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FFL: Week 5 | NFL: Week 5

QB Strength of Schedule

Thu May 23 11:12am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Prescott setup for big success


Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the quarterback position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the quarterbacks with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the quarterbacks that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.

  QB SOS  
1. Miami Dolphins 313.6
2. Cincinnati Bengals 314.77
3. Los Angeles Chargers 317.32
4. Denver Broncos 317.38
5. Pittsburgh Steelers 320.33
6. Houston Texans 320.74
7. Buffalo Bills 321.01
8. Philadelphia Eagles 323.71
9. Kansas City Chiefs 325.08
10. Washington Commanders 325.12
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 326.4
12. Jacksonville Jaguars 328.45
13. New York Jets 329.06
14. New England Patriots 329.64
15. Cleveland Browns 330.31
16. Los Angeles Rams 330.72
17. Arizona Cardinals 331.54
18. Indianapolis Colts 331.69
19. Seattle Seahawks 332
20. Atlanta Falcons 332.73
21. Baltimore Ravens 333.05
22. San Francisco 49ers 333.05
23. Detroit Lions 334.13
24. Las Vegas Raiders 334.38
25. New York Giants 334.72
26. New Orleans Saints 336.27
27. Minnesota Vikings 337.2
28. Dallas Cowboys 339.64
29. Chicago Bears 340.70
30. Tennessee Titans 343.69
31. Carolina Panthers 345.54
32. Green Bay Packers 349.53


The Packers have the easiest fantasy schedule for quarterbacks. Jordan Love already had a breakout season last year and could take his game to an even higher level this season. Love is shaping up to be a really intriguing QB1 this season. He is a player on the rise and seems setup for even more success this year.

A couple second-year quarterbacks have really favorable schedules, Will Levis and Bryce Young. Both seem like good No. 2 fantasy quarterbacks to take a chance. Their teams did well in upgrading the talent around them this offseason and a favorable schedule bodes well for them to take some steps forward this year.

Caleb Williams was the No.1 overall pick and the Bears gave him plenty of firepower to work with in year one. Williams has a lot of good going for him this year and could be the C.J. Stroud of this year’s rookie class. And having a favorable fantasy schedule helps Williams even more.

A couple veterans with favorable schedules are Dak Prescott and Derek Carr. Prescott is the one that stands out the most. The Cowboys are lacking top options at the running back spot, so it would not surprise if the Cowboys are really pass-heavy offensively. Prescott could really rack up the numbers this year.

There are some big-name quarterbacks on the opposite side of things, having very tough fantasy schedules. Tua Tagovalioa has the toughest schedule of all. He struggled a little down the stretch last year and now has the most unfavorable schedule for any fantasy quarterback. This is a little concerning.

Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and whoever is starting in Pittsburgh, likely Russell Wilson, are other veteran quarterbacks that have a top-five unfavorable schedule for fantasy quarterbacks. Burrow is not a huge concern for us because we think they will still have success throwing the ball and he has a ton of talent around him at receiver. Herbert is a concern. The Chargers lost their top two receivers and could be a lot more run-heavy with a new coach in place. Herbert has some red flags for him this coming year, making him a bit of a risky pick for fantasy teams. Wilson is another veteran with a tough schedule. He also has Justin Fields pushing him to play, so Wilson is going to be a boom or bust fantasy pick.

We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy quarterbacks. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the quarterbacks with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big money contests.

  QB PLAYOFF SOS  
1. Jacksonville Jaguars 292.02
2. Houston Texans 299.33
3. New York Giants 301.93
4. Miami Dolphins 307.48
5. Los Angeles Rams 308.45
6. Detroit Lions 312.4
7. Arizona Cardinals 313.15
8. Kansas City Chiefs 313.45
9. Buffalo Bills 313.6
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 317.53
11. Cincinnati Bengals 318.03
12. Baltimore Ravens 318.25
13. Green Bay Packers 322.48
14. Indianapolis Colts 322.83
15. Pittsburgh Steelers 328.78
16. Philadelphia Eagles 331.23
17. Cleveland Browns 331.95
18. Minnesota Vikings 334.68
19. Atlanta Falcons 336.18
20. Carolina Panthers 338.62
21. Seattle Seahawks 338.65
22. Las Vegas Raiders 341.18
23. Los Angeles Chargers 341.22
24. New York Jets 344.3
25. New Orleans Saints 346.68
26. Chicago Bears 347.07
27. Tennessee Titans 348.42
28. New England Patriots 355.23
29. Denver Broncos 355.35
30. Dallas Cowboys 359.62
31. Washington Commanders 359.92
32. San Francisco 49ers 363.47


