1997 Quarterbacks | Football Outsiders

PASSING: Minimum 200 passes

Player	Team	DYAR		YAR		DVOA		VOA		QBR		Pass	Yards	EYds		TD	FK	FL	INT	C%	DPI	ALEX
D. Marino
M. Brunell
B. Favre
S. Young
B. Johnson
J. Elway
W. Moon
D. Bledsoe
C. Chandler
J. George
T. Aikman
G. Frerotte
T. Dilfer
E. Kramer
K. Stewart
S. Mitchell
E. Grbac
J. Harbaugh
V. Testaverde
T. Banks
S. McNair
J. Blake
T. Detmer
B. Hoying
N.O'Donnell
K. Graham
D. Kanell
J. Plummer
S. Humphries
K. Collins
T. Collins
C. Whelihan
H. Shuler

PASSING: 10-199 passes

Player	Team	DYAR	YAR	DVOA	VOA	QBR	Pass	Yards	EYds	TD	FK	FL	INT	C%	DPI	ALEX
B. Esiason
P. Justin
S. Beuerlein
G. Foley
R. Gannon
D. Brown
S. Matthews
R. Johnson
E. Zeier
J. Kitna
M. Tomczak
B. Tolliver
M. Rypien
R. Peete
J. Garrett
W. Wilson
R. Cunningham
J. Hostetler
B. Hobert
C. Erickson
F. Reich
S. Bono
S. Stenstrom
S. Walsh
T. Philcox
S. Case
T. Graziani
J. Friesz
J. Brohm
J. Everett
D. Nussmeier
D. Wuerffel
J. Druckenmiller
A. Van Pelt
K. Holcomb
R. Mirer

RUSHING: Minimum 8 rushes

Player	Team	DYAR		YAR		DVOA		VOA		Runs	Yards	EYds		TD	FUM
S. McNair
K. Stewart
M. Brunell
E. Grbac
J. Blake
R. Gannon
T. Dilfer
S. Young
J. Plummer
B. Johnson
J. Harbaugh
N.O'Donnell
B. Favre
D. Bledsoe
R. Cunningham
J. Elway
W. Moon
T. Detmer
K. Collins
V. Testaverde
D. Brown
C. Chandler
R. Mirer
A. Van Pelt
J. George
C. Whelihan
B. Hoying
S. Mitchell
B. Hobert
E. Kramer
H. Shuler
T. Aikman
K. Graham
T. Banks
G. Frerotte
T. Collins

This table explained

Quarterbacks are ranked according to DYAR, or Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement. This gives the value of the quarterback's performance compared to replacement level, adjusted for situation and opponent and then translated into yardage. DYAR (and its cousin, YAR, which isn't adjusted based on opponent) is further explained here.

The other statistic given is DVOA, or Defense-adjusted Value Over Average. This number represents value, per play, over an average quarterback in the same game situations. The more positive the DVOA rating, the better the player's performance. Negative DVOA represents below-average offense. DVOA (and its cousin, VOA, which isn't adjusted based on opponent) is further explained here.

The simple version: DYAR means a quarterback with more total value. DVOA means a quarterback with more value per play.

Effective Yards (EYds) translate DVOA into a yards per attempt figure. This provides an easy comparison: in general, players with more Effective Yards than standard yards played better than standard stats would otherwise indicate, while players with fewer Effective Yards than standard yards played worse than standard stats would otherwise indicate. Effective Yards are not the best way to measure total value because they are more dependent on usage than DYAR.

Total QBR (listed as just QBR) is a metric created by the ESPN Stats & Information group. Total QBR is based on the expected points added by the quarterback on each play, then adjusts the numbers to a scale of 0-100. QBR as displayed here is adjusted for opponent. It exists back to 2006. There are four main differences between Total QBR and Football Outsiders' DVOA metric (with further explanation here):

Total QBR incorporates information from game charting, such as passes dropped or thrown away on purpose.
Total QBR splits responsibility on plays between the quarterback, his receivers, and his blockers. Drops, for example, are more on the receiver, as are yards after the catch, and some sacks are more on the offensive line than others.
Total QBR has a clutch factor which adds (or subtracts) value for quarterbacks who perform best (or worst) in high-leverage situations.
Total QBR combines passing and rushing value into one number and differentiates between scrambles and planned runs.

Further information about the table below:

Passes total includes sacks and aborted snaps. Both count against a quarterback's value.
Intentional clock-stopping spikes are not counted as passes, which may cause completion rate to be different from official NFL stats.
Fumbles count the same whether lost to the defense or retained by the offense.
DPI lists the number of plays and yards where the quarterback drew Defensive Pass Interference. These plays are incorporated into DVOA and DYAR, but are not included in the totals for Passes or Yards.
ALEX represents Air Less EXpected on third downs, the average difference between the length of the quarterback's throw and the distance needed for a new set of downs. The number listed here only includes third downs and is not adjusted for passes thrown away or batted down.

Clicking on a player's name will bring you to his FO player page with advanced stats through the most recent season.

Regular season only.

Note for 1987: strikebreaker games (Weeks 4-6) are not included.