NFL Week 8 Backup Quarterback Rankings For 2024

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Major upheaval at the QB position! Because only a crazy person would rank the backup quarterbacks, we did it. The top ten backups for NFL Week 8 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. Lots of upheaval in NFL Week 8, because we nailed the QB changes around the league and now they’ve happened. However, many backups continue to build upon their proven track record of successfully standing there quietly holding a clipboard.

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Entering NFL Week 8, four players were elevated off the list this week, 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 8 Backup Quarterback Rankings

 

 

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

Todd Salem: We were waiting all season for Jones to be benched. Despite that, I am surprised it actually happened. I was moving away from the likelihood of the team benching him. In a week, though, where a quarter of the league saw changes at quarterback, the Giants finally gave in. For now, this was just a reset, and Jones will be back in the starters gig. Brian Daboll is probably trying to shake things up, put Jones on notice, and let everyone know the status quo will not be acceptable. We are certainly taking notice.

Dan Salem: What happened to Tommy DeVito? Lock doesn’t care and Lock is going to join the ranks of starters by Thanksgiving at the latest. Halloween is also in play, because his team must face the Steelers in primetime this week. Did you know that Pittsburgh has a tremendous defense? Lock may find out first hand.

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

Todd Salem: The narrative is starting to turn on Rodgers. He hasn’t been good, and it is reminding people that he wasn’t very good in his final season in Green Bay either. Davante Adams has come in and made this wide receiver room one of the best in the NFL. The immediate results are underwhelming. I still don’t think the Jets ever end up benching him for poor performance though.

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Dan Salem: It’s never over until it’s over, but at some point it may actually be over for Rodgers and his Jets. This fictitious point may be upon us in early December, or sooner, meaning Taylor will get to play. As a fan I hope this never happens, but reality is far more disappointing.

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

Todd Salem: No one thinks Browning would be better than Burrow. Everyone is starting to think, though, that this Cincinnati season isn’t reaching the heights a Burrow-led team should.

Dan Salem: Protecting your franchise QB’s health is paramount, so Browning is eyeing the same point in the season as Taylor. The Bengals will be too far out to ever come back in about a month. Burrows should be rested and in comes Browning!

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

Todd Salem: The young gun is back, and it was really ugly. Once again, the Indy front office is forced to reckon with the fact that Flacco may give this team a better chance to win in 2024, but Richardson needs time to grow as a quarterback.

Dan Salem: Do the Colts believe they can make the playoffs? If so, Flacco needs to play immediately. He was great compared to Richardson, but he’s also just slightly above average. That is how bad Richardson has been. Throwing a season away for your young QB to learn on the field is about as hard of a decision as any for a head coach to make.

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

Todd Salem: Michael Penix is now 1-for-1 passing in the NFL. He saw game action in mop-up duty of a blowout. I don’t think Atlanta getting blown out increases his odds of starting soon. This was nothing more than getting the main guy out of there during a lost cause. Similar scenario, but completely different meaning to what the Giants did with Daniel Jones.

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Dan Salem: No pressure for Penix, which was the plan all along. He has a perfect rookie season going! Did you know Penix completed 100% of his passes during his rookie season? Talk about a loaded stat.

 

 

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

Todd Salem: Jimmy G is in the same situation as Browning. No one thinks he’d be performing better than Stafford at any point. However, the Rams are finding it a complete struggle to generate passing offense. At least with LA we can point squarely to injuries as being the cause.

Dan Salem: The Rams are not good and not going to go anywhere this year, much like every team above them on this ranking. I expect Garoppolo to get some playing time by the end of November. Why risk Stafford’s health for a lost cause?

7. (NEW) Jacoby Brissett – Drake Maye’s backup, New England Patriots

Todd Salem: The Patriots are never turning back to Brissett in a meaningful way unless Maye gets hurt. Now, we can simply rank Brissett in the Backup QB Rankings as a really solid and experienced clipboard holder. He’s practiced, pristine, and a straight pro at it.

Dan Salem: Brissett has earned his spot on the list, but he won’t climb higher than five. Unless Maye completely loses his confidence, the Patriots will let him learn by experience.

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

Todd Salem: Fields may have squandered his opportunity. I’m not sure he gets another start this season. It may be premature to say so, but a couple factors play into that. First, Wilson was great in his season debut. That obviously goes a long way to dispelling any notion of switching back for the time being. Second, the team said Wilson was their guy prior to the season beginning, and he only waited because of injury. We thought this was window dressing, but it might have been the truth. Third, once Wilson was fully healthy enough to play, he was put in immediately, despite Fields leading the team to a 4-2 record. And fourth, Fields wasn’t a good passer in his time behind center. He adds another dimension with his legs, but he isn’t a fully fledged quarterback.

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Dan Salem: Gosh I despise the Steelers, especially because Wilson actually looked better than Fields. Go figure! Fields needs to buy thick winter undergarments, because he’s going to be standing around a lot as the season progresses.

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

Todd Salem: Can’t get much better for Stidham’s chances of remaining on the Backup QB Rankings than a Denver blowout victory. Not that Nix did much to precipitate the huge win, other than matriculate the ball down the field.

Dan Salem: The Broncos are winning in the face of poor quarterback play. How long will this last? Imagine if they had a good quarterback like Russell Wilson, how great would they be? Oh, right.

10. (NEW) Mitch Trubisky – Josh Allen’s backup, Buffalo Bills

Todd Salem: It took five quarterback changes, including four from last week’s rankings, for Mitchell Trubisky to slither his way back to the 10 spot. This guy just flat-out backs up. Back up if you don’t think Mitch rules at backing up.

Dan Salem: Welcome back Mitch. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out next week.

Hath Risen (to starter, off the list): Mason Rudolph, Russell Wilson, Gardner Minshew, Jameis Winston

Risen Before His Time (to starter, never on list): Marcus Mariota

 

 

Meet our NFL Week 8 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 8 Backup Quarterback Rankings – This Is The End

NFL Week 8 Photo Credits: theconversation.com; usatoday.com and nj.com via Getty Images

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