There is just a team that makes both the top-five favorable quarterback schedule for the regular season and playoffs. That team is the Cowboys. So Dak Prescott has the third easiest playoff schedule in addition to having the fifth easiest regular season schedule. Prescott was a player looking pretty good even before seeing these schedules, so you might want to bump him up a few spots in your rankings after seeing this. Prescott could be a league winner in 2024.

The 49ers actually have the easiest fantasy quarterback schedule for the playoffs. So Brock Purdy could have a great run during the fantasy playoffs. He always has a high weekly ceiling, so things are looking great for him this postseason.

Now some rookie quarterbacks round out the team of having top-five fantasy quarterback playoff schedules. Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix and Drake Maye are all likely starting for their teams later in the season, so they should help fantasy teams during the playoffs. They all have some question marks surrounding them but could be worth the gamble, especially if you have a dependable starter already on your roster. These rookies could make some noise late in the season.

On the opposite side of things, the Dolphins are the only team to have both a top-five unfavorable fantasy quarterback schedule for the regular season and playoffs. We already had a few concerns for Tagovalioa even before these schedules were released. And now seeing he has very challenging schedules for both the regular season and playoffs make him a player you might want to avoid come draft day.

Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars have the toughest schedule for the playoffs. Lawrence has not lived up to expectations to date. He could have his best season to date this year, but his schedule during the playoffs is concerning. Lawrence could struggle when it matters most.

C.J. Stroud is the biggest name of any quarterback with a top-five unfavorable playoff schedule. We aren’t too concerned about this because some players can rise above the challenge. Stroud is one of those players. Things will be tougher for him in year two, but he will also progress and get better. Plus, he has Stefon Diggs added to the mix, which should improve that passing game even more.

Daniel Jones is another quarterback with a challenging playoff schedule. He is another fringe draft pick to begin with, so seeing him possibly have struggles down the stretch causes more trepidation when it comes to possibly drafting him. He might be another player to just steer clear of come draft day.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 5

Player Notes
Khalil Shakir Oct 7 5:00pm ET
Khalil Shakir

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott called wide receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle) day-to-day on Monday. The Bills will continue to evaluate Shakir's ankle injury after he was forced to sit out of the Week 5 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday. The 24-year-old will hope to make some progress in practice this week and hopefully have a chance to return this Sunday against the division-rival New York Jets in Week 6. Fantasy managers will have a better idea of whether Shakir can return later on in the week. In his absence in Houston, quarterback Josh Allen and Buffalo's offense really struggled to sustain drives and put up points in a 23-20 loss. Allen threw for a season-low 131 yards on just nine completions, and rookie receiver Keon Coleman led the team in receiving on a 49-yard touchdown reception.

From RotoBaller

Brian Robinson Jr. Oct 7 5:00pm ET
Brian Robinson Jr.

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said running back Brian Robinson Jr. (knee) came out of the Week 5 win over the Cleveland Browns "well." Robinson didn't have a carry in the second half of the game on Sunday, which Quinn said was "a coaching decision" as they monitor his knee. In the first half, B-Rob had seven carries for only 18 yards, but he saved the day for his fantasy managers by finding the end zone twice in an easy win over Cleveland. With the Commanders up big in the second half, there was really no need to push the 25-year-old after he came into the game questionable due to a knee injury. Robinson has five rushing touchdowns through five weeks, but fantasy managers have to be a little concerned that his workload will continue to be monitored heading into a Week 6 contest versus the Baltimore Ravens.

From RotoBaller

Nico Collins Oct 7 4:50pm ET
Nico Collins

After initially being deemed day-to-day on Monday, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said that the team will evaluate wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) "week-to-week." "It takes a hamstring a couple weeks," Ryans said. Collins managed to catch both of his targets for 78 yards and his third touchdown of the season in the Week 5 win over the Buffalo Bills before leaving the game, and now his status for the Week 6 contest against the New England Patriots is firmly up in the air. Fantasy managers should already be preparing as if he won't be available this week. The 25-year-old's status will be more clear once the Texans hold a few practices later this week. He currently has a league-high 567 receiving yards through five weeks and would be a big loss for Houston's offense. Second-year wideout Tank Dell, would be the biggest beneficiary in the Texans offense from a fantasy standpoint if Collins misses any time.

