NFL QB Rankings Week 5: Murray knocks down Stafford, Herbert's rise continues

You know that the standard of quarterback play in the NFL is high when Patrick Mahomes throws five touchdown passes in one game and still does not make the NFL QB Rankings ahead of Week 5.

But let's not pretend that the Kansas City Chiefs star is not knocking hard on the door of the top 5. Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams both took a step back in Week 4, showing a slight dent in an otherwise top-draw campaign is all it takes to fall out of the top 5 rankings at the moment.

The Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen, Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens passer Lamar Jackson had strong weeks to pile pressure on the money spots in the QB rankings. Without further ado, here are the quarterbacks who did make the top five.

NFL QB Rankings: The top 5 ahead of Week 5

#5 – Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers

It was not only Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin firing admiring glances at Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Sunday, but NFL fans around the league. The MVP version of Aaron Rodgers is back and that Week 1 setback against the New Orleans Saints is well and truly in the rear-view mirror.

Rodgers guided the Packers to a 27-10 third-quarter lead with two touchdown passes to his old friend Randall Cobb, and the Packers quarterback even called his number for a rushing score. Rodgers is enjoying every appearance at Lambeau Field in what may be his farewell season in Wisconsin. His climb right up the QB rankings may be starting now.

#4 – Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert

If leading the Los Angeles Chargers to a road win against Mahomes' Chiefs in Week 3 wasn't enough of a statement, then a starring role under the bright lights of Monday Night Football in a Week 4 victory over division rivals the Las Vegas Raiders certainly is.

Justin Herbert has thrown seven touchdowns and zero interceptions in his last two games and the 2020 offensive rookie of the year climbed another notch up the QB rankings. Herbert completed 25 of 38 pass attempts for 222 yards and a trio of TDs to outduel NFL passing leader Derek Carr and ascend into fourth place on the QB rankings.

NFL QB Rankings: The Top 3

Find out who made the top three in this week's NFL QB Rankings.

#3 – Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady

Whether it was the emotions of his homecoming, a typically well-drilled Patriots defense, or the conditional effects of the pouring rain in Foxborough, Tom Brady did not get going in Week 4. Still, he did enough to claim the win in his old backyard and stay in the top three of the QB rankings.

Brady was left relying on a Nick Folk missed field goal to celebrate a Tampa Bay Buccaneers victory, having not been able to find the endzone and completing only a shade over half of his passes (22 of 43) for 269 yards.

It was the kind of risk-averse display that Brady has built the foundations of his iconic reputation on, and he would probably have climbed into the top two of the QB rankings had Antonio Brown not dropped a 30-yard touchdown pass.

#2 – Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott

Every week, Dak Prescott appears to get better and better. Think about what the hype would be like had the Dallas Cowboys been 4-0 and not lost on a walk-off field goal against the Buccaneers in the season opener. There's every chance he would be number one in everybody's QB rankings list across the league.

The Carolina Panthers started the week as statistically the best defense in football through various categories, but that did not bother Prescott and the Cowboys' offense.

With Ezekiel Elliott in vintage form to establish the running game alongside Tony Pollard, Prescott surgically dissected the Panthers secondary with four touchdowns to four different players from only 14 completions. He added 35 yards on the ground at 8.8 yards per carry in a near-flawless performance.

#1 – Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray

Kyler Murray leads the QB rankings because he is doing the most important thing a quarterback can do at the moment: win every week.

The Los Angeles Rams were his latest victims, as Murray outplayed Matthew Stafford on the road to set up the Arizona Cardinals for a fourth straight victory. Yes, in every game this season, the third-year passer has thrown one questionable interception, but Murray's positives far outweigh the negatives.

Other than the interception, Murray did everything else right. He was making precision throws from the pocket. When the Rams sent a blitz, he rolled outside and changed the angle. When they dropped into coverage, he avoided the pass rush and used his lightning speed to take off for a first down. Even in the rushing game, Murray's presence draws linebackers away from the Cards' ball carriers.

It's almost impossible to bottle up Murray right now, which is why he occupies the top spot in the QB rankings.