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FFL: Week 10 | NFL: Week 10

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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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 9

Player Notes
Patrick Mahomes Nov 5 4:50am ET
Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 34 of 44 pass attempts (77%) for 291 yards and three touchdowns in the 30-24 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Chiefs quarterback added nine rushing yards on two carries in the contest. Mahomes followed up his best fantasy performance of the season with an even better game. The former MVP passed for three touchdowns for the first time this season. Mahomes also finished a game without an interception for the first time this season. The addition of DeAndre Hopkins gave Mahomes another reliable outlet to turn to, and he did not disappoint. Mahomes picked up an ankle injury on a touchdown pass to Samaje Perine in the fourth quarter and required assistance on the sideline. It was officially reported as an ankle injury, but it was minor enough that he returned on the team's next drive. Given that he returned to the game, the injury will likely not cause Mahomes to miss any time, but the injury reports will be telling. That said, Mahomes will look to continue this strong run against the Denver Broncos in Week 10. The Broncos rank 10th in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks this season, so it will be a tough matchup. Nevertheless, the Chiefs quarterback has shown signs of improvement lately, and that strong play could continue into next week. Mahomes will likely find himself in the low-end QB1 range again for Week 10.

From RotoBaller

Travis Kelce Nov 5 4:50am ET
Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce caught 14 of 16 targets for 100 in the 30-24 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Chiefs star tight end was undoubtedly the focal point of the passing attack, earning seven more targets than the next closest pass catcher. Kelce improved on his season-best performance from last week with more catches, targets, and yards than any other game this season. The only negative was that the Chiefs tight end did not find the endzone, but he still reached 22 points in a full-PPR format. Kelce will look to keep the good times rolling against the Denver Broncos in Week 10. The Broncos rank 14th in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends this season, so it will be a challenging matchup for Kelce. That said, Kelce is the alpha in the Kansas City passing attack, and his volume of targets will likely negate most defensive matchups moving forward. Kelce will continue to be ranked as a top-tier TE1 for as long as he is healthy.

From RotoBaller

Kareem Hunt Nov 5 4:50am ET
Kareem Hunt

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt handled 27 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown in the 30-24 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The veteran running back scored his touchdown to win the game in overtime. Hunt also hauled in his only target for 11 receiving yards in the contest. Hunt once again handled nearly every carry out of the backfield as the undisputed lead back. Given the recent report that Isiah Pacheco is likely out until late November at the earliest, Hunt should remain a viable fantasy asset for at least a few more weeks. The Chiefs running back will look to extend his four-game scoring streak against the Denver Broncos in Week 10. The Broncos rank 14th in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season, so it will not be the best matchup at the position. That said, Hunt has at least 21 carries and a touchdown in four straight games, making his workload among the strongest at the position. Given his performances over the past month and strong utilization, Hunt should continue to be ranked as a strong RB2.

From RotoBaller

DeAndre Hopkins Nov 5 4:50am ET
DeAndre Hopkins

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins caught eight of nine targets for 86 yards and two touchdowns in the 30-24 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hopkins was significantly more involved in his second game with the team, as he was second in targets amongst Chiefs pass catchers. Only Hopkins and Travis Kelce received more than five targets for Kansas City in this contest. The veteran receiver proved a trustworthy target for Patrick Mahomes as the two connected for a 35-yard completion on a crucial third down. Hopkins will look to continue his success against the Denver Broncos next week. The Broncos rank fourth in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers this season, so it will be a difficult matchup for Hopkins. The Chiefs receiver will likely face Patrick Surtain II often in next week's matchup, which could limit his fantasy success. That said, Hopkins looks like a top target for Mahomes in the passing game, which bodes well for him moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Nov 5 4:50am ET
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy has zero catches in the 30-24 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Worthy also had two carries for -10 yards in the contest. The rookie receiver nearly had a long touchdown on the game's first drive but failed to get two feet down in bounds. After that early incompletion, Worthy only saw one more target for the rest of the game. Despite also being involved in the run game, Worthy ended the game with negative yardage. Given his inconsistencies, starting Worthy against the Denver Broncos next week will be difficult. The Broncos rank fourth in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers thanks to their stout secondary. Worthy is playing behind Travis Kelce and DeAndre Hopkins in the passing game, and Kareem Hunt is seeing upwards of 20 opportunities in the last four games. There are not a lot of opportunities to go around, and the rookie has failed to capitalize on his. It will be challenging to rank Worthy as anything but a desperation flex play moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Samaje Perine Nov 5 4:50am ET
Samaje Perine

Kansas City Chiefs running back Samaje Perine had one carry for 10 yards in the 30-24 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Perine's success came through the air as he connected with Patrick Mahomes on a seven-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. The veteran running back finished the game with four catches for 25 yards and one touchdown. Perine was minimally involved on the ground but saw five targets in this contest. He is the clear passing downs back for Kansas City, but that role has yet to be particularly valuable this season. Perine should stay out of lineups for next week's matchup against the Denver Broncos. The Broncos are tougher against the pass than the run, but Perine's role in the offense is not significant enough to start him confidently.

