Guest of the League
USFFL Est. 2015
FFL: Week 11 | NFL: Week 11

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.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 11

Player Notes
Raheem Mostert Nov 18 5:50am ET
Raheem Mostert

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert carried the ball three times for a loss of two yards in Sunday's 34-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. In the wake of Mostert's fumble troubles, it's looking increasingly like head coach Mike McDaniels favors turning to youngster Jaylen Wright behind De'Von Achane for the RB2 role. In recent weeks, Wright has seen a slight uptick in involvement, outpacing Mostert in carries four to three on Sunday. He went from a combined 30 carries in Weeks 7-9 to three in the last two weeks. Although there are still some opportunities to escape the doghouse, Miami has little margin for error in a tight battle for a playoff spot. The next matchup is at home against the struggling New England Patriots.

From RotoBaller

Jason Sanders Nov 18 5:50am ET
Jason Sanders

Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders went 2-for-2 on field goal attempts and 4-for-4 on extra points in their 34-19 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 11. He hit from 31 and 46 yards out. This marks the fourth straight game where Sanders has made all his kicks. With the offense presenting more scoring opportunities in recent weeks, it's fitting to see him taking advantage. The 29-year-old has shown the consistency to be a weekly start in fantasy lineups moving forward. Sanders and the Dolphins will host the New England Patriots in a game that should present plenty of chances to rack up points in Week 12.

From RotoBaller

Keenan Allen Nov 18 5:40am ET
Keenan Allen

On Sunday, Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen had another quiet performance in the team's Week 11 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Allen finished with just four receptions for 41 yards, a far cry from the dynamic playmaker he was last season. Despite being targeted 8 times by quarterback Caleb Williams, Allen could not make a significant impact. That said, it was encouraging to see him come up clutch on a few vital third-down plays, proving he's still effective at getting open in critical situations. The recent coaching change, with Thomas Brown taking over as offensive coordinator, seems to have sparked some life in the Bears' offense, even if Allen's production didn't reflect that shift. The Bears won't have much time to regroup as they host the tough Minnesotabrutalngs at Soldier Field next Sunday. A challenging matchup against Brian Flores' defense awaits.

From RotoBaller

Rome Odunze Nov 18 5:40am ET
Rome Odunze

In Week 11, Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze led the team in receiving yards and targets during the 20-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Odunze finished with six receptions for 65 yards but was kept out of the end zone like many of his teammates. Despite the loss, it was encouraging to see Odunze take on a more prominent role in the Bears' offense under the new coaching direction. With Thomas Brown replacing Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator, Odunze emerged as a go-to target for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, mainly when the Bears needed a big play. He came up clutch on a crucial 4th down late in the game, keeping the Bears' drive alive and showing his growing rapport with Williams. The Bears won't have much time to regroup as they host the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field next Sunday. A tough matchup against Brian Flores' defense looms on the horizon.

From RotoBaller

Cole Kmet Nov 18 5:40am ET
Cole Kmet

In Week 11, Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet had a quiet outing in the team's narrow 20-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Kmet finished with just three receptions for 42 yards, a far cry from the fantasy production many had hoped for. However, it was encouraging to see him more involved in the offense compared to recent weeks, a sign that the Bears may be trying to get him more involved moving forward. The coaching change, with Thomas Brown replacing Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator, seemed to spark some life in the Bears' offense, though Kmet's numbers didn't fully reflect the shift. While he's not a consistent fantasy option, he could still be worth stashing on your bench, especially with bye weeks on the horizon. The Bears won't have much time to regroup as they welcome the tough Minnesota Vikings to Soldier Field next Sunday. Brian Flores' defense presents another challenging matchup for Kmet and the Bears.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Nov 18 5:30am ET
Caleb Williams

This Sunday, Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams faced a tough test against the Green Bay Packers in Week 11. While Williams showed flashes of his potential, it was still a mixed performance. He completed 23 of 31 passes for 231 yards but, once again, failed to find the end zone, extending his streak without a passing touchdown. On a positive note, Williams added 70 rushing yardshis highest total of the seasonshowing off his mobility and ability to make plays with his legs. The recent change at offensive coordinator, with Thomas Brown replacing Shane Waldron, seemed to spark a slight resurgence in the Bears' offense. However, despite Williams' improvements, his inability to score touchdowns keeps him relegated to QB2 in fantasy leagues. The Bears won't have much time to regroup as they welcome the tough Minnesota Vikings to Soldier Field next Sunday. Minnesota's defense, led by Brian Flores, will present another significant challenge for the young quarterback.

