NFL Week 9 Odds: Top Quarterbacks Matchups, Picks & Betting Analysis in 2024 Season

We are approaching the halfway point of the season, what do the NFL betting odds have in store for us? The high-octane Tampa Bay offense took on a lot of water in the Buccaneers’ Monday night loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Yes, the Bucs managed 31 points, but a lot of those points came in garbage time.

Baker Mayfield had two crucial interceptions in three pass attempts late in the second quarter, one in the end zone, and the Ravens took advantage of the momentum shift.

Top two receiving leaders in Buccaneers history, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, are out due to injuries. Evans has a hamstring injury and Godwin dislocated his ankle, causing them to miss extended time.

NFL Betting Quarterback Matchups in Week 8 | NFL Odds

As we head into Week 8, let’s look at some of the top quarterback matchups as you plan your NFL sports betting.

Philadelphia Eagles (+2.5) at Cincinnati Bengals

When: Sunday, October 27, 1:00 pm ET, CBS
NFL Betting Totals: O/U 47.5

Jalen Hurts

Hurts has an elite tailback in Saquon Barkley this year, and that has allowed him to deploy his top-shelf talents without having the pressure to produce all the time. Against the Giants last week, he went 10 of 14 for 144 yards and a score, also running for a pair of touchdowns. Barkley ran for 176 yards, and Hurts got to take the fourth quarter off as Kenny Pickett came on in relief during the rout. The Bengals will represent a stiffer challenge, but this is a much more relaxed and confident Jalen Hurts in 2024.

Joe Burrow

Burrow has historically struggled against the Cleveland Browns, and his numbers weren’t that great in Week 7. He went just 15 of 25 for 181 yards, but he threw two touchdowns, one apiece to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

He only had one passing play go for over 20 yards, a sign of the pedestrian progress of the Bengals’ offense on Sunday. It’s been an up-and-down season for Burrow, and given the way the Eagles have played defense, it could be another slog for him.

Atlanta Falcons (-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When: Sunday, October 27, 1:00 pm ET, FOX
NFL Betting Totals: O/U 47.5

Kirk Cousins

Which Cousins will the Atlanta Falcons see this week? So far, the Falcons have gotten more of the elite quarterback Kirk Cousins instead of the head-scratching Kirk Cousins. He threw for 232 yards on Sunday but also coughed up a fumble and had a pair of interceptions. Sometimes he’s this decade’s Phillip Rivers, and at other times he is right up there with the likes of Tony Romo in terms of making game-changing throws.

Baker Mayfield

Mayfield had three interceptions two weeks ago against New Orleans and two more against Baltimore, as his MVP-level start is starting to creak a bit. He also threw for 325 yards and four touchdowns against the Saints, and his production and confidence didn’t sag much against Baltimore.

However, once the Buccaneers’ defense let up against Baltimore’s run-heavy attack, things got out of hand for a while. Without Evans or Godwin in the offense, I don’t expect Mayfield’s effort or swagger to diminish, but you can only target Cade Otton so often – someone else will have to step up.

Buffalo Bills (-3) at Seattle Seahawks

When: Sunday, October 27, 4:05 pm ET, FOX
NFL Betting Totals: O/U 47.5

Geno Smith

Seattle’s Smith leads the NFL with 1,778 passing yards. However, his TD:INT ratio is an unimpressive 6:6 after he threw a pair of picks in Seattle’s 36-24 home loss to San Francisco in Week 7. He’s had some streaks when ball security has been a problem; in 2023, he had six interceptions between Weeks 6 and 9, but before and after that stretch he was pretty sharp. He falls about in the middle of the metrics when it comes to quarterback numbers in the NFL, so while he’s not a reincarnation of Russell Wilson, he has the Seahawks’ offense working more often than not.

Josh Allen

Buffalo’s Allen is the only quarterback in the NFL without an interception, and there are some who see him as a legit MVP candidate. Questions about his ball security in previous seasons have so far been answered.

Interestingly, he hadn’t hit 300 yards in a passing game until this past weekend, when wide receiver Amari Cooper joined the Bills via trade from the struggling Cleveland Browns. With his rushing ability, cannon arm, and willingness to take measured risks, Allen is one of the great signal-callers in this league. We’re just waiting for him to continue that greatness on an extended postseason run.

How’s your NFL Betting this Week? We learned important things about two of the NFL’s newest quarterbacks this week as rookies Drake Maye and Spencer Rattler started for New England and New Orleans, respectively.

Rattler rallied as Saints trailed Buccaneers 17-0, scoring 20 points in response. Spencer impressed with mobility, connecting with Moreau for 41-yard gain.