From RotoBaller

Rachaad White Nov 5 1:00am ET
Rachaad White

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White carried the ball just three times for 19 yards in Monday night's 30-24 overtime loss to the Chiefs but was able to score his first rushing TD of the 2024 campaign. The 25-year-old has three receiving TDs already this season, and even though he did not score through the air on Monday, he was involved in the passing game again, snagging all three of his targets for 16 yards. Thankfully for fantasy, White is used as a pass catcher and around the goal line, as it was the second consecutive week that he's ceded more carries to fellow back Bucky Irving. With Sean Tucker in the mix as well, there just aren't as many carries to go around. It'll be a grind in next week's matchup at home versus the 49ers, so look for him to land in the low-end RB2/3 range with at least a solid floor in PPR leagues.

From RotoBaller

Cade Otton Nov 5 12:40am ET
Cade Otton

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton led his team in targets, receptions, and yards in Monday night's 30-24 overtime loss to the Chiefs, the third consecutive week he's led the Bucs in each of those categories. Otton caught eight of 11 targets for 77 yards and a score on Monday night, now with double-digit targets and at least eight receptions in three straight games. The TD was his fourth of the season but his third in the last two games. The 25-year-old has clearly been the top receiving option in the absence of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and he'll probably need to be again in Week 10 when the Bucs take on the 49ers at home. Jalen McMillan was inactive on Monday with a hamstring injury and should that linger into next week, Tampa will again have to rely on Otton and Co. Despite the tough matchup, the former fourth-round draft pick will be a TE1 again on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Baker Mayfield Nov 5 12:20am ET
Baker Mayfield

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 23 of 31 passes for 200 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions in Monday night's 30-24 overtime loss to the Chiefs, adding 20 yards on four rushes as well. Of the 200 yards passing, 69 came on Tampa's final drive in regulation, culminating with a critical touchdown pass to wide receiver Ryan Miller. But instead of going for two points and the win, the Bucs kicked the extra point to tie the game and force OT. The Chiefs won the toss and Patrick Mahomes never let Mayfield touch the ball again, leading the Chiefs on a game-winning touchdown drive on their first possession in the extra frame. While there were a few very close calls, it was the first time since Week 5 that the 29-year-old did not throw a pick, tossing seven of them in the three games prior to Monday night, but it was also the sixth consecutive game in which he threw for multiple TDs, now with a 23:9 TD:INT on the season. Believe it or not, the former first-overall draft pick has thrown the most TDs in 2024, three more than the next closest (Lamar Jackson). Week 10 brings a tough home matchup with the 49ers, but the veteran signal-caller likely still projects as a borderline QB1.

From RotoBaller

Desmond Ridder Nov 5 12:00am ET
Desmond Ridder

After firing three offensive coaches on Sunday night after their Week 9 blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Las Vegas Raiders are considering bringing in veteran NFL coach Norv Turner in an undisclosed offensive role, according to a source. Turner's son, Scott, the current passing-game coordinator, is the leading candidate to replace offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. The father-son combination worked together under head coach Ron Rivera with the Carolina Panthers the late 2010s. The 72-year-old Norv Turner spent 15 seasons as a head coach in the NFL, including two years with the Raiders in 2004-05, when he went 9-23 during that span. The Raiders' season is spiraling at 2-7 and in last place in the AFC West, and they could be considering benching quarterback Gardner Minshew III in favor of Desmond Ridder.

From RotoBaller

Isaiah Likely Nov 4 11:50pm ET
Isaiah Likely

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (hamstring) was listed as a non-participant on the team's Monday practice estimate. It's the first time that Likely has "missed" a practice all year, putting him in danger to suit up in a quick turnaround this Thursday night against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals. We'll have a better idea if the 24-year-old will be able to play based on his practice status on Tuesday and Wednesday. If he isn't able to play in Week 10, it will mean more opportunities for both Mark Andrews and Charlie Kolar. Likely was a popular waiver-wire pickup after going for nine catches, 111 yards and a touchdown in the season opener, but that's been the outlier, and he has gone over 27 yards just once in eight games since. He put up a donut in the Week 9 win over the Denver Broncos and should be benched by fantasy managers this week, even if he's active against the Bengals.

From RotoBaller

Will Levis Nov 4 11:40pm ET
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said he is hopeful that this is the week that quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) will return. The Titans plan on increasing Levis' workload in practice this week as they prepare to face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 10. An AC joint sprain in his right (throwing) shoulder has kept him out of the last three games. Mason Rudolph has gone 1-2 in his absence, and the Titans have said that Levis will return to the starting role once he's healthy. The second-year signal-caller wasn't exactly looking good before his shoulder injury while making questionable decisions, but the strong-armed QB does give the Titans' offense more overall upside. If the 25-year-old gets the green light to play this Sunday against the Chargers, he'll be a low-end QB2 option in superflex leagues against a stingy defensive unit.