From RotoBaller

D'Andre Swift Nov 18 5:30am ET
D'Andre Swift

On Sunday, Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift turned in another strong performance in the team's Week 11 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Swift made the most of his 14 carries, rushing for 71 yardsan impressive 5.1 yards per carryand capped off his day with a spectacular 39-yard touchdown run. He also contributed in the passing game, adding two catches for 13 yards. The recent change at offensive coordinator, with Thomas Brown replacing Shane Waldron, seemed to spark a slight resurgence in the Bears' offense, and Swift benefited from the new approach. Despite the tough loss, Swift's performance further solidifies his role as a key piece of the offense moving forward. That said, one of the league's toughest remaining schedules for running backs may test his fantasy value. Still, it will be hard to sit Swift, given how well he's been playing. The Bears won't have much time to regroup as they welcome the tough Minnesota Vikings to Soldier Field next Sunday, where they'll face a challenging defense led by Brian Flores.

From RotoBaller

Roschon Johnson Nov 18 5:30am ET
Roschon Johnson

On Sunday, Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson made his mark in the team's Week 11 loss to the Green Bay Packers. While his role in the offense was limited, Johnson made the most of his opportunities, rushing 10 times for 33 yards and a touchdown. Once again, he served as the short-yardage back, converting a goal-line touch into a score. Johnson also caught one pass for 8 yards. The coaching change, with Thomas Brown replacing Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator, seemed to slightly improve the Bears' offense, and Johnson's role remains steady. While he faces a tough upcoming schedule, his position in the Bears' backfield appears secure. The Bears won't have much time to regroup as they host the tough Minnesotabrutalngs next Sunday at Soldier Field. Minnesota's defense, led by Brian Flores, will provide another significant challenge.

From RotoBaller

D.J. Moore Nov 18 5:30am ET
D.J. Moore

In Week 11, Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore showed signs of improvement in the team's 20-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers. While he finished with seven receptions for seven 62 yards, Moore was again kept out of the end zone. He also had minimal impact in the rushing game, with just one carry for 5 yards. Despite the lack of a touchdown, it was encouraging to see Moore utilized more creatively within the offense. The recent change at offensive coordinator, with Thomas Brown replacing Shane Waldron, seems to have sparked a bit of life in the Bears' attack. While Moore's production didn't reach its full potential this week, his expanded role could signal more fantasy value soon. Looking ahead, the Bears won't have much time to regroup as they welcome the tough Minnesota Vikings to Soldier Field next Sunday. A challenging matchup against Brian Flores' defense awaits.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Nov 18 3:13am ET
Xavier Worthy

Dynasty | Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy had four catches for 61 yards and a touchdown in the Chiefs loss against Buffalo. Dynasty Analysis: It sure looked like the Chiefs made a real effort to get the rookie involved as one drive featured him nearly being force-fed the football. This was one of the better days for Worthy, but this was far from a dominant performance as Kansas City seemed content to spread the ball around quite a bit. Worthy will be a risky play moving forward, but this was good to see from a dynasty perspective.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Travis Kelce Nov 18 3:13am ET
Travis Kelce

Dynasty | Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had just two catches for eight yards in a loss against the Bills. Dynasty Analysis: Yikes. Kelce had been white-hot over the past few weeks, but today was a massive letdown as the Bills made sure other players were going to beat them. After catching 32 passes over the past three weeks, Kelce came crashing down in this one. He'll still be a TE1 moving into next week, but this game reminded us there still is some volatility in his game. His dynasty value is likely about as stable as it gets for a veteran player.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Tyler Lockett Nov 18 3:13am ET
Tyler Lockett

Dynasty | Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba had ten catches for 110 yards in Seattle's win against San Francisco. Dynasty Analysis: It really looks as if JSN has passed Tyler Lockett as Seattle's WR2 behind DK Metcalf. In fact, he has a whopping 24 targets over the past two weeks and that's big-time news for a player who was badly needing a breakout season. While he hasn't been the dominant force many hoped he'd be thus far in his career, things are clearly looking much better for him this season. At this point, it's safe to say any "buy low" window has closed.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Jauan Jennings Nov 18 3:13am ET
Jauan Jennings

