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Mahomes, Jackson top the list in Week 1

Caradoc Wyn September 5, 2024

The 2024 NFL season has begun. Tonight, the Baltimore Ravens and defending champion Kansas City Chiefs face off in a rematch of the 2024 AFC Championship game to open the regular season.

This game features the two best quarterbacks in the league: reigning MVP Lamar Jackson and reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes. They lead a stacked conference at the position, and many of the league’s best quarterbacks will be battling for AFC supremacy in 2024.

USA TODAY Sports’ 2024 NFL predictions: Who will make the playoffs, win Super Bowl 59, be named MVP and more?

Here you can see the ranking of all 32 starters in the league at the beginning of the first week.

NFL QB Rankings: Week 1

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Mahomes starts the year with a new talent at wide receiver, but will have to face a strong defense in the season opener in Baltimore.

Jackson faces a talented defense in Kansas City, but will have tight end Mark Andrews to rely on as he begins his second year under coordinator Todd Monken.

Allen also has a revamped wide receiver room this year, but Arizona will have to deal with a leaky defense from last season to start the season.

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4. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

5. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

6. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Herbert is the third offensive coordinator in the last three years, joining Greg Roman, who oversaw Jackson’s first MVP award in 2019. He has the talent, but his receiver staff has yet to prove itself entering Week 1.

Burrow is back and healthy behind an improved offensive line. He begins the year against New England but may be without star wideout Ja’Marr Chase.

Los Angeles has strengthened the offensive line inside and Stafford has a solid receiver team in Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. They will test Detroit’s secondary with several new starters.

7. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

8. CJ Stroud, Houston Texans

9. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

CeeDee Lamb is in Dallas long-term, which is great for Prescott. Additionally, this may be the weakest skill position group he’s had during his tenure with the Cowboys.

Stroud has the best wide receiver group in the league and faces an Indianapolis defense that has some question marks in the secondary.

Love ended 2023 on a winning note and will now look to continue that success after earning a big contract, starting 2024 against a Philadelphia defense entering its first year under Vic Fangio.

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10. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets

11. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

12. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Healthy in his 20th year and with a strong support staff around him, Rodgers will make his first meaningful appearance on the road against San Francisco under a new defensive coordinator.

With Brandon Aiyuk signed long-term and Trent Williams available, Purdy’s supporting cast is secure. Unfortunately, he will have to start on defense against a strong Jets defense.

Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. should make Murray’s life a lot easier as he faces a Buffalo defense without linebacker Matt Milano and with questions in the secondary in Week 1.

13. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

14. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

15. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Goff begins the season at home against a Los Angeles Rams team that lost a Hall of Fame player and defensive coordinator. Crucially, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson stayed with the Lions for at least another year.

Hurts has a new coordinator in Kellen Moore and one of the best talent pools on offense. Green Bay’s defense may need some time to settle in under new coordinator Jeff Hafley, giving him a chance in Week 1.

Lawrence is entering his third year under Doug Pedersen and offensive coordinator Press Taylor. Christian Kirk is healthy and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. should also improve the passing game.

16. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks

17. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

18. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

Smith sees a new coordinator this season in Ryan Grubb, who coordinated one of the best offenses in college football at Washington in 2023. Smith should benefit from the second year of 2023 first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Tagovailoa signed a contract extension in the offseason and starts the year with the fastest wide receiver duo in the league, facing a Jacksonville defense with many question marks.

Cousins took the second big step of his career this offseason while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. He begins the season against a strong Pittsburgh defense.

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19. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

20. Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints

21. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Mayfield has a new offensive coordinator, but starts the season again against Washington’s defense with top wideouts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

Carr also gets a new offensive coordinator in Klint Kubiak and starts the season relaxed against Carolina. Chris Olave is entering his third year and could benefit Carr.

Williams has not yet proven himself at the NFL level, but comes into the league as one of the most promising rookies in years.

22. Jacoby Brissett, New England Patriots

23. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

24. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns

Brissett will make his first start since 2022 this week. However, New England lacks talent in the pass-catching corps, and that could make the 2024 start difficult.

Richardson enters his second year with a familiar group of talent. He will begin the year against an improved Houston defense with playoff aspirations.

Watson begins arguably the most important year of his career in Week 1 against Dallas. He has yet to regain his Pro Bowl form from Houston in his third year in Cleveland.

25. Daniel Jones, New York Giants

26. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings

27. Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers

Jones gets a big boost from sixth-round pick Malik Nabers at wide receiver, but there isn’t much talent around him. He could struggle again in the second year of his contract extension.

Due to JJ McCarthy’s injury, Darnold is a full-time starter for the first time since 2022. He will have a talented pass-catching corps to fall back on, even if TJ Hockenson is injured early in the season.

Wilson is on his third team in four years and hasn’t played well in Denver. He led the league in sacks in 2022 and will have to play much faster starting this week against Atlanta.

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28. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

29. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

30. Will Levis, Tennessee Titans

Young could see a resurgence in year two with new head coach Dave Canales and plenty of new talent on the wide receiver and offensive line.

Daniels lost his No. 2 wide receiver, Jahan Dotson, to a trade with Philadelphia, but Tampa Bay’s defense could make it easier for him to start his rookie season.

Levis gets a new playmaker in Brian Callahan, a reinforcement at left tackle in JC Latham and new wide receivers in Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd. It’s up to him to make improvements in the game against the Bears.

31. Gardner Minshew II, Las Vegas Raiders

32. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

Minshew is a Week 1 starter for the first time since 2020. He was solid for Indianapolis last season, but he faces a tougher task this season with a less proven offensive infrastructure aside from Davante Adams.

Of the three rookies in the starting lineup, Nix has the most college experience, but under new head coach Mike Macdonald, he could be tested early against Seattle.