NFL Quarterback Power Rankings: Week 4

Scout.com Senior NFL Analyst Ed Thompson ranks the starting quarterbacks based on their results through Week 4 in this exclusive Scout.com NFL Quarterback Power Poll.

Before you check out my NFL Quarterback Power Poll for through Week 4 of the NFL season, let me make one point clear.

These rankings aren't intended to point out who the most talented quarterbacks are in the NFL. So don't ask why an immensely gifted quarterback such as the Colts' Peyton Manning isn't near the top of the poll this week.

This rankings feature, just like NFL team Power Rankings you see all over the web, has been designed to point out who the top quarterbacks are right now—this week, at this moment. And after each week's games, some quarterbacks will move up, while others will drop.

Using a weighted formula I developed, factors such as completion average, touchdowns, interceptions, percent of passes that result in a first down, yards per game and more are included in determining the rankings.

These rankings could prove to be valuable to Fantasy Football owners who are trying to decide which quarterback to start this weekend. Or they may provide you with the basis for a fun debate in our Scout.com NFL Team Forums.

Check them out and talk them over, or drop me a line to let me know your thoughts on them.

Stats key: YPG=Passing Yards Per Game, PR=Passer Rating, TD=Touchdown Passes, Comp=Completion Percentage, 1st=Percent of passes thrown resulting in a first down, INT=Interceptions.