Spencer showed a great deal of poise, going 11 of 17 for 140 yards and a score in the first half.

However, nerves (and the Tampa Bay pass rush) got to him in the second half as he went 11 of 23 for 103 yards with a pair of picks.

Drake Maye also had some promising plays, such as a 40-yard touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte shortly before halftime to finish a sharp two-minute drill.

He also got out of the pocket to buy time and locate tight end Hunter Henry for a 30-yard catch-and-run in the third quarter, showing a lot of poise.

He also had an overthrow go for a pick and got strip-sacked, but having your debut against the Houston Texans is far from ideal.

NFL Betting Quarterback Matchups in Week 7 | NFL Odds

Going into Week 7, check out our top quarterback matchups as you start to think about your sports betting choices.

Cincinnati Bengals (-5) at Cleveland Browns

When: Sunday, October 20, 1:00 pm ET, CBS
NFL Betting Totals: O/U 43

Joe Burrow darted for a 47-yard touchdown run against the New York Giants on the Cincinnati Bengals’ first possession on Sunday night, and it looked like the rout was on.

However, Burrow would barely clear 200 passing yards on the night, and the other Bengals touchdown would come late in the fourth quarter of a 17-7 win that should have been much closer, as the Giants hooked two field goal attempts that weren’t even 50 yards in length.

We saw Burrow absolutely go nuts against Baltimore last week, throwing five touchdown passes, but he had a hard time with a Giants pass rush that leads the NFL in sacks. He now heads to Cleveland to face another team that gets after the quarterback.

Deshaun Watson

Despite sexual harassment allegations against Watson, Stefanski keeps him playing due to his lucrative, guaranteed contract. Unless new damaging information arises, Browns can’t void the deal.

But let’s look at some insights about Watson’s season so far, reported by The Ringer. Cleveland averages 240 yards of offense per game – dead last. They have put up 80 points on offense through six games.

The only team with fewer points is Miami, who has had a bye week (and therefore one fewer game) and who has had to start three different quarterbacks.

If we look back to last year, Joe Flacco started six games for Cleveland and threw for at least 250 yards in each of them. He had more than one touchdown pass in five of those six starts.

The last time Watson broke 250 passing yards was Week 3 of the 2023 season, and he only has one multiple-touchdown pass game this season.

Rodney McLeod Jr

Against Philadelphia last week, the only Cleveland touchdown came on defense, when safety McLeod Jr picked up a blocked field goal attempt and took it to the house.

He also found the end zone on a scoop-and-score in Week 4. He and Watson are tied for touchdowns in the last three weeks – with two apiece.

A concerning number prompts speculation about the Browns’ potential decision to involve Jameis Winston.

With a strong defense and solid O-line, they may aim for a wild-card spot, possibly starting in Week 8.

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Houston Texans (+3) at Green Bay Packers

When: Sunday, October 20, 1:00 pm ET, CBS
NFL Betting Totals: O/U 47.5

C.J. Stroud has the Houston offense cooking. Yes, they got shut down in Minnesota, but whatever the Vikings are cooking up there is stopping all comers right now.

Against New England last week, Stroud led the Texans to a 41-point day, the most that the Houston offense has scored since Week 16 of the 2021 season.

Now that Joe Mixon is back and healthy, after missing three weeks with an injured ankle, Stroud won’t have to carry as much of the offense on his shoulders, and you can expect to see that greater balance lead to more dominant offensive performances.

Jordan Love looked terrific in the Packers’ 34-13 dismantling of the Arizona Cardinals.

He went 22 of 32 for 258 yards and four scores in his third game back from a knee injury, looking like the Jordan Love who finished 2023 slicing and dicing opposing defenses.

Early in the game against the Cardinals, he threw mostly short passes, but half of his touchdown passes carried more than 15 yards down the field. That kind of confidence down the field makes Green Bay’s offense even more dangerous.

The best matches include the best QB, are you ready to NFL Betting this Week? The Dallas Cowboys went into Pittsburgh as road underdogs against the Steelers.

They didn’t have Micah Parsons or DeMarcus Lawrence in their front seven on defense, and wide receiver Brandin Cooks wasn’t available to run routes.

Dak Prescott had a red-zone fumble and two interceptions. However, when the chips were down, Prescott found Jalen Tolbert on fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line with 20 seconds left in regulation to deliver a 20-17 win.

Prescott has gotten criticism for stacking up statistics while failing to deliver in the clutch, and in all fairness, he did deliver on Sunday night.

Going into Week 6, let’s look at the key quarterback matchups as you plan your sports betting.

