Total Quarterback Rating values quarterbacks on a 0-100 scale, adjusted for the strength of opposing defenses faced, across all play types.
What is the QBR ranking? These are the highest rated quarterbacks after Week 7 of the NFL 2026 season
Few stats capture the imagination of football fans like the Quarterback Rating. As a metric, it is often expressed as the gold standard of a quarterback’s, and therefore a team’s, performance during a game.
There are two main quarterback rating systems used in football, but we will focus on ESPN’s Total Quarterback Rating (QBR).
PROJECTION: #Bears superstar QB Caleb Williams could be worth a 4-year, $284 MILLION contract extension when eligible this offseason.
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) October 26, 2026
That would be an average annual value of $71 MILLION per year.
Williams, 24, will be in line to be the highest-paid quarterback in #NFL history. pic.twitter.com/ffKcdMIiEW
Total Quarterback Rating (QBR)
ESPN’s Total Quarterback Rating, also known as QBR, is a metric introduced by ESPN to provide a more complete evaluation of a quarterback’s overall contribution to a game. QBR considers various factors, including passing performance, rushing, fumbles, and situational factors, such as down and distance, adjusted for the strength and ranking of opposing defenses. It aims to provide a more holistic view of a quarterback’s impact on a game beyond traditional passing statistics.
The QBR scale ranges from 0 to 100, with 50 being an average performance. A score above 75 is typically considered excellent, while a score below 25 indicates a subpar performance.
2026 NFL season: highest-rated quarterbacks
After the first week of the 2026 regular season, these are the top-10 passers in the league:
QBR
| Caleb Williams, Bears | 79.6 |
| Brock Purdy, 49ers | 79.6 |
| Joe Burrow, Bengals | 77.2 |
| Dak Prescott, Cowboys | 77.1 |
| Josh Allen, Bills | 76.6 |
| Drake Maye, Patriots | 76.3 |
| C.J. Stroud, Texans | 68.6 |
| Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs | 67.2 |
| Michael Penix Jr., Falcons | 67.1 |
| Matthew Stafford, Rams | 65.7 |
Caleb Williams now ranks #1 in QBR among all NFL Quarterbacks. pic.twitter.com/WKTGhljEqN
— Kalshi Sports (@KalshiSports) October 27, 2026
The season is well underway and, as could be expected, some of the biggest names are at the top of the QBR rating list. That said, some surprises are Sam Darnold, Bo Nix and Justin Herbert at the bottom of the list. Pleasant surprises, especially for Panthers and Dolphins fans are seeing Bryce Young and Tyler Huntley sitting in the top 15 after Week 7.
Sorry. Caleb Williams was not overhyped in the offseason. pic.twitter.com/nrsEa9BdRL
— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) September 13, 2026
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