From RotoBaller

Joe Mixon Oct 7 4:50pm ET
Joe Mixon

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said that running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is still being evaluated this week. "Definitely improving, see where he is as the week goes on," Ryans said. Mixon tweaked his ankle in the Week 2 win over the Chicago Bears and hasn't played since. The Texans are going to play it coy with Mixon's status for now, but we should have a better idea of his status for Week 6 versus the New England Patriots once the team resumes practicing on Wednesday. There's also the status of Dameon Pierce (hamstring) to take into account in this backfield. Pierce hasn't played since Week 1 but is apparently getting close to a return. Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale have been splitting the backfield for Houston in each of the last three weeks, but Mixon will be the Texans' primary back once he's fully healthy.

From RotoBaller

Christian McCaffrey Oct 7 4:40pm ET
Christian McCaffrey

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles, calf) will remain on Injured Reserve and will not be available to make his 2024 debut this Thursday night against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks on the road in Week 6. McCaffrey is dealing with Achilles tendinitis in both of his legs and has yet to play so far in 2024. However, he did do some on-field work last week and didn't have any setbacks to his legs. The 49ers will continue to take things slow with last year's leading rusher, but it's been reported that CMC could be ready to make his season debut at the earliest in Week 7 for a rematch of last year's Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. But there's also a possibility that San Fran decides to hold McCaffrey out through their Week 9 bye. He needs to remain stashed in all fantasy formats, while Jordan Mason maintains RB1 status for however long McCaffrey is sidelined.

From RotoBaller

Ricky Pearsall Oct 7 4:30pm ET
Ricky Pearsall

The San Francisco 49ers are not opening the practice window for rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (chest) this week because the team isn't going to have a full-speed practice this week as they prepare to take on the division-rival Seattle Seahawks on a quick turnaround to kick off Week 6 action on Thursday night at Lumen Field. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Pearsall will continue to undergo physical therapy while he stays on the Non-Football Injury list. Pearsall sustained a gunshot wound to his chest on Aug. 31 during an armed-robbery attempt and he also missed the majority of training camp due to a hamstring injury. The 24-year-old is getting close to rejoining practices, but the Niners will likely take the full 21-day window before activating him from the NFI list. Pearsall is fighting an uphill battle to make an impact in redraft fantasy leagues in 2024 after already missing a lot of time.

From RotoBaller

DeVonta Smith Oct 7 3:20pm ET
DeVonta Smith

According to NFL Insider James Palmer, the Philadelphia Eagles expect superstar wide receivers A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion) to return to action in Week 6. It's excellent news for the Eagles and fantasy managers. Brown has been on the shelf since a five-catch, 119-yard performance in Week 1 after popping up later that week with a hamstring issue, and Smith since Week 4 when he was forced from Philly's loss to the Buccaneers -- failing to record a target. They'll be a welcome sight for quarterback Jalen Hurts, who struggled to get much going down both athletes when the team fell to Tampa Bay 33-16. The wideouts will immediately slot back into their elite WR1 and high-end WR2 roles in the Eagles' offense, providing a significant boost to the team when Philadelphia hosts the visiting Cleveland Browns this coming Sunday. Fantasy managers can confidently return them to their starting lineups.

From RotoBaller

Brandin Cooks Oct 7 3:13pm ET
Brandin Cooks

Dynasty | Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert had seven catches for 87 yards and a touchdown in a win against Pittsburgh. Dynasty Analysis: Tolbert led the team in catches and targets while the Steelers focused much of the defensive game plan on CeeDee Lamb. Tolbert now has double digit fantasy points in three of four games and is quickly emerging as a legitimate option in fantasy leagues. With Brandin Cooks on injured reserve, Tolbert has a chance to take the WR2 job in Dallas and run with it. He'll be a flex consideration moving forward and maybe more if he can keep it up.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Dalvin Cook Oct 7 3:13pm ET
Dalvin Cook