NFL Betting Quarterback Matchups in Week 6 | NFL Odds

Jacksonville Jaguars +110 at Chicago Bears -134

When: Sunday, October 13, 9:30 am ET, NFL Network

Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence had not won a start since November 26, 2023, but his nine-game losing streak came to an end on Sunday as the Jaguars beat the Indianapolis Colts in a shootout.

That also ended a nine-game streak in which Lawrence had failed to throw for at least 300 yards. He found Brian Thomas Jr and Christian Kirk on deep balls after air-mailing three possible long scores last week. Now the Jaguars head to London for a two-game stint on the other side of the Atlantic.

Chicago’s Caleb Williams has faced a tough learning curve so far in his NFL career, but he has started to find his way. In Weeks 1-4, he went just 5 of 29 on passes traveling at least 15 yards through the air, with three interceptions.

In Week 5 against Carolina, though, he went 4 of 4 for 108 yards and two scores. He hit Cole Kmet, D.J. Moore, Gerald Everett, and Keenan Allen on deep balls. Expect this London game to feature plenty of offense.

NFL Betting Arizona Cardinals +186 at Green Bay Packers -234

When: Sunday, October 13, 1:00 pm ET, FOX

Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals came out of Levi’s Stadium with a huge road win over the NFC West favorite San Francisco 49ers. Murray led his team on a game-winning drive and looked confident the whole way.

He found Marvin Harrison Jr on a key fourth-down conversion with 2:49 left in regulation after a day when he and Murray spent a lot of time miscommunicating on routes, so that finish looked promising. Remember, the Cardinals also routed the Rams in Week 2.

Jordan Love led the Packers to a nice win in Los Angeles last week. Love continues to show maturity in his decision-making, and his receivers are helping him out.

He found Tucker Craft for a 66-yard catch-and-run score, the longest by a tight end in the NFL this season. He also found Jayden Reed for four receptions for 78 yards, and now Reed is only the sixth player ever to post 400 receiving yards and 100 rushing yards in the opening five games of a season.

As Love’s savvy continues to grow, so will the Packers’ playoff chances.

NFL Betting Washington Commanders +218 at Baltimore Ravens -275

When: Sunday, October 13, 1:00 pm ET, CBS

The Commanders have averaged 33.8 points and 409 yards per game between Weeks 2 and 5 – numbers that lead the league over that stretch. They are now averaging 31.0 points per game on the year.

They didn’t punt at all in Weeks 2-4. Against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Jayden Daniels struggled a bit, as the Browns have a fierce pass rush, but he still threw for 238 yars and ran for 82 more.

It was the explosive plays that made the difference as the Commanders gained 434 yards on the day – but only needed eight plays to gain 298 of them. Daniels had passes of 66 and 41 yards, and Austin Ekeler broke out for a 50-yard run.

Daniels’ next quarterback duel will feature Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, who just won a 41-38 track meet at Cincinnati in overtime.

Jackson is benefiting from the addition of Derrick Henry to the offense as the Ravens have outrushed the opposition by at least 100 yards each week.

No team has done that since at least 1933, when yardages were tracked fully. They have a +754 rushing yardage advantage on the year. So while Jackson’s passing numbers might not be all that gaudy right now, he has his offense rolling.

Yes! Your NFL Betting plans continues this Week 3! The name “Burrowhead Stadium” settled on the home field of the Kansas City Chiefs in the early days of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s career, as the Bengals beat the Chiefs three straight times, including in the AFC Championship, once Burrow came into the league in 2021.

They’ve played three more times since then, with the Chiefs winning all of them. The nickname has faded, but none of the six games was decided by more than seven points.

Another elite quarterback, Lamar Jackson, was last year’s NFL MVP but now has his team off to an 0-2 record.

The last time an MVP had that happen was 2002 when Kurt Warner won the 2001 MVP but led the St. Louis Rams to an 0-2 start to the next season.

Let’s look at some key quarterback matchups from Week 3 as you plan your sports betting for the week.

NFL Betting Quarterback Matchups in Week 3 | NFL Odds

N.Y. Giants (+6.5) at Cleveland Browns

When: Sunday, 1:00 pm ET

Did you expect to see Daniel Jones and Deshaun Watson on this list? This is an intriguing QB matchup because both of them are facing serious questions about their viability as quarterbacks in this league.

Jones is in his sixth season but has failed to distinguish himself as a quarterback at this level except for a brief flash as it was time to move from his rookie contract to his first extension.

Watson has the highest fully guaranteed deal in league history, but a combination of shoddy play and yet another lawsuit for sexual misconduct from his days in Houston may well have the Browns’ brass looking for ways for the team to escape the deal.

Can either quarterback assert himself and pay off on the promise that he showed in the past? Or will this be an ugly day of offense on both sides?

