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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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Travis Kelce Nov 5 1:13pm ET
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Dynasty | Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had 14 catches for 100 yards in a win against Tampa Bay. Dynasty Analysis: Kelce's 16 targets led the team. After a brutally slow start, Kelce has been Kelce lately with 43 targets and 37 catches over his last four games. While touchdowns have been tough to come by, it certainly looks like Kelce is going to post another 1,000 yard season if this pace keeps up. He's right back to elite TE1 status now that the Chiefs have seemingly recommitted to him instead of managing his workload.

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Xavier Worthy Nov 5 1:13pm ET
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DeAndre Hopkins Nov 5 1:13pm ET
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D.K. Metcalf Nov 5 1:10pm ET
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Desmond Ridder Nov 5 12:30pm ET
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Marshon Lattimore Nov 5 12:30pm ET
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K.J. Osborn Nov 5 12:20pm ET
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According to sources, New England Patriots wide receiver K.J. Osborn has been involved in trade talks over the last several weeks and is now a target for a few teams ahead of Tuesday's NFL trade deadline. Osborn had some productive seasons with the Minnesota Vikings when quarterback Kirk Cousins was in town, but he's been an afterthought with the Pats and has only seven receptions on 17 targets for 57 yards and a touchdown in his first six games with the team in 2024. The 27-year-old was a healthy scratch in the Week 9 loss to the Tennessee Titans in favor of DeMario Douglas, Kayson Boutte, Kendrick Bourne and rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. With Osborn so far down the receiving depth chart in New England, it would make sense for the Pats to deal him to a team that would give him more opportunities.

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Dak Prescott Nov 5 12:10pm ET
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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday that it's likely that quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) will be placed on Injured Reserve, which will require him to miss at least four games. If the Cowboys put Prescott on IR this week, the earliest he would be able to return would be on Dec. 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night to close out Week 14 action. The 31-year-old suffered a hamstring injury in the Week 9 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, and the injury turned out to be worse than the team initially thought it was. Dallas has announced that Cooper Rush will take over under center with Prescott sidelined, which is obviously a downgrade for the Cowboys' entire offense, most notably for receiver CeeDee Lamb (shoulder), who could be in danger of missing the Week 10 divisional clash against the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Sterling Shepard Nov 5 12:10pm ET
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Aidan Hutchinson Nov 5 12:10pm ET
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As expected, the Detroit Lions acquired standout edge rusher Za'Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday, according to sources. The Lions are adding a key pass-rusher to help make up for the loss of All-Pro defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who will miss the rest of the year with a broken leg. Along with Smith, the Lions are receiving a seventh-round pick in 2026 in exchange for a fifth-rounder next year and a sixth-round selection in the 2026 NFL draft. The 32-year-old Smith should help Detroit's defense immediately after recording five sacks, 23 tackles (15 solo), six tackles for loss and seven QB hits in nine games for the Browns this year. Smith's Lions debut will come this Sunday in a Week 10 showdown against the Houston Texans. The three-time Pro Bowler has 65 career sacks in 132 games played after debuting in 2015 with the Baltimore Ravens.

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Bucky Irving Nov 5 10:50am ET
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Dak Prescott Nov 5 10:23am ET
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Fantasy Spin: That will cost him a minimum of four games, and Cooper Rush is thrust front and center. He was successful in his stint as a starter, but his fantasy prowess isn't very strong. He'll be a two-QB leaguer, and CeeDee Lamb loses some luster but remains a WR1.

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Jonathan Mingo Nov 5 10:10am ET
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Ryan Miller Nov 5 10:10am ET
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Zack Moss Nov 5 10:00am ET
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Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss (neck) is expected to miss the rest of the regular season due to a neck injury. The 26-year-old popped up on Friday's injury report with a neck issue and was ruled out for Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that Moss was "out indefinitely" on Monday. He will now miss the rest of the 2024 campaign. Moss finishes the season with 242 yards and two touchdowns on 74 rushing attempts while catching 23 passes for 187 yards and a score over eight games. According to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, Moss doesn't need surgery but will be rested for the next two months and then be re-evaluated. The Bengals acquired running back Khalil Herbert from the Chicago Bears on Tuesday to add RB depth and help fill the void left by Moss. Herbert is only rostered in 7% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues and should have a role once he becomes more familiar with the Bengals' offense. Chase Brown is expected to take over as Cincinatti's primary back after rushing for a season-high 120 rushing yards on 27 attempts while catching a season-high five passes for a season-high 37 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's win over the Raiders.

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Za'Darius Smith Nov 5 9:43am ET
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Khalil Herbert Nov 5 9:20am ET
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The Cincinnati Bengals are trading for Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert on Tuesday, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. The 26-year-old has been phased out of the Chicago offense as D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson occupy the RB1 and RB2 roles, and the team permitted Herbert to seek a trade. The former sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has rushed 372 times for 1,791 yards and nine touchdowns through the first 48 games of his career. With Cincy running back Zack Moss (neck) out indefinitely, Herbert could see touches alongside Chase Brown when he gets comfortable with the new playbook. While Herbert is not a must-add in all fantasy leagues, he now has a path to fantasy relevance and should be considered on the waiver wire in at least 14+ team leagues. If nothing else, he is now a handcuff RB for Brown in one of the league's best offenses.

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Patrick Mahomes Nov 5 4:50am ET
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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.

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