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FFL: Week 2 | NFL: Week 2

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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Starts/Sits: Week 1

Player Notes
Lamar Jackson Sep 10 9:30am ET
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is sore after Week 1 but should be good to go in practice this week according to a report from NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Jackson missed Monday's practice to open a long week of preparation for Week 2 against the Raiders after facing the Chiefs in the NFL opener on Thursday night. But the expectation is he will be back practicing the rest of the week. Jackson rushed 16 times for 122 yards in the opener and was 26-of-41 passing for 273 yards and a touchdown. His rushing usage stands out and makes him one of the top quarterbacks in fantasy. He should be locked and loaded as QB1 against Las Vegas after this report.

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Micheal Clemons Sep 10 5:30am ET
Micheal Clemons

The New York Jets defense struggled to slow down the San Francisco 49ers in a 32-19 loss in Week 1's Monday night game. New York picked up three sacks but was unable to force any turnovers as the 49ers kicked six field goals to down the Jets in the season opener. The Jets got sacks from Sauce Gardner, Micheal Clemons, and Tony Adams but also allowed the 49ers to roll up 401 yards of total offense with Christian McCaffrey inactive. That being said, things should be much easier for New York in Week 2's matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

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George Kittle Sep 10 5:30am ET
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle provided fantasy managers with modest production in the team's 32-19 home-opening victory against the New York Jets. The colorful 30-year-old finished the night in a three-way tie for the team lead in targets with five, which he parlayed into four receptions for 40 yards. In recent memory, Kittle has been the quintessential boom/bust fantasy asset at a boom/bust position but still managed to finish as the TE5 in half-PPR scoring last season. He surely has better -- and worse -- weeks coming. Fantasy players who drafted the "Tight End University" co-founder should keep rolling him out there until further notice, including in Week 2 when the Niners go to Minnesota to take on the Vikings.

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Tyler Conklin Sep 10 5:20am ET
Tyler Conklin

New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin caught one of his two targets for a six-yard gain in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Conklin was quiet in his season debut, although he was on the field a lot. The 49ers dominated the time of possession battle in this contest, resulting in Aaron Rodgers attempting just 21 passes. Conklin could have bigger games ahead of him but he is not a must-hold in redraft leagues as the Jets prepare to take on the Tennessee Titans in Week 2.

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Greg Zuerlein Sep 10 5:20am ET
Greg Zuerlein

New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein made his lone extra-point try and did not attempt any field goals in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Zuerlein's number was not called often as the Jets were down big after halftime and attempted two-point conversions following both of their second-half touchdowns. Zuerlein will have better days ahead in more favorable matchups. He will now prepare to take on the Tennessee Titans in Week 2.

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Garrett Wilson Sep 10 5:10am ET
Garrett Wilson

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson caught six of his 11 targets for 60 yards in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1's Monday night game. Wilson got off to an extremely hot start as he hauled in 46 receiving yards on four catches during the Jets' 70-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter. He was mostly quiet for the remainder of the game, however, as he watched Allen Lazard pull down two touchdown catches after halftime. That being said, Wilson's 11 targets were encouraging as he is the clear alpha in the passing attack. Wilson will be a rock-solid WR1 in fantasy heading into Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans.

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Brandon Aiyuk Sep 10 5:10am ET
Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk disappointed in Monday night's 32-19 victory over the New York Jets in Santa Clara after spending the preseason seeking an extension and asking to be traded while only participating in team meetings. This led to head coach Kyle Shanahan easing the former Sun Devil into game action and limiting his snaps in Week 1. At times during Monday's matchup, Aiyuk looked less-than-sharp, including dropping a sprawling, but catchable ball in the back corner of the end zone. He finished in a three-way tie with Jauan Jennings and George Kittle for the team target lead with five but only caught two for 28 yards. Time will tell how long it will take for Aiyuk to shake off the rust, but it should be sooner than later that he settles into his usual WR2 value. He'll try to get it going against the Vikings in Minnesota in Week 2.