Dynasty | 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings had ten catches for 91 yards and a touchdown in a loss against Seattle. Dynasty Analysis: One of the streakiest receivers in the league this year, Jennings again showed he can blow up on any given Sunday. On the plus side, this was the second straight game where had 11 targets, so that's nothing to ignore. Jennings will be a risky play moving forward but he's proving to everyone this year that he has real talent and belongs squarely on dynasty rosters moving forward.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Jayden Daniels Nov 18 3:13am ET
Jayden Daniels

Dynasty | Broncos quarterback Bo Nix completed 28-of-33 passes for 307 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in a blowout win over Atlanta. Dynasty Analysis: Wow. While much of the talk this year has revolved around Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, Nix is doing his best to hang with the best of the bunch and today was an absolute masterpiece,. It certainly looks like Sean Payton has found his quarterback and Nix himself is starting to look like a QB1 instead of a QB2 in the process. His dynasty value is clearly on the rise.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Marquez Valdes-Scantling Nov 18 2:40am ET
Marquez Valdes-Scantling

A week after he exploded with a 3-109-2 line, Marquez Valdes-Scantling took another catch to the house in the Saints' 35-14 win over the Browns. Similar to his Week 10 performance, MVS was seldom targeted but made the most of his opportunities. On four targets he caught two balls for 87 yards and a touchdown, the score being a 71-yard catch and run in the second quarter. With few other options for quarterback Derek Carr to throw to, Valdes-Scantling seems to have cemented his role as the team's go-to playmaker at wide receiver. Rashid Shaheed (knee) is out for the year so even if Chris Olave (concussion) is activated before the end of the season, MVS may still be featured as the deep threat for New Orleans. After their Week 12 bye, the Saints will face the Rams followed by the Giants who rank 29th and dead last, respectively, in completion rate allowed on deep throws.

From RotoBaller

Juwan Johnson Nov 18 2:40am ET
Juwan Johnson

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson caught all three of his targets for 30 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 35-14 victory over the Browns. The score came from one yard out and was Johnson's first trip to the end zone since Week 1 and was just the second touchdown against the Browns by an opposing tight end this season. Johnson also impressed with an acrobatic catch for a 20-yard gain in the second quarter, turning and jumping for the pass and reeling it in while twisting around mid-air. On the downside, he was responsible for a holding penalty in the first quarter that negated a 29-yard pickup on a 4th-and-1 that would have brought the Saints to Cleveland's four-yard line. Despite the injuries that have wrecked the Saints' wide receiver room, Johnson has not seen a significant uptick in production. Through 11 games, he now has 25 receptions for 277 yards with two touchdowns on 32 targets. The Saints are on bye in Week 12, then return to face the Rams where Johnson will once again be a touchdown-dependent dart throw.

From RotoBaller

Taysom Hill Nov 18 2:30am ET
Taysom Hill

The Taysom Hill boom game we were all waiting for finally happened in Week 11. Hill had A career-high 138 rushing yards with three touchdowns on seven carries and led the Saints in receptions and targets, bringing in eight of his ten looks for 50 yards. He fulfilled the rest of his utility role with an 18-yard completion and a 42-yard kickoff return. His work in New Orleans' 35-14 win over the Browns equated to a whopping 42.52 PPR points. Hill threw an interception on his only other pass attempt in the game and lost a fumble but the turnovers did not deter the Saints from turning away from their jack of all trades. Since his Week 8 return from a multi-week absence due to injury, Hill is averaging 8.3 touches per game and has four touchdowns thanks to his performance against Cleveland. New Orleans is on bye in Week 12 but Hill will continue to be a factor thereafter.

From RotoBaller

Derek Carr Nov 18 2:20am ET
Derek Carr

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr completed 21 of his 27 pass attempts for 248 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 35-14 win over the Cleveland Browns. Carr's first touchdown pass was a 71-yard job to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who covered most of the ground after the catch as opposed to last week's deep shot through the air. Carr's other score went to Juwan Johnson from a yard out, giving the tight end his first trip to the end zone since Week 1. Carr looked great in the first half, with just two incompletions and a streak of 13 consecutive completed passes that stretched into the start of the third quarter. The performance marked just the second time this season that he eclipsed 20 completions in a game and he now has multiple touchdown passes in five of the eight games he has played. Carr's productivity since returning from his oblique injury is surprising, considering the losses the Saints have sustained to their receiving corps. He will be hard to trust as a QB1 but will be a candidate in formats that utilize two quarterbacks after New Orleans returns from their Week 12 bye.

From RotoBaller

Alvin Kamara Nov 18 2:20am ET
Alvin Kamara

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara handled 16 carries for 67 yards and caught all four of his targets for 22 receiving yards