The second-most backup-iest season gets backup-ier. Here's Week 17.
Next Man Up! Week Seventeen
Back to the Bench
All good things must come to an end and so our guests must make their way back to the locker room and wait to be called upon once more.
Case Keenum, BUF 1-0 (5)
Most Recent Performance: 0%, 0yds, 0 TD
Most Recent Performance: 0%, 0yds, 0 TD
Joe Flacco ⭐️, NYJ 1-2 (2)
Most Recent Performance: 53.8%, 285yds, 0 TD, 2 INT
Brian Hoyer, NE 0-1 (9)
Most Recent Performance: 83.3%, 37yds, 0 TD
Saquon Barkley ⭐️, NYG 1-0 (8)
Most Recent Performance: 0%, 0yds, 0 TD
Jacob Eason, CAR 0-1 (9)
Most Recent Performance: 60%, 59yds, 0 TD
Chad Henne, KC 1-0 (10)
Most Recent Performance: 0%, 0yds, 0 TD
Bailey Zappe ⭐️⭐️⭐️, NE 2-2 (2)
Most Recent Performance: 63.6%, 185, 1 TD, 2 INT
Most Recent Performance: 63.6%, 185, 1 TD, 2 INT
P.J. Walker ⭐️⭐️, CAR 2-4 (7)
Most Recent Performance: 62.5%, 108yds, 0 TD
Nick Mullens, MIN 0-1 (8)
Most Recent Performance: 71.4%, 54yds, 0 TD
Cooper Rush ⭐️⭐️⭐️, DAL 5-2 (3)
Most Recent Performance: 80%, 31yds, 0 TD
Most Recent Performance: 80%, 31yds, 0 TD
Bryce Perkins, LAR 0-2 (11)
Most Recent Performance: 56.5%, 100yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Trevor Siemian, CHI 0-1 (10)
Most Recent Performance: 56%, 179yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Jordan Love ⭐️, GB 0-1 (6)
Most Recent Performance: 66.7%, 113yds, 1 TD
Jacoby Brissett ⭐️⭐️⭐️ , CLE 4-7 (4)
Most Recent Performance: 62.2%, 210yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Jimmy Garoppolo ⭐️⭐️, SF 8-3 (2)
Most Recent Performance: 50%, 56yds, 0 TD
John Wolford, LAR 0-2 (8)
Most Recent Performance: 53.8%, 178yds, 0 TD, 2 INT
Kyle Allen, HOU 0-2 (9)
Most Recent Performance: 51.3%, 201yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Anthony Brown, BAL 1-0 (11)
Most Recent Performance: 60%, 16yds, 0 TD
Tyrod Taylor, NYG 1-1 (6)
Most Recent Performance: 100%, 47yds, 1 TD
Most Recent Performance: 100%, 47yds, 1 TD
Jeff Driskel, HOU 0-2 (9)
Most Recent Performance: 50%, 8yds, 0 TD
Colt McCoy ⭐️, ARI 1-3 (8)
Most Recent Performance: 61.9%, 78yds, 0 TD, 1 INT
Malik Willis, TEN 1-4 (13)
Most Recent Performance: 60.9%, 99yds, 1 TOT TD, 2 INT
Most Recent Performance: 60.9%, 99yds, 1 TOT TD, 2 INT
Nathan Peterman, CHI 0-1 (NR)
Most Recent Performance: 60%, 25yds, 0 TD, 1 INT
Taylor Heinicke ⭐️⭐️⭐️, WSH 5-3-1 (3)
Most Recent Performance: 72.2%, 166yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Chris Streveler, NYJ 0-1 (12)
Most Recent Performance: 66.7%, 90yds, 0 TD
Trace McSorley, ARI 0-3 (10)
Most Recent Performance: 53.3%, 217yds, 0 TD, 1 INT
Brett Rypien, DEN 1-3 (9)
Most Recent Performance: 50%, 45yds, 0 TD, 1 INT
Willis, McSorely, and Heinicke all get actually benched in favor of others. None of which lead their teams to victory, oh well.
The Rankings
17. Nick Foles, IND 0-2 (2)
Most Recent Performance: 61.5%, 81yds, 0 TD, 1 INT
Nick Foles gets murdered by Giants' DE Kayvon Thibodeaux halfway through the uninspiring matchup. The woeful combination of Foles and Ehlinger handed the Giants a playoff appearance on a silver platter.
16. C.J. Beathard, JAX 1-1 (6)
Most Recent Performance: 62.5%, 29yds, 0 TD, 1 INT
A few garbage time drives by Beathard including an interception, it seems like a lot of our lower-end backups end all of their outings this way. Must be a sign.
15. Sam Ehlinger, IND 0-3 (10)
Most Recent Performance: 64.3%, 60yds, 1 TD
Jeff Saturday was proven right by going back to Matt Ryan initially, but giving up on him the second time was equally as bad of a move. Ehinger and Foles however, are the perfect tank commanders if the Colts want to swing big on a QB prospect in the draft.
14. David Blough, ARI 0-1 (NR)
Most Recent Performance: 60%, 222yds, 1 TD
Another uneventful Cardinals game and Blough definitely delivered on that front. The first meaningless game of the season did come to an exciting game-winner for the Falcons though, so that's cool.
