Saints bench healthy Jameis Winston for PFF's third-best QB

There was a debate over who should be the team's starter after the offense showed marked improvement with Dalton under center. 

After last Thursday's debacle in Arizona, however, there were doubts whether the purportedly "safer" Dalton was the best bet moving forward. He threw three interceptions against the Cardinals, one in the red zone and two others returned for touchdowns.

Regardless of those three bad outcomes, Pro Football Focus grades Dalton (84.7) as the third-best quarterback in football. He trails Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. 

The Saints are third in total offense per game (398.3 yards) and seventh in points (25). 

In four starts, Dalton is 83-of-131 (63.4 percent) for 946 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. The team is 1-3 in his four starts.

Winston was 73-of-115 (63.5) for 858 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions in the first three games with the team posting a 1-2 record.

The Saints averaged 17 points during Winston's three starts and are averaging 31 points during Dalton's run. It hasn't made much of a difference as the team sits at 2-5 with a defense that has yet to allow fewer than 20 points in a game this season.