Philadelphia Eagles (-5.5) at New Orleans Saints

When: Sunday, 1:00 pm ET

There was a time when Derek Carr was one of the most promising quarterbacks in the NFL.

He led the then-Oakland Raiders to a wild-card playoff berth in 2016 but went down to a season-ending injury ahead of the playoffs.

He threw 53 touchdown passes in his first two seasons, the second-highest mark for any quarterback in his first two seasons in league history.

Since then, though, his legacy has been more mixed as he has had difficulty with ball security. He has led the Saints, along with tailback Alvin Kamara, to a terrific start this season.

He will meet Jalen Hurts, who is considered an elite quarterback but now has some questions to answer after a 10-1 start for the Eagles last year ended with an 11-6 thud, as well as a wild-card playoff embarrassment in Tampa Bay.

The Eagles did score 34 in their opener, so their offensive future looks bright as well. Expect a high-scoring affair down in the Crescent City this week.

Detroit Lions (-3) at Arizona Cardinals

When: Sunday, 4:25 pm ET

Kyler Murray just led the Arizona Cardinals to a demolition of the L.A. Rams last week.

He found Marvin Harrison Jr for just four catches, but the rookie phenom turned those catches into 130 yards and two scores.

Murray had three passing touchdowns before halftime, making it look like the return of the dynamic playmaker who had the Cardinals rolling back in the 2022 season before an epic second-half collapse that ended in a horrendous playoff loss…to those same Rams.

Next up is a date with the Detroit Lions, who looked tentative and even bumbling in their loss to Tampa Bay last week.

Jared Goff had a great 2023 season for the Lions, but is Father Time catching up with him? I like the Cardinals not just to cover but to win this game, and I like Murray to carve up that Detroit secondary.

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If you think starting quarterbacks don’t matter in the NFL betting – whether you’re talking about sports betting or just overall competition – it’s likely that you haven’t watched the league since the 1970s.

The last generation has seen such elite quarterbacks as Tom Brady, Payton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, and Patrick Mahomes turn the game into a passing league.

Understanding the importance of quarterback play helps inform a wide variety of wagering decisions, including where to wager on point totals, taking on player props at quarterback (and wide receiver or tight end), and even picking what kind of touchdown will happen first in a game (passing, rushing, special teams or defense).

Check out our NFL power rankings at quarterback as well as thoughts about how they can affect your wagers.

NFL 2024: Quarterback Power Rankings and Betting Analysis | NFL Odds

1. Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) NFL 2024

Mahomes has won three Super Bowls, including the last two. He’s also won the last two Super Bowl MVP trophies.

He can gain yards with his legs, he can throw across the field off his back foot, and he can improvise on the run. There is no better player in the game today.

2. Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) NFL 2024

Joe Burrow has gotten the Bengals to the AFC Championship or the Super Bowl in his two healthy seasons. The offensive line is revamped, and he is healthy again.

3. Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) NFL 2024

He won last season’s regular-season MVP, making him the 11th player ever to win more than one of those. He threw for a career-best 3,678 yards, and he ran for 821 more.

He threw for 24 scores and ran for five more. But can he show that MVP form in the postseason?

4. Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills) NFL 2024

He has 4,000 or more passing yards in four straight seasons, with an average of 34.3 touchdowns per year.

However, he throws too many pics – 47 over the last three seasons, including a career-worst 18 last year.

5. Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles)

Hurts did set career marks with 3,858 passing yards and 23 passing touchdowns. He ran for 605 yards and 15 more touchdowns.

The 15 interceptions were unsightly, though, and that has to improve.

6. Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys)

He completed almost 70 percent of his passes last year, throwing for 4,516 yards with a career-best 36 touchdowns against just nine interceptions.

No other quarterback had 30+ touchdowns while holding picks to single digits. It’s the playoff blunders that hurt his reputation.

7. Justin Herbert (L.A. Chargers)

Mike Williams and Keenan Allen are gone from the wide receiver room. Tailback Austin Ekeler is also gone.

The additions at those skill positions are not comparable. Jim Harbaugh seems like he wants to make this a run-first team. How much will Herbert thrive?

8. Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins)

Why isn’t Tua higher on this list? A lack of durability. His first 17-game season was 2023, and he led the NFL with 4,624 yards and threw for 29 touchdowns.

9. Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers)

Love figured out how to replace Aaron Rodgers just in time, leading a late winning streak that got the Packers into the playoffs and saw Loe undress the Dallas defense.

10. Aaron Rodgers (N.Y. Jets)

Rodgers faces high expectations after spending most of the 2023 season rehabbing a torn Achilles. He won regular-season MVPs in 2020 and 2021. Does he still have that with him?