Dynasty | Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle had 87 rushing yards, two catches, 27 receiving yards, and a touchdown in a win against the Steelers. Dynasty Analysis: After beginning the season in a rotation with Ezekiel Elliott, Dowdle has now taken over the backfield in Dallas. He had 22 touches this week compared to just six for Elliott. While his production has been far from dominant, his workload merits him to be in consideration each week. The Cowboys could still bring up Dalvin Cook but it seems Dowdle is going to finally get a chance to earn the job. He's a solid hold in dynasty leagues.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Anthony Richardson Oct 7 3:10pm ET
Anthony Richardson

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that when quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique) is healthy, he will remain the team's starter. Richardson was forced from the Colt's matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers with what was initially labeled a hip injury. In his absence, Joe Flacco has thrown for 527 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions in less than two full games of action. Despite this, Indianapolis will continue to roll with their second-year quarterback, who has yet to eclipse three passing scores on the year while already tossing six interceptions. As exciting as the 22-year-old is to watch, it would appear that Flacco gives the Colts a better chance to win games and is a bigger boost to his surrounding skill players -- particularly the wide receivers -- for fantasy. The Florida product isn't expected to be sidelined long, and projects to be back this Sunday when Indianapolis faces the Tennessee Titans on the road. This situation will become more evident when the Colts release their week's first injury report on Wednesday.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Legette Oct 7 3:10pm ET
Xavier Legette

Per Joe Person of the Athletic, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (shoulder) said he is expected to undergo imaging on Monday for his AC Joint injury. The rookie wideout exited Sunday's 36-10 loss to the Chicago Bears late in the first half, ending his day with one catch on one target for eight yards. Earlier reports from Legette confirmed he expects to play in Week 6 when the team lines up to face the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday. However, Carolina is at least moderately concerned about the 23-year-old's shoulder. In his absence, wide receiver Jalen Coker saw an uptick in snaps, leading the team in receptions (4) and yards (68). Coker would likely play in three wide receiver sets again, along with Diontae Johnson and Jonathan Mingo, if Legette were to miss more time. For now, the former first-round pick is considered day-to-day.

From RotoBaller

DeMarvin Leal Oct 7 2:50pm ET
DeMarvin Leal

The Pittsburgh Steelers allowed 20 points while logging two sacks, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and a blocked field goal in a Week 5 Loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Led by T.J. Watt, the Steelers' defense was on fire to begin the contest, forcing two turnovers and holding Dallas to just six points in the first half. Pittsburgh managed some big plays late, such as an interception by cornerback Joey Porter Jr. that eventually led to a go-ahead touchdown, but the defense struggled to put pressure on quarterback Dak Prescott in the second half. Edge rushers Nick Herbig (hamstring) and DeMarvin Leal (neck) were both injured in the contest, leaving Pittsburgh depleted at outside linebacker with Alex Highsmith (groin) inactive. The Steelers DST will hope to get healthy in a spot to bounce back against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Devon Achane Oct 7 2:40pm ET
Devon Achane

According to Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network, Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters Monday that running back De'Von Achane (concussion) is in the NFL's concussion protocol. The 22-year-old exited Sunday's contest against the New England Patriots early after taking an end around and colliding head-on with a Pats' defender. Achane had racked up 18 yards on his three carries before his exit and seemed to be in store for a big game. In his stead, running backs Raheem Mostert and rookie Jaylen Wright handled the majority of the backfield touches, with the veteran amassing six more carries but six fewer yards than the latter. That duo would likely lead the backfield again if Achane missed time. Fortunately, Miami is heading into their Week 6 bye, which will afford the second-year back an extended recovery period. He is probably able to clear protocol ahead of an enticing Week 7 road matchup against a sieve-like Indianapolis Colts defense, but this will be a situation for fantasy managers to monitor.

From RotoBaller

Chris Boswell Oct 7 2:20pm ET
Chris Boswell

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell connected on his lone field goal attempt and was successful on both of his extra-point tries in a 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Boswell drilled a 41-yarder on Pittsburgh's first possession of the game but was not called upon again until the third quarter when the team finally found the end zone. Although he continues to kick extremely accurately to begin the season, the Steelers' offensive woes give some cause for concern moving forward. Boswell should be able to bounce back next week against the Las Vegas Raiders, who are surrendering over 26 points per contest.

