Week 1 is nearly in the books, and the quarterback picture is already starting to split into the obvious haves and have-nots. Denver and Kansas City still have to finish the opening week of the 2026 NFL season, but the first pass through the league has already given us a few sharp performances and a few ugly ones.
That’s the trick with Week 1: it can fool you. It can feel like a true snapshot, but it often plays more like an extra preseason game.
Over the next month, the league usually starts telling the truth about who’s good, who’s not, and who was just surviving on the opening-day adrenaline. Still, with the regular season underway, it’s time for the first official QB power rankings as Week 1 winds down.
- Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
The Deshaun Watson situation looks like it could be headed for a quick end. Cleveland got thumped by 24 points in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and while one opener doesn’t define a season, the Browns’ showing with Watson under center looked a lot like a team that may not have much going for it.
Watson finished with 16 completions, one touchdown, and one interception. The Browns managed just 10 points, and the way things looked Sunday suggests this could be a long year in Cleveland. If Watson keeps producing like this, the Browns may turn to Shedeur Sanders, though there’s no guarantee that would solve much.
For now, Watson sits at the very bottom of the rankings as the first week closes.
- Cooper Rush, Atlanta Falcons
Rush is hardly the reason Atlanta is in this spot. He came in late this offseason and wasn’t supposed to be the starter, but Tua Tagovailoa’s injury pushed him into the lineup.
The results weren’t pretty. Rush didn’t reach 150 passing yards and threw two interceptions. Atlanta still only lost by seven, so there’s at least that, but the outlook stays bleak whenever Rush is the one leading the offense.
And there’s another layer to it: he might not even be the weakest quarterback on the Falcons’ roster. That says plenty about where this season stands for Atlanta. None of Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., or Rush offers much in the way of long-term optimism, and Rush will keep landing near the bottom of these rankings as long as he’s the one starting games.
In Other News...
Falcons Suddenly Have A Backfield Depth Problem They Created
The Falcons running back room took an unexpected hit this week when the Cowboys signed Tyler Goodson off Atlantas practice squad and onto their active 53-man roster after losing Malik Davis to injury. Goodson had been waived by Atlanta after a strong preseason, a move that left the team thin behind its top backs and opened the door for another club to swoop in.
Now Atlanta is left with rookie Cash Jones as its only running back on the practice squad, and the front office may need to move quickly to restore some depth. Goodson had been in position to compete for a role behind Javonte Williams and Emari Demercado in Dallas, but the more immediate concern for the Falcons is the self-inflicted vacancy they now have to patch before it becomes a bigger issue. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Pitts Is Already Putting Falcons Quarterback Problem Under Pressure
Kyle Pitts new deal made it clear the Falcons still view him as one of the central pieces of the offense, but the season opener offered a reminder that his production is still tied closely to who is throwing him the ball. In the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pitts was targeted only once and did not record a reception while Cooper Rush handled the start at quarterback, a quiet night for a player Atlanta is counting on much more heavily.
The larger issue for the Falcons is less about Pitts himself than the uncertainty around the quarterback room. Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa are both dealing with injuries and are expected back soon, and Pitts early line only underscores how much the offense needs stability under center. Until that settles, the Falcons may keep feeling the strain of trying to make a top weapon work through an unsettled passing game. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Already Face An Early Cam Ward Concern
The first week of the 2026 NFL season did not exactly settle much for the teams still circling the quarterback conversation, and Atlanta is among the ones still feeling the ripple effects. The Falcons entered the year with an uncertain setup under center, as Cooper Rush and Michael Penix Jr. both sit inside a broader picture that leaves the position looking anything but finalized.
That matters because the early struggles around the league can quickly push teams toward bigger decisions, and the 2027 draft is already part of that conversation for several quarterback-needy clubs. Atlanta is in that mix with a group that also includes Cleveland, Miami and Tennessee, where Cam Ward is one name to watch if the Titans decide their current path needs another turn, though nothing in this stage makes any of those outcomes certain. [Read more 🡒]