dan Salem: Rodgers keeps getting dinged up, but nothing serious. Taylor waits patiently for nothing to happen.

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

Todd Salem: At one point in Sunday’s game, Burrow had to be examined in the medical tent after a big hit. He did not end up missing a snap, but Browning was poised to enter. The Giants do lead the NFL in sacks, so Burrow isn’t at fault for taking a bunch of hits again, but his health seems to teeter on a razor’s edge.

Dan Salem: Burrow keeps getting dinged up, but nothing major. Browning waits patiently for nothing to happen.

5. (⬆1) Gardner Minshew – Aidan O’Connell’s backup, Las Vegas Raiders

Todd Salem: O’Connell had no chance of success on Sunday. He obliged by not succeeding. Minshew is going to be waiting in the wings each and every week until a change back is made.

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Dan Salem: The Raiders are kind of bad, so Minshew is poised to play again soon because he is technically better. Now let us suppose that Las Vegas knows it’s bad and has decided to go for the top pick in the draft, because they are clearing house and clearing their payroll (Davante Adams is now gone). Maybe Minshew stays on the bench so they are worse off. Maybe.

 

 

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

Todd Salem: A bye should be good for Stafford, allowing him to rest up. It would be fun to see Garoppolo in there if the Rams had their full complement of offensive weapons, but it would be even more fun to see Stafford in that position.

Dan Salem: Stafford always gets dinged up, but nothing serious to speak of right now. Garoppolo waits patiently for nothing to happen.

7. (⬇3) Michael Penix – Kirk Cousins’ backup, Atlanta Falcons

Todd Salem: The healthier Cousins gets, the farther away Penix becomes from seeing the field. This was always the plan, but it still hinged on Cousins getting healthy.

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Dan Salem: Everything is going to plan in Atlanta, meaning Penix sits and learns from their talented starter. Well played?

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

Todd Salem: I’m starting to get worried about Levis. He is supposedly a big-game hunter who takes too many risks, and that is his downfall. He is the fifth-most aggressive quarterback in the NFL to this point. On the other side of the coin, he ranks 31st in the NFL in yards per attempt and expected points added. He just isn’t making enough plays, period. So, what use is that aggressiveness serving? Rudolph is not a good QB, but of the backups who are not very good, he enters at the top of the fray thanks to a shaky lead ahead of him.

Dan Salem: The Titans are a bad team, much like we thought. Levis is their future, so they say. He’s also playing with a style that likely finds him hurt. It’s Rudolph’s time to shine!

9. (⬇1) Jarrett Stidham, Bo Nix’s backup, Denver Broncos

Todd Salem: For a point of comparison, Nix ranks 32nd in yards per attempt and 29th in EPA/play. We can surmise this just based on the eye test, but the numbers bear it out. Nix hasn’t been good. But it feels like he has a much longer leash than the production would indicate. At this point, Sean Payton is riding or dying with Nix.

Dan Salem: Nix can’t really play much worse, yet he isn’t going to lose the job unless he gets hurt.

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

Todd Salem: Jones, the last of our ‘Don’t they have a better option? Oh, they don’t‘ quarterbacks, ranks 28th and 23rd, respectively, in Y/A and EPA/play. He adds another dimension with his legs and big frame. It would help if all his best skill players weren’t hurt, but we’ve played this game before with Jones. Lock simply isn’t good enough to push the team off Jones.

Dan Salem: There will come a time when the Giants may want to trade Jones and he will gain value by not playing. They may also want to let DeVito audition again for a larger role on the team. None of this means Lock gets to play.

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

Risen Before His Time (to starter, never on list): None

 

 

Meet our NFL Week 7 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 7 Backup Quarterback Rankings – This Is The End

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