From RotoBaller

Pat Freiermuth Oct 7 2:10pm ET
Pat Freiermuth

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth came down with all three of his targets for 22 yards and a score in a Week 5 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Freiermuth was quiet for much of the contest but was called upon when it mattered most. The 25-year-old was on the receiving end of a six-yard shovel-pass-touchdown from quarterback Justin Fields that put the Steelers up 17-13 with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, Freiermuth was credited with a lost fumble on the last play of the game, on which he lateralled the ball in a desperate attempt to score as time expired. Freiermuth has had a sizeable role in the offense all season and has proven to be a threat near the goal line over the past two weeks. He'll continue to project as a low-end TE1 heading into a Week 6 bout with the Las Vegas Raiders.

From RotoBaller

David Njoku Oct 7 2:00pm ET
David Njoku

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) played 25 offensive snaps in the Week 5 loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday in his first game since suffering a high-ankle sprain in the Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. However, Njoku suffered a knee injury against Washington, and head coach Kevin Stefanski said he will get an MRI exam on Monday to determine the extent of his new injury. The 28-year-old had just one reception for 14 yards on three targets in his return, while Jordan Akins caught all three of his targets for 22 yards and his first touchdown of the year. Njoku's status for a Week 6 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles is now up in the air until we know more about his knee injury. Even if his knee injury isn't serious and he's able to play this weekend, Njoku's stock has fallen to a low-end TE1/high-end TE2 in what has become an ugly Browns offense.

From RotoBaller

George Pickens Oct 7 2:00pm ET
George Pickens

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens recorded three receptions for 26 yards on seven targets in a 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. It was an oddly quiet night for Pickens, who was out-snapped by fellow wideouts Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III. When asked about the situation, head coach Mike Tomlin labeled it "snap management" and stated that there was no underlying reason for Pickens' minimal role. With Pickens on the sideline, it was made apparent that the Steelers are lacking explosive pass-catchers, making his limited utilization all the more confusing. He did manage to contribute on a pivotal possession late in the fourth quarter, gaining 21 yards on a short pass from Justin Fields that set up a go-ahead touchdown. The 23-year-old should be more involved in a Week 6 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

From RotoBaller

Davante Adams Oct 7 1:50pm ET
Davante Adams

The Las Vegas Raiders' preference as an organization is to trade wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) "sooner rather than later," according to multiple sources. However, the Raiders aren't just going to do any deal just for the sake of trading Adams, and their preference has been not to take on any of the money remaining on his contract. Trade talks involving Adams are expected to heat up this week, with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints being the most likely destinations for the 31-year-old. Adams has missed the last two games with the Raiders due to a hamstring issue, but he's expected to be ready to play in Week 6 if he's traded by then. In three games this year, he has caught 18 passes for 209 yards and one touchdown. Moving out of Vegas and their ugly quarterback situation should be a plus for Adams' rest-of-season fantasy outlook. Stay tuned on this high-profile situation.

From RotoBaller

Will Levis Oct 7 1:40pm ET
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said that quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) likely won't practice on Monday, but he expects the young signal-caller to return to his practice routine later in the week. Levis is "improving" and is better than he was after last Monday's win over the Miami Dolphins. The 25-year-old suffered a right AC-joint sprain in his throwing shoulder in Week 4. He was relieved by Mason Rudolph, who stayed in for the remainder of the game and led the team to an easy win over Miami. It sounds like Levis should have a chance to play in Week 6 against the division-rival Indianapolis Colts coming out of the bye week, but nothing is official as of right now. The Titans said last week that Levis remains their starting QB as long as he's healthy, but he could be on a short leash moving forward after leading the league with six interceptions through his first four games.

From RotoBaller

Justin Fields Oct 7 1:30pm ET
Justin Fields

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields completed 15 of 27 pass attempts for 131 yards and two touchdowns while adding 27 rushing yards on six attempts in a 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The Steelers' offense struggled in this one, but Fields was able to execute with some success in the second half. He found tight end Connor Heyward for a 16-yard score early in the third quarter and later hit Pat Freiermuth on a six-yard shovel pass for a touchdown that gave the team a 17-13 lead with less than five minutes to go in the fourth. Like his performance in Week 4, Fields' efforts to mount a comeback salvaged his fantasy output even though the Steelers came up short. Assuming he remains the starter, the 25-year-old will be a low-end QB1 or high-end QB2 for fantasy purposes in Week 6 when he takes on the Las Vegas Raiders.

From RotoBaller