Justin Herbert slips to No. 31 in latest NFL quarterback rankings, adding pressure to the Chargers’ season

The Los Angeles Chargers’ quarterback is finding himself near the bottom of the conversation again. After Week 4, writer Nick Shook updated his weekly quarterback rankings and placed Justin Herbert at No. 31 among NFL starters. In the framing of the ranking update, the shift is part of a larger slide from earlier in the season, with Herbert described as having steadily declined into the lowest grouping.

Shook’s rankings are presented as a weekly, responsive power board, designed to reflect how quarterbacks are performing on a given slate rather than treating preseason expectations as the baseline. That matters because the rankings influence how teams and fans interpret the “report” of a season at key moments. When a franchise quarterback drops to the cellar, it amplifies scrutiny not only of results, but also of offensive structure, play-calling rhythms, and how effectively an offense is converting drives into points.

For the Chargers, Herbert’s ranking at No. 31 positions the team’s offense under a harsh spotlight during a period where early-season form often becomes the template for late-season identity. A quarterback’s position in league-wide rankings is not an official stat category, and it does not provide a direct measure of wins or individual efficiency on its own. Still, it is a widely circulated benchmark, and a bottom-tier placement tends to shape public expectations for what comes next.

The ranking update is specifically tied to what happened through Week 4, meaning it is capturing a relatively small sample of games compared with an entire campaign. Quarterback evaluations often swing early in the year because offensive continuity, opponent game plans, and available playmaking can vary from week to week. Even so, the stated trajectory in the ranking report, Herbert moving toward the “basement” of the list, indicates that the concern is not just a one-week blip in how he is being viewed.

The Chargers now face the immediate challenge of separating perception from progress. When quarterback rankings become this severe, the response typically has to show up in the film. That can include more consistent downfield success, cleaner execution in critical situations, and improved drive construction, especially when possessions tighten. Without making assumptions about underlying reasons, the headline takeaway remains that Herbert is being ranked among the lowest at his position in the league right now after Week 4.

What to watch next is whether the Chargers can change the trend in the rankings the following weeks. If Herbert’s placement rebounds, it will likely indicate that the offense is producing more of the throws and outcomes that voters associate with a higher tier quarterback. If he remains at or near the bottom, the ranking update will continue to serve as a running storyline, raising questions about how quickly the Chargers can stabilize their passing attack and how that stability affects their broader playoff outlook.