11. C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans)

Stroud led Houston to an AFC South title as a rookie, throwing for 4,108 yards with 23 touchdowns against just five picks. That was before Stefon Diggs showed up in the wide receiver room.

12. Matthew Stafford (L.A. Rams)

Even though he’s 36, Stafford still has one of the strongest arms and toughest dispositions in the NFL – that’s how he guided them to the playoffs.

13. Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers)

Purdy might be better than a few of the quarterbacks above him – he threw for over 4,000 yards with 31 touchdown passes against just 11 picks. It does help that he has Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk running routes and Christian McCaffrey pounding the ball.

14. Jared Goff (Detroit Lions)

The Lions should contend at an elite level again this year. Will Father Time catch up with Goff, though, or will he either match or improve his stats from 2023 – 4,575 yars, 28 touchdowns, 10 interceptions—?

15. Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons)

Cousins blew out his Achilles in Week 8 last year and took his talents to Atlanta in the off-season. He should be able to break 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns.

16. Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Lawrence has an incredible 2022, but 2023 brought him back to earth a bit. He got a five-year deal worth $275 million in the off-season, so we’ll see how that affects him.

17. Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals)

Murray blew out an ACL in 2022, and the rehab lasted until the last 11 games of last season. The offense has tailback James Conner and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. What will Murray do with this?

18. Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

2024 was Baker’s year. He set career marks with 28 touchdown passes and 4,044 passing yards, leading the Bucs to an NFC South title and a home win in the wild-card round last year.

19. Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns)

Watson has played a dozen games for Cleveland; in 2023, he played six games due to injury. The rest of the roster is outstanding, and they went to the playoffs after using five different quarterbacks last year.

20. Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks)

Smith is 33 and entering the last year of his contract. He went 2-5 against postseason qualifiers last season, and the division is more competitive this year.

21. Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears)

The preseason has shown Williams’ ceiling. The regular season could show his floor.

22. Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints)

Remember when Carr guided the Raiders to an AFC West title – and then got injured and could not play? He’s still got that high ceiling – just too many interceptions.

23. Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis Colts)

He’s got a cannon of an arm, and it’s all strength and athleticism at this point. He got knocked out of four different games last season, so he’s going to have to learn how to manage the risk/reward part of running the ball.

24. Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders) NFL 2024

He won the Heisman Trophy last year in college – but how many Heisman Trophy winners have flamed out in the NFL? He’s an exciting player to watch, so we’ll see how the pro game treats him.

25. Russell Wilson (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Wilson threw for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions last year – not shabby numbers. The Steelers like to run first with Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris, so Wilson could thrive.

26. Gardner Minshew (Las Vegas Raiders)

Minshew has three seasons with 15+ touchdown passes with fewer than 10 picks. The Colts almost made the postseason with him last year. He has Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers running routes for him this year.

27. Will Levis (Tennessee Titans)

DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks are a solid pair of wide receivers for the second-year QB out of Kentucky. Now Calvin Ridley joins them, along with tailback Tony Pollard. Levis has the skill players, so now the O-line needs to help him out.

28. Bryce Young (Carolina Panthers) NFL 2024

Young had very little skill around him last year. In the off-season, they added receiver Diontae Johnson via trade and Xavier Legette in the draft. But how much better will Young be this year?

29. Daniel Jones (N.Y. Giants)

He played just six games last year thanks to an ACL tear, and his preseason has been wobbly.

30. Jacoby Brissett (New England Patriots) NFL 2024

For some reason, Brissett will open the season as QB1. It won’t be long before Drake Maye takes over.

31. Sam Darnold (Minnesota Vikings)

Darnold is the QB1 by default after J.J. McCarthy tore his meniscus and saw his season end. Darnole was a third overall draft pick back in the day, and he has Justin Jefferson running routes.

32. Bo Nix (Denver Broncos)

Nix shouldn’t stay at the bottom of this list long. His preseason looked promising, and he beat Jarrett Stidham for the starting job.

Is the quarterback the most important player on a team? In most cases, the quarterback is the public face of the franchise. The ball is in his hands on every offensive play and for that reason, here at Xbet we are preparing for the best in NFL Betting!

It’s his job to find the playmakers on the field and get them the ball, whether that means turning and handing the ball off or firing a pass down the field.

In the case of a team like the Detroit Lions of the 1990s, who had perhaps the best tailback in that era, Barry Sanders, the lack of a quarterback who could consistently lead drives down the field cost them playoff appearances.

In today’s era, it’s all but impossible for a team to ride its defense and running game to a Super Bowl.

Let’s look at some of the top quarterbacks as you consider your NFL Betting – not just for game outcomes but also for individual performances, whether in weekly props or in fantasy drafts.