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Allen Lazard Sep 10 5:10am ET
Allen Lazard

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard caught six of his nine targets for 89 yards and two touchdowns in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football in Week 1. The Lazard/Aaron Rodgers connection from Green Bay appears to be alive and well with the Jets as the two hooked up for a 36-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. Lazard's second touchdown came from Tyrod Taylor late in the fourth quarter in garbage time. That being said, Lazard had a career year with Rodgers two years ago with the Packers and he could easily emerge as the No. 2 receiver in New York. He is worth a look on waivers heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

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Mike Williams Sep 10 5:10am ET
Mike Williams

New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams was not targeted in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Williams was on a pitch count after tearing his ACL early last season and he wound up playing just a handful of snaps for the Jets, mostly in the red zone. The goose egg from Williams is concerning but the Jets indicated heading into the game that they would be easing the veteran into action in the early going. Williams should slowly ramp up activity over the next few games but he will also have to contend with Allen Lazard, who caught two touchdowns on Monday night. For now, Williams is just a bench stash in deep fantasy leagues heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

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Aaron Rodgers Sep 10 5:00am ET
Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 13 of his 21 passes for 167 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1's Monday night game. Rodgers got the Jets off to a fast start, engineering a 70-yard drive punctuated by a Breece Hall three-yard touchdown run in the first quarter but the New York offense struggled after that. It didn't help that the 49ers strung together several long drives that ate up much of the clock. San Francisco ultimately dominated the time of possession as they had the ball on offense for just under 39 minutes in the game. Rodgers' lone touchdown pass went to Allen Lazard in the third quarter. On the bright side, Rodgers looked healthy after tearing his Achilles back in Week 1 last season. He will be a high-end QB2 in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans.

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Breece Hall Sep 10 5:00am ET
Breece Hall

New York Jets running back Breece Hall carried the ball 16 times for 54 yards and a touchdown while hauling in five of his six targets for 39 yards in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Hall scored the first touchdown of the game on a three-yard run with 3:57 left on the clock in the first quarter. The veteran running back showed why he was a top-five pick in most fantasy leagues as he was busy in the passing attack, finishing third on the team in targets and receiving yards while also dominating the RB touches for the Jets, ceding just two touches to Braelon Allen. Hall will be a locked-in RB1 heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

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Jauan Jennings Sep 10 4:40am ET
Jauan Jennings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings led the team in receiving in Monday night's 32-19 victory over the New York Jets by catching all five of his targets for 64 yards. Jennings, drafted by San Francisco in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft, has spent most of his career in relative obscurity but was rewarded with an extension in the offseason through 2025. Jennings has only once surpassed seven targets in a game and Monday's performance was the second-highest total of his career. Jennings did a good job of finding soft spots in New York's zone defense throughout the night. He'll probably never be a standout, but in San Francisco's high-powered offense, he could be useful in fantasy if something were to happen to Deebo Samuel Sr. or Brandon Aiyuk, especially since he appears to be ahead of rookie Jacob Cowing and first-round pick Ricky Pearsall may need some time to get up to speed after suffering a gunshot wound following a banged-up preseason. That said, fantasy managers should look elsewhere for wide receiver help in Week 2 at Minnesota, especially as Aiyuk continues to shake off the rust this week at practice.

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Nick Bosa Sep 10 2:30am ET
Nick Bosa

The San Francisco 49er's defense and special teams were exceptional in their Week 1 matchup against Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets. They forced a turnover on just their fourth snap, with linebacker Fred Warner stripping the ball from Jets running back Breece Hall and defensive lineman Maliek Collins recovering it on New York's 32-yard line. Another critical moment was when Rodgers threw an interception intended for Garrett Wilson, which was deflected by Deommodore Lenoir and caught by linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles. Additionally, Leonard Floyd recorded his first sack as a 49er in the second quarter, evading Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker to bring down Rodgers on third down. Floyd is quickly establishing himself alongside former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa. The 49er's defense is set to be a strong option again next week as they face a Minnesota Vikings team led by Sam Darnold.

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Jake Moody Sep 10 2:20am ET
Jake Moody

San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody had an exceptional performance in Week 1 against the New York Jets, setting a franchise record by making six field goals. The second-year kicker was perfect on the night, going six-for-six with field goals from 46, 51, 31, 53, 23, and 42 yards in the game. He also converted both of his extra point attempts, contributing 20 of the 49ers' 32 points. Moody's impressive showing highlights his potential as a strong fantasy option, especially with the 49ers' high-powered offense ensuring plenty of scoring opportunities.