	1. Drew Brees, Saints YPG: 335.8    PR: 106.9  TD: 8  Comp: 72.3   1st: 36.5    INT: 4 Brees is the NFL's leader in yards per game and completion rate.
	2. Kurt Warner, Cardinals YPG: 305.5   PR: 100.8    TD: 8  Comp: 66.7    1st: 41.1    INT: 4  He's averaging over 300 yards per game and is tops in 1st-down percentage.
	3. Philip Rivers, Chargers YPG: 256.0    PR: 109.8    TD: 10  Comp: 64.5   1st: 40.9     INT: 4 Second-best in passer rating and touchdowns, he's off to a fast start.
	4. Brett Favre, Jets YPG: 233.8   PR: 110.8   TD: 12  Comp: 70.2   1st: 36.3    INT: 4  Six touchdown passes last week. He's No. 1 in touchdowns and passer rating.
	5. Jay Cutler, Broncos YPG: 318.8   PR: 98.6    TD: 9  Comp: 65.0   1st: 36.9   INT: 4 His 318.8 yards per game is second-best in the NFL. Tough outing last week.
	6. Tony Romo, Cowboys YPG: 298.0   PR: 99.0     TD: 8  Comp: 64.7   1st: 38.1    INT: 4  Fifth-best completion percentage, but below 60 percent last two weeks.
	7. Donovan McNabb, Eagles YPG: 275.0   PR: 95.7    TD: 6  Comp: 65.1   1st: 34.2   INT: 2  Passing yards per game is fourth-best, and he's kept his interceptions low.
	8. Jason Campbell, Redskins YPG: 219.5   PR: 102.2    TD: 6 Comp: 65.3   1st: 34.7    INT: 0  The only current starter who hasn't thrown an interception this season.
	9. J.T. O'Sullivan, 49ers YPG: 240.5    PR: 90.0    TD: 4  Comp: 61.3   1st: 40.5    INT: 3  First-down percentage is third-best, but last week was his worst game of '08.
	10. Trent Edwards, Bills YPG: 232.5   PR: 93.5    TD: 4  Comp: 65.5   1st: 35.3    INT: 2  Has completed 65.5 percent of his passes and has throw for a TD every week.
	11. Eli Manning, Giants YPG: 255.0   PR: 91.1    TD: 4  Comp: 60.7   1st: 33.6   INT: 1  His 255 yards per game is eighth-best, and he's tossed just one interception.
	12. Aaron Rodgers, Packers YPG: 240.2   PR: 91.4    TD: 6  Comp: 61.9   1st: 29.4   INT: 3 He's completed 61.9 percent of this throws, but threw three INTs last week.
	13. Chad Pennington, Dolphins YPG: 196.3   PR: 87.9     TD: 2  Comp: 63.9   1st: 38.6    INT: 1  Touchdown production is low, but he's fourth-best in 1st-down percentage.
	14. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers YPG: 159.5    PR: 93.3    TD: 4 Comp: 63.9   1st: 37.3    INT: 2 Yards per game is sixth-lowest. Has a 14th-best completions percentage.
	15. David Garrard, Jaguars YPG: 195.8   PR: 77.7    TD: 2  Comp: 67.5   1st: 38.5    INT: 4 He's looked better the last two weeks despite his patchwork offensive line.
	16. Matt Schaub, Texans YPG: 232.3   PR: 75.5    TD: 4  Comp: 64.5   1st: 35.5    INT: 5 Coming off a 3-touchdown performance last week. Has he turned the corner?
	17. Jake Delhomme, Panthers YPG: 215.0   PR: 86.8     TD: 3  Comp: 60.0   1st: 31.7    INT: 1 Had his best game of 2008 last week (2 TDs and a 69 percent completion rate).
	18. Peyton Manning, Colts YPG: 261.3    PR: 73.1    TD: 3  Comp: 59.2   1st: 30.8    INT: 4 Offensive line injuries and no preseason reps have contributed to a slow start.
	19. Matt Cassel, Patriots YPG: 149.3    PR: 87.0    TD: 2  Comp: 66.7    1st: 30.6    INT: 1 Solid completion rate, but not much else to help this team score points.
	20. Gus Frerotte, Vikings YPG: 235.0   PR: 70.7    TD: 1  Comp: 57.7   1st: 33.8   INT: 2 A pair of 200-plus-yard games, but he didn't hold up well against the Titans.
	21. Damon Huard, Chiefs YPG: 98.3     PR: 84.9     TD: 2  Comp: 70.5   1st: 29.5    INT: 2 His 70.5 percent completion rate has boosted his stock. Can he keep it up?
	22. Kyle Orton, Bears YPG: 191.5   PR: 78.0     TD: 5  Comp: 59.5   1st: 28.9    INT: 4 Five touchdowns during the last two weeks, but four interceptions as well.
	23. Jon Kitna, Lions YPG: 228.0   PR: 73.6    TD: 5  Comp: 57.7   1st: 28.8    INT: 5 During his last two starts, completed 51 percent of his throws. Not good enough.
	24. Kerry Collins, Titans YPG: 144.2    PR: 81.2     TD: 2  Comp: 56.6    1st: 36.1    INT: 1 Efficient, but his 199 yards passing last week was his best total in that category.
	25. JaMarcus Russell, Raiders YPG: 167.0   PR: 84.9     TD: 4  Comp: 54.5   1st: 27.3    INT: 1 His 277 passing yards last week marked his first 200-plus day of 2008.
	26. Joe Flacco, Ravens YPG: 150.0   PR: 65.9   TD: 1 Comp: 55.7   1st: 34.2   INT: 2 Fifth-lowest passing yards per game and just one TD, but the rookie is learning.
	27. Brian Griese, Buccaneers YPG: 238.7   PR: 62.5     TD: 4  Comp: 55.5   1st: 30.5    INT: 6  He's tied for the most interceptions thrown in the NFL this season.
	28. Marc Bulger, Rams YPG: 173.0   PR: 73.2    TD: 2  Comp: 58.4   1st: 23.6    INT: 2 Just 23.6 percent of his throws result in a first down, worst among all starters.
	29. Carson Palmer, Bengals YPG: 171.3   PR: 63.8     TD: 1  Comp: 57.8   1st: 31.1    INT: 3 Injured last week. With his receivers, just one TD pass is unacceptable.
	30. Matt Ryan, Falcons YPG: 167.2   PR: 70.7     TD: 2  Comp: 52.4   1st: 27.6    INT: 2 Still learning the ropes, his completion percentage is third-worst in the NFL.
	31. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks YPG: 183.7    PR: 60.1   TD: 2  Comp: 48.5    1st: 32     INT: 3 With reserves as receivers, his completion percentage is the lowest in the NFL.
	32. Derek Anderson, Browns YPG: 135.8    PR: 49.9    TD: 3 Comp: 49.6   1st: 27.4    INT: 6 His accuracy is way off as evidenced by his completion percentage and INTs.

All photos in this feature were shot by Getty Images photographers.

A member of the Pro Football Writers of America, Ed Thompson's player interviews and NFL features are published across the Scout.com network and at FOXSports.com. You can contact him by email through this link.