Must-Watch QBs: NFL Betting & Expert Analysis for the 2024 Season | NFL Odds

Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes?

Obviously, Mahomes has delivered in terms of wins, passing yards, and passing touchdowns.

He has the Chiefs gunning for what would be an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl win.

If you are playing in a fantasy league that has bonuses for things like 300+ passing yardage games and gives more points for passing touchdowns than for rushing touchdowns, then Mahomes is the pick.

However, Allen will have an edge if passing and rushing touchdowns are legal.

Why? Because the Bills got rid of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis in the off-season, which means Allen has an entirely new wide receiver crew, while Mahomes still has Travis Kelce as an outlet in case Rashee Rice faces a lengthy suspension.

Allen gets a lot of short-yardage rushing touchdowns, and he will make big plays down the field.

Jalen Hurts

Hurts led his team to an 10-1 start before they fell off the table and finished 11-6.

However, his numbers were decent in a number of areas, including rushing touchdowns (15).

The “Brotherly Shove” formation has brought a lot of success in short-yardage situation, although it will be interesting to see how well it works without center Jason Kelce, who has retired.

Also, the arrival of tailback Saquon Barkley should take some of the rushing pressure off Hurts.

This could mean that he avoids injury and can put up gaudy passing numbers all season long.

The Eagles definitely have the O-line and the receivers to make that happen.

Anthony Richardson

Richardson only started four games and played 173 snaps as a rookie, because of several injuries, including the one that brought his season to an end in Week 5.

However, in terms of both passing prowess and running, he showed a crazy amount of potential.

Expect his learning curve to remain steep for a while, though, as he shakes off the rust, gathers himself for another season of NFL-level physicality, and learns how to read NFL secondaries.

Brock Purdy

Purdy came in seventh last year in standard fantasy football scoring.

He has a reputation for being more of a bus driver than a dynamic franchise quarterback, but the fact is that he is accurate and will stand in the pocket and put the ball through tight windows down the field.

We don’t know if Brandon Aiyuk will be running routes for him; Aiyuk will be in camp but has also requested a trade. Without Aiyuk, Purdy’s production may drop a bit.

Jordan Love

What about Love? Yes, he got hot down the stretch and had two terrific playoff games – the rout over Dallas and the surprising poise he showed in San Francisco, guiding the Pack to a late lead in the divisional round before the pressure of the moment (and the 49ers’ defense) got to him.

However, he didn’t put together a full season of solid execution, and all three of the Packers’ divisional foes upgraded their secondaries.

NFL Betting On Quarterbacks. When it comes to landing a top-flight franchise quarterback, few teams have been as desperate recently as the Atlanta Falcons.

After finally moving on from Matt Ryan, we’ve seen them cycle through Desmond Ridder before, in the same off-season, inking Kirk Cousins to a mammoth deal and drafting Michael Penix Jr early in the first round.

The Indianapolis Colts have also been desperate in recent years, trying to replace Andrew Luck with everyone from Phillip Rivers to Carson Wentz to…Matt Ryan, before taking the plunge on a rookie with Anthony Richardson last year.

As you plan your sports betting for the NFL season, take a look at our updated quarterback rankings.

NFL Betting Quarterback Power Rankings Ahead of Week 1

The New GOAT

Yes, that title used to belong to Tom Brady, but now it belongs to Patrick Mahomes. He had a lot less talent around him in 2023, and he still led the Chiefs to a comeback win in the Super Bowl.

NFL Betting The Contenders

Lamar Jackson is the defending NFL MVP who put up an 83.0 Pro Football Focus passing grade in 2023, the best of his career. He set a career high with 4,102 passing yards, while continuing to run the ball at an elite level.

Joe Burrow is back from a 2023 season marred by a calf strain in the early going and a torn wrist ligament in his throwing hand that ended his campaign. When he is healthy, though, Burrow is immune to pressure and deadly with his passing accuracy.

Josh Allen led the NFL in rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (18) and had the second-most first-down carries by a quarterback (66). He is unique in terms of strength, size and speed. Can he get the interceptions down?

Postseason Quality

Justin Herbert lost Keenan Allen and Mike Williams in the off-season. He got a new head coach in Jim Harbaugh who wants more of a run-first approach. He did have the third-best PFF passing grade under pressure (68.9) last year, behind Dak Prescott and Jackson.

Dak Prescott posted an 89.8 PFF passing grade during the regular season, trailing only Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa, and under pressure he led the league with a 73.5 mark. Poor decisions and a semi-vertebrate defense doomed the Cowboys, but Prescott took the heat.