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Jordan Mason Sep 10 1:30am ET
Jordan Mason

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason had a standout performance in place of the injured Christian McCaffrey (calf, Achilles) during Monday night's game against the New York Jets. With McCaffrey ruled out before the game, Mason seized the opportunity, rushing 28 times for 147 yards and one touchdown. Although Mason entered the game with only 83 career carries over two seasons, he has consistently shown potential, averaging 6.0 yards per carry as a rookie and 5.2 yards per carry in 2023. Mason exploited openings effectively throughout the game, supported by the robust 49ers offensive line and a strategic game plan from head coach Kyle Shanahan. Mason should be a top priority on the waiver wire this week. If McCaffrey is sidelined again next week, Mason would be a must-start. Even if McCaffrey returns, Mason remains a valuable handcuff for the rest of the season.

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Deebo Samuel Sep 10 1:30am ET
Deebo Samuel

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. delivered a solid all-around performance in the team's Week 1 win over the New York Jets. Samuel totaled 77 yards from scrimmage and scored a rushing touchdown, with five receptions for 54 yards and eight carries for 23 yards. He also attempted a pass that resulted in a four-yard sack. With star running back Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) sidelined, Samuel and backup Jordan Mason stepped up to help secure San Francisco's first win of the 2024 season. Samuel remains a top fantasy option, whether as a receiver or a running back, as the 49ers prepare to take on the Vikings in Week 2.

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Brock Purdy Sep 10 1:20am ET
Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy had a solid outing in leading his team to a decisive victory over the New York Jets on Sunday night. Purdy completed 19 of 29 passes for 231 yards and did not record any touchdowns or turnovers. The Jets' defense, missing edge rusher Haason Reddick due to a holdout, failed to apply significant pressure. The 49ers took control of the game by halftime, allowing Purdy to focus on game management rather than pushing for big plays. San Francisco dominated possession, holding the ball for 38 minutes and 40 seconds and scoring on eight offensive drives before taking a knee on their final possession. The 49ers ran 70 plays compared to the Jets' 49. As the season progresses, expect Purdy to deliver higher-scoring performances, with his next opportunity coming against the Vikings on Sunday.

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Christian McCaffrey Sep 10 12:30am ET
Christian McCaffrey

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan clarified that running back Christian McCaffrey's (calf) injury did not involve a setback but was simply too bothersome for him to play effectively on Sunday. Despite practicing all week, McCaffrey's calf issue has been intermittent and proved too troublesome for this game. During the ESPN postgame interview, Jordan Mason mentioned he was informed on Friday night that he would be starting, but Shanahan corrected this, stating that Mason was only told he would likely see significant playing time and didn't confirm the starting role until the day of the game. Shanahan addressed the situation to prevent any potential league repercussions. The excellent news is McCaffrey did not suffer a setback, and he will have six days to recover before the 49ers face the Vikings in Week 2. McCaffrey remains a must-start if available, while Mason is his top backup and must start if McCaffrey is sidelined again.

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Rico Dowdle Sep 9 10:10pm ET
Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle didn't have the best start to his 2024 season. The 26-year-old was expected to split up the touches with veteran Ezekiel Elliott during Sunday's season opener. The two of them did split up the carries, but Dowdle failed to do much with them. He rushed eight times for 26 yards while hauling in one reception for six yards in the blowout win. Elliott didn't do much better on the ground with 40 yards, but he was able to find the end zone. The expectation is that these two will continue to split up the job until one of them pulls away with it. That being said, Dowdle should still have some streaming value in Week 2, but he has lost some appeal after that lackluster start.

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Sean Clifford Sep 9 10:00pm ET
Sean Clifford

Green Bay Packers quarterback Sean Clifford is set to be the backup option for the Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. It was uncertain who was going to start for the Packers with Jordan Love (ankle) facing a multiple week absence. Head coach Matt LaFleur cleared that up on Monday by naming Malik Willis the starter for Week 2. He also mentioned that Clifford is set to back him up, so he'll be elevated from the practice squad. Normally, someone becoming the backup isn't noteworthy, but this case is a little different. Willis has only been with the Packers for a few weeks and has yet to prove himself at the professional level. Clifford has been with the Packers for a full season and he should know the offensive scheme fairly well. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Packers turn to Clifford if Willis fails to impress them. Fantasy managers don't need to be jumping at the waiver wire to grab the former fifth-round pick. However, it wouldn't be shocking if Clifford does get snaps at some point in the next few weeks. Neither quarterback is going to be a viable fantasy option in most formats.

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