The NFL is becoming less of a quarterback league and more of a supporting cast league. Sure, there are still a handful of quarterbacks capable of carrying a lackluster offense, but a majority of the league’s signal-callers need the right players around them to succeed.

With that in mind, we set out to figure out which quarterbacks are in the most ideal situations and which have been dealt a terrible hand.

We tried to figure that out with a metric we’ll call QB Situation Grade, which factors in the four elements most conducive to quarterback success: A good offensive line; a group of receivers who will make plays when given the opportunity; an offense that keeps him in favorable down-and-distances; and a good scheme that gives him open receivers to throw to who can gain yards after the cach. We created four statistical measures to capture those factors as best we could.

“Pass blocking,” is a measure of the offensive line’s protection, using Pro Football Focus’ Pass Blocking Efficiency metric.

is a measure of the offensive line’s protection, using Pro Football Focus’ Pass Blocking Efficiency metric. “Plays made” measures the number of accurate throws a QB makes that are caught by his receivers

measures the number of accurate throws a QB makes that are caught by his receivers “Chains,” is how often the QB’s team keeps him ahead of chains and out of obvious passing situations (second- and third-and-long)

is how often the QB’s team keeps him ahead of chains and out of obvious passing situations (second- and third-and-long) “Scheme” is based on both yards after catch and the average separation a QB’s top-three targets get, per NFL.com’s Next-Gen Stats

is based on both yards after catch and the average separation a QB’s top-three targets get, per NFL.com’s Next-Gen Stats “Total” is an average of those four categories. This is the “QB Situation Grade”

Each figure has been adjusted to the league average, with 100 being the average for each category. Above 100 is good; below is bad.

Here are the results in table form…

Kirk Cousins is really in a good spot in Washington. Both on the field and off it. He’s set to make a record-breaking amount of money next offseason, and he has a good offensive line, receiving corps and offensive system to thank. Will he realize it and stick with the Redskins or opt for a less attractive situation if the money is better?

At the other end of the spectrum, you can see why the Bears are babying Mitchell Trubisky. The front office really hasn’t set the first-round pick up for success.

These numbers show why Alex Smith’s MVP candidacy is a little baffling. Only three quarterbacks have it easier than he does, according to our metrics. How much value is he really adding to that Chiefs offense?

Dak Prescott really should be getting more MVP love. He currently ranks second in QBR and is on pace to score 45 total touchdowns despite playing in a situation that isn’t nearly as good as we thought it would be before the season started. Carson Wentz isn’t too far behind him there. Neither is Tom Brady, who remains the top quarterback in this week’s rankings…

Tier 1

1. Tom Brady, Patriots

2. Drew Brees, Saints

Brees is just hanging on to the No. 2 spot after a two-interception performance. Alex Smith is right there on his heels. Brady is starting to separate himself from the rest of the league. With Aaron Rodgers out, there’s no challengers for the “best QB in the league” belt.

Tier 2

3. Alex Smith, Chiefs

4. Dak Prescott, Cowboys

5. Russell Wilson, Seahawks

6. Philip Rivers, Chargers

7. Carson Wentz, Eagles

8. Matthew Stafford, Lions

9. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers

Smith is knocking on the door of the next tier. The two second-year quarterbacks, Wentz and Prescott, continue to move up the list after eye-opening games that saw both enter the MVP race. Roethlisberger is back in the second tier after looking more like Ben Roethlisberger in Week 7.

Tier 3

10. Kirk Cousins, Redskins

11. Matt Ryan, Falcons

12. Derek Carr, Raiders

13. Eli Manning, Giants

14. Cam Newton, Panthers

15. Jared Goff, Rams

16. Carson Palmer, Cardinals

Cousins’ numbers are Tier 2 quality, but, as we covered in the intro, he has a supporting cast that has propped him up. Carr finally looked like a quarterback deserving of a monster contract against the Chiefs. Manning keeps playing solid football despite his situation, which our numbers didn’t really capture effectively. Palmer will likely make his last appearance on this list, and No. 16 is a fitting spot.

Tier 4

17. Tyrod Taylor, Bills

18. Jameis Winston, Buccaneers

19. Marcus Mariota, Titans

20. Andy Dalton, Bengals

21. Deshaun Watson, Texans

22. Case Keenum, Vikings

We’ve probably been sleeping on Taylor this season. His receivers aren’t very good and he’s been put in obvious passing situations repeatedly, but he keeps on performing. While we’re at it, let’s give some credit to Keenum, who is playing genuinely good football and has the Vikings at the top of the NFC North.

Tier 5

23. Joe Flacco, Ravens

24. Jay Cutler, Dolphins

25. Trevor Siemian, Broncos

Siemian has just fallen off a cliff since we hyped him up last month. His questionable decision-making is finally starting to catch up to him and expose his limited arm.

Tier 6

26. Josh McCown, Jets

27. Blake Bortles, Jaguars

28. Jacoby Brissett, Colts

29. Brett Hundley, Packers

30. Mitchell Trubisky, Bears

31. DeShone Kizer, Browns

32. C.J. Beathard, 49ers

McCown is close to making the leap up to the next tier, but the rest of this bunch is firmly entrenched here.

Best throw of the week

🔥👀🏈 Dak Prescott with the dime & Jason Witten with the one handed snag (via @nfl) #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/41Bjvqe1yJ — Fanatics View (@thefanaticsview) October 22, 2017

This is sublime quarterbacking. The way Prescott works the pocket. The way he reads the entire field. The perfect placement on the throw. Dak is special.

Worst throw of the week

In a vacuum, this throw isn’t all that bad. But we’ve seen Dalton make this same exact mistake a few times this season. He throws his receiver into a dangerous spot, and throws it high to expose him further.