Matthew Stafford posted an 83.8 PFF passing grade during the regular season, which ranks seventh, at the age of 35. His arm is still a cannon, and even if the distance is shrinking a bit, he can put the ball in tight windows.

Aaron Rodgers is a big wild card going into 2024. His Achilles is all better, but what does he still have in the tank? He was the MVP in 2020 and 2021, and he has to stay top-ten going into the 2024 season.

Jalen Hurts led the Eagles to a 10-1 start…and to an 11-6 finish. He set career marks in passing yards and touchdowns…as well as lost fumbles and interceptions. He did have at least 10 rushing touchdowns for the third season in a row. He didn’t seem as explosive as he was in 2022, so there are some questions about his health going into this season.

C.J. Stroud had the rookie campaign that everyone thought Joe Burrow would have before his ACL tear. He had the third-most completions of at least 20 yars (32), and his touchdowns and passing yards were all in the top half of the NFL. Leading clutch drives will keep you in the starting job, and Stroud knows how to do that.

Jordan Love led the Packers on a romp in Dallas, knocking the Cowboys out in the wild-card round of the playoffs. He was second in passing touchdowns during the regular season, and after Week 7, his PFF passer rating was 90.4 as he figured out ball placement and accuracy.

Brock Purdy led the 49ers to the Super Bowl, thanks to a 78.3% adjusted completion rate, which landed him in the top five. He takes more risks with the ball than he gets credit for, and he has accuracy down the field.

NFL Betting Next Year’s Champions

Trevor Lawrence has shown periods of elite play, but he needs to string them together before we consider him a regular postseason contender. He had 21 total turnovers in 2023, a number that needs to drop.

Tua Tagovailoa had the lowest time in the pocket of any starting quarterback (2.33 seconds), but he still had an 88.9 PFF passing grade in the regular season, tops in the NFL. Ironically, he made most of his turnovers when he wasn’t under pressure.

Kirk Cousins keeps putting up great numbers, but his teams don’t go anywhere. He did have his 2023 cut short when he tore an Achilles tendon after eight games. Now he’s 36 years old and heading into play with a new season. Can he push that streak of PFF passing grades above 80.0 to seven?

Jared Goff led the Detroit Lions to the NFC Championship – and a 17-point lead in that game over San Francisco. He had an 85.2 PFF passing grade in 2023, the best of his career. His turnovers were down. However, his play when under pressure is still a problem, and when the 49ers turned up the heat, he wilted.

Kyler Murray had a decent eight-game season in 2023 as he returned from an ACL tear. Before his ACL tear, though, his 2022 season had been poor. Which Murray will we see in 2024?

Geno Smith had solid seasons in 2022 and 2023. However, the numbers conceal some concerning trends. He started 2022 playing terrific ball, but the second half was a problem with ball security. In 2023, he also struggled with ball security, but he finished the season strong. He’s 33, and he still hasn’t answered the question about being a franchise quarterback.

Baker Mayfield had an up-and-down 2023 until the last four games, when he put the Buccaneers on his back and carried them to an NFC South title. In the playoffs, he engineered a dismantling of the Philadelphia Eagles. Will that Mayfield show up again in 2024?

Questions to Answer

Caleb Williams might quickly climb this list – but then again, he might not. He has solid wide receiver talent around him in Chicago, which isn’t a sentence we write very often.

Derek Carr has had a PFF passing grade between 77.5 and 83.5 in four of the last five campaigns.Last year, he had 25 touchdown passes against eight picks. His numbers aren’t bad, but it’s been a long time since he delivered in big games.

Russell Wilson looked awful in his first season with Denver and then just human in his second – much like he looked in his last season in Seattle. That means it’s been three full seasons since we’ve seen him play at an elite level. Is he an improvement over Kenny Pickett in Pittsburgh? We’ll see.

Deshaun Watson has the largest contract in NFL history but has done nothing but disappoint the Cleveland Browns. Thanks to suspension and injury, he has played six games apiece in his two seasons on Lake Erie, and he had surgery on his throwing shoulder last season. Is he healthy? Can he bounce back?

NFL Betting Quarterbacks of the Future?

Anthony Richardson played four games in 2023. At times, he showed elite talent, both with his arms and his legs. However, his concussions and other injuries showed that he needs to learn how to manage contact in the NFL. Hopefully he also spent time in the off-season working on timing and accuracy.

Bryce Young was one of the few quarterbacks to beat C.J. Stroud last year. However, his PFF passing grade (52.6) came in 41st among qualifying quarterbacks (there are just 32 starters). However, he had a dreadful roster around him, so he wasn’t able to hide his lack of strength and size as easily as he did at Alabama.