13. Desmond Ridder, ATL 1-2 (2)
Most Recent Performance: 73.1%, 169yds, 0 TD
Congratulations Desmond! You won an NFL game by beating a broken Cardinals team on their 4th QB of the year. The real team MVP here is K Younghoe Koo that worked his magic and hit the game-winner.
12. Skylar Thompson, MIA 1-3 (0)
Most Recent Performance: 57.1%, 104yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Most Recent Performance: 57.1%, 104yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
The absence of Tua is notable and the Dolphins are quickly falling out of playoff contention, this loss against the Patriots left their future up to fate. Thompson comes in after Teddy Bridgewater dislocates a finger and does his best, but he could not finish out strong enough.
11. Tyler Huntley, BAL 3-2 (3)
Most Recent Performance: 66.7%, 130yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
The Ravens are deserving of a playoff spot at this point. Honestly, I am glad that the NFL defaulted the Bengals as AFC North champions. Baltimore is overhyped and they are heading to a dark future if Lamar leaves town after their season ends.
10. Teddy Bridgewater, MIA 1-4 (6)
Most Recent Performance: 63.2%, 161yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Most Recent Performance: 63.2%, 161yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Teddy's injury woes continue as he has a short stint in this game before dislocating his finger and sidelining him. He is expected to come back to play against the Jets in the season finale where he hopes to provide the Dolphins with a playoff appearance and a chance for Tua to get back on the field.
9. Mike White ⭐️, NYJ 1-3 (7)
Most Recent Performance: 50%, 240yds, 0 TD, 2 INT
The Mike White hype is dying out and the Jets get eliminated by the ghost of Jets' past, Geno Smith. White lays an egg and gets terrorized by a hungry Seattle D looking for a post-season spot. New York must look for a different answer at Qb this offseason if they want to be competitive once more.
8. Joshua Dobbs, TEN 0-1 (NR)
Most Recent Performance: 51.3%, 232yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Josh Dobbs, successfully played better in a single appearance than Malik Willis has done in all his games combined. Dobbs was not a show-stopper, but I have slightly more hope for the Titans in their winner-takes-all AFC South Championship match against Jacksonville.
7. Baker Mayfield ⭐️⭐️, LAR 2-2 (3)
Most Recent Performance: 57.9%, 132yds, 0 TD
What happened? One week the Rams are killing the Broncos and the next they get blown out? Baker played like he was still on the Panthers and will need a gutsy performance against Seattle to find himself a job this Summer.
6. Kenny Pickett, PIT 6-5 (1)
Most Recent Performance: 55.6%, 168yds, 1 TD, 0 INT
Most Recent Performance: 55.6%, 168yds, 1 TD, 0 INT
Pickett continues his redemption arc by stealing a win away from the Ravens and still fighting for a slim chance at the post-season. The Steelers have a chance to continue HC Mike Tomlin's winning season streak against a soft Cleveland team and under Pickett, I think they can get it done.
5. Gardner Minshew ⭐️, PHI 0-2 (3)
Most Recent Performance: 56.3%, 274yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Sheesh. Minshew really did a 180 against the Saints. I've loved Gardner since his coming out in Jacksonville, and this was one of his lesser performances. The Eagles need a win to clinch the 1 seed and NFC East championship and have lost their last two. They are now cornered against the Giants in Week 18 who could look to play spoiler for their rival right before the playoffs.
4. Jarrett Stidham ⭐️, LVR 0-1 (NR)
Most Recent Performance: 67.6%, 365yds, 3 TD, 2 INT
A GSP loss in Stidham's first start as he had a wild shootout with our weekly #1 Brock Purdy. This game came down to OT so I cannot fault Stidham despite his multiple INTs. I can not say benching Carr was the right move, but it sure was an exciting one.
3. Andy Dalton ⭐️⭐️⭐️, NO 6-6 (3)
Most Recent Performance 81.8%, 205yds, 0 TD, 1 INT
Andy Dalton keeps the Saints in playoff contention after a surprising win against the Eagles. With big help from Taysom Hill and the Defense, Dalton was able to steer them through the Storm. A big matchup against the newly-eliminated Panthers could seal their fate if every other NFC hopeful doesn't hit them first.
2. Sam Darnold ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, CAR 3-2 (3)
Most Recent Performance: 62.2%, 341yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Darnold fought like hell. The Panthers just could not get their miracle run done against Tampa Bay. This GSP loss officially makes Darnold our first 4-star QB and I never thought it would be him. Breaking the streak of 3-star QBs getting hurt/benched, Darnold has earned a special spot in Next Man Up! history.
1. Brock Purdy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, SF 5-1 (0)
Most Recent Performance: 62.9%, 284yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Purdy put on a show in what had to be the backup matchup of the year. The Niners are a game out of the 1 seed and need an Eagles loss to complete the hero season. Our second 4-star QB of the year has filled Jimmy G's shoes perfectly and might even outgrow them on his way to the Lombardi.
What's Next?
Next week we will take a hiatus to take a comprehensive look at all of our backups and rank them accordingly. The Week 18 Season Finale Rankings will be our biggest list yet and feature season totals for all of our guys. Following that post we will have our Next Man Up! Awards for our favorite backups for their spectacular performances over the season.
By Brandon McCann
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