From RotoBaller

Keaton Mitchell Nov 4 11:40pm ET
Keaton Mitchell

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said on Monday that running back Keaton Mitchell (knee) has a chance to make his season debut in Week 10 on Thursday night against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals. Mitchell was also listed as a full participant in Monday's practice estimate, so he's clearly tracking towards a return this week. The 22-year-old second-year back also practiced in full all of last week but wasn't activated for the Week 9 blowout win over the Denver Broncos. Make no mistake that Baltimore's backfield will continue to be led by the NFL's rushing leader in Derrick Henry, but Mitchell will give Baltimore yet another explosive change-of-pace weapon in an already stacked offense. Mitchell's return will make Justice Hill less interesting in deeper fantasy leagues. Mitchell will likely be eased in if he returns Thursday, but he's worth rostering in most leagues as RB depth.

From RotoBaller

Tony Pollard Nov 4 11:30pm ET
Tony Pollard

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said that the team would love to reduce running back Tony Pollard's workload because his heavy usage lately is wearing on him. Backfield mate Tyjae Spears (hamstring) has missed the last three games due to injury but could return in Week 10 against the Los Angeles Chargers to take more backfield touches away from Pollard, who had a season-high 28 carries for a season-high 128 rushing yards while also catching three passes for 26 yards in the Week 9 overtime win over the New England Patriots. The 27-year-old played through a questionable designation due to a foot injury that limited him in practice leading up to the game. Pollard should still be Tennessee's lead back going forward, but it sounds like the Titans may look to distribute more of his touches, which will give fantasy managers less volume heading into a tough matchup against the Bolts.

From RotoBaller

Dak Prescott Nov 4 10:00pm ET
Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys pass-rusher Micah Parsons (ankle) is expected to be back on the field for the Week 10 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Parsons has been sidelined for the last four games while recovering from a high-ankle sprain. This return is a welcoming sight for this Cowboys defensive unit. Parsons has 14 tackles and one sack through the four games that he's played in this season. The Cowboys offense took a huge hit with Dak Prescott (hamstring) going down for multiple weeks. However, Parsons should be able to give them a lift on the defensive side of the ball.

From RotoBaller

Cooper Rush Nov 4 9:50pm ET
Cooper Rush

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush has been named the starting quarterback in the absence of Dak Prescott (hamstring) over the next few weeks. Prescott suffered a significant hamstring injury that is going to force him to miss multiple weeks. Rush came in for Prescott during Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. He completed 13-of-25 passing attempts for 115 yards and a touchdown in the loss. He didn't look awful under center and has proven to be able to hold his own in the league. However, Rush isn't exactly an appealing streaming option against the Philadelphia Eagles next week.

From RotoBaller

Ezekiel Elliott Nov 4 9:50pm ET
Ezekiel Elliott

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was a healthy scratch from Sunday's Week 9 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. The Cowboys decided to elevated Dalvin Cook and make Elliott a healthy scratch after his rough start to the season. However, head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed that Elliott would be available for the Week 10 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The veteran back is averaging 3.1 yards per carry on 48 attempts this season. He figures to serve as the change-of-pace back to Rico Dowdle in the backfield. It's hard to imagine Elliott having reliable value anymore at this point.

From RotoBaller

Amari Cooper Nov 4 9:40pm ET
Amari Cooper

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper (wrist) is currently considered day-to-day, according to head coach Sean McDermott. This news comes after Cooper was inactive ahead of the Week 9 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. He was able to get through limited practice sessions, but the Bills ultimately decided to hold him out. Fantasy managers will have to wait and see what Cooper does during practice this week. If he sits again, Keon Coleman (wrist), Dalton Kincaid, and Khalil Shakir figure to have expanded roles. The fact Cooper is listed as day-to-day means he shouldn't have an extended absence.

From RotoBaller

Mecole Hardman Nov 4 9:30pm ET
Mecole Hardman

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (shoulder) is back on the field shortly after exiting Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hardman was forced to exit in the first quarter after suffering a shoulder injury while returning a punt. He was taken to the locker room to be evaluated, but appears to be fine. He's back and returned a punt in the second quarter of this game. Hardman was yet to be targeted as a receiver with the game nearly at halftime. However, Hardman is a solid punt returner, so having him back is a plus for the Chiefs.

From RotoBaller

Mecole Hardman Nov 4 9:20pm ET
Mecole Hardman

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman (shoulder) was forced to exit during the first quarter of Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hardman suffered a shoulder injury during a punt return and was taken to the locker room. He's currently being evaluated and is considered as questionable to return to Monday's game. The absence of Hardman won't have much of an impact on this offense. He didn't see a target before exiting and has only been targeted three times over the last two games.

From RotoBaller