Drake Maye put up some huge throws in college the last two years. Expect for that gunslinger mindset to produce some big plays in the NFL…and some backbreaking turnovers as he negotiates the learning curve.

Jayden Daniels just won the Heisman Trophy and will likely start Week 1 for Washington. He can run well and has a cannon of an arm. His offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury, did pretty well with a similar quarterback out in Arizona, until things fell apart.

Will Levis had four touchdown passes in his starting debut last year (Week 8). His arm strength is not in question, but his decision-making must improve.

NFL BettingTime to Go?

Daniel Jones finished behind Tyrod Taylor and Tommy DeVito in PFF ranking last year. Those two quarterbacks were the others on the Giants depth cart with him. He only played six games.

Gardner Minshew will compete with Aidan O’Connell for the starting job in Las Vegas. O’Connell had better efficiency and a higher adjusted completion percentage.

Sam Darnold should start for Minnesota while J.J. McCarthy learns the offense. Darnold got some starts in Carolina this past season but still doesn’t look like a franchise quarterback.

Jarrett Stidham has only gotten above a 56.0 PFF passing grade once in his NFL career. It won’t be long before Bo Nix gets the starting job in Denver.

The NFL has been a pass-first league for a couple of decades now, which means that a team’s fortunes largely depend on its quarterback. Even great quarterbacks can’t win without a solid O-line and quality skill players at tailback and wide receiver, but the reason why so many regular-season and Super Bowl MVP trophies go to quarterbacks is that the offense goes through their hands each play. As we approach training camp this summer, let’s look at some of the top quarterbacks to keep our eyes on as we start formulating NFL betting strategies for the season.

NFL Betting News: Top Quarterbacks to Watch in 2024

#1 Patrick Mahomes Kansas City Chiefs

Until someone stops the Kansas City Chiefs and can shut down this offense, Mahomes will be on top of the rankings. Yes, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stomped the Chiefs in Super Bowl in LV, but Mahomes had an O-line in front of him that had neither starting tackle due to injury, so he spent the game running for his life. While Mahomes has a transcendental arm – he can make pinpoint throws down the field while dancing instead of setting his feet – his greatest strength is his adaptability. When receivers aren’t open, he can pull the ball down and run, but even while he’s scrambling, he can whip the ball into the second level of the defense.

Betting 2024 NFL #2 Brock Purdy San Francisco 49ers

Who knew that Mr. Irrelevant from the 2022 draft would be so high on this list after a season and a half as the starter in San Francisco? You can say that it’s really the work of Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle making Purdy look great, but remember that four-game slump last year, when Purdy lost his edge and started throwing interceptions? The 49ers lost all four of those games. Then he found his mojo again and started managing the pocket well. He can also throw on the run, although he’s not as mobile as Mahomes. He’s gotten the Purdy to two NFC Championships in his two seasons, reaching the Super Bowl once.

2024 NFL #3 Josh Allen Buffalo Bills

The pluses with Josh Allen include a cannon of an arm, his bruising running style, and the fact that he can make any throw on a football field. The minuses have to do with his daredevil mentality. He believes he can make any throw, which means he forces the ball into windows where defenders end up waiting for the ball to get there. With a basic overhaul of the wide receiver group underway in Buffalo, it will be fascinating to see how that new chemistry works.

NFL #4 Joe Burrow Cincinnati Bengals

Burrow basically lost his first season and his most recent season to injury. He bounced back from his rookie-season injury to lead the Bengals to the Super Bowl. How will he recover this time? He does best when he can sit in the pocket and pick his opponents apart. Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase are expected to be back, which means he has one of the top wide receiver pairings in the league. The team also upgraded the O-line, so expect him to have the Bengals contending once again.

NFL Betting #5 C.J. Stroud Houston Texans

Just one season into his NFL career and C.J. Stroud is listed among the elite quarterbacks. He showed in his rookie campaign that he can hit receivers accurately down the field and also keep his head when the speed of the game comes right at him. The team added Stefon Diggs to a receiver group that already had Nico Collins and Tank Dell, and with Dalton Schultz at tight end, he has four quality options on the field. The defense got some upgrades as well. I expect the Texans to defend their AFC South crown and get two wins, and maybe even three or four, in the playoffs this time around.

2024 the NFL #6 Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens

How did the defending regular-season MVP slip to #6 on this list? Yes, he was back to his elite self in 2023. However, the fact that the Chiefs were able to hold the Ravens to 10 points in the AFC Championship was telling. Jackson still doesn’t have a terrific wide receiver group around him as the Ravens’ front office continues to overlook that need. Adding Derrick Henry at tailback should unlock the running game significantly, keeping defenses from loading the box and focusing on Jackson. Getting some legit deep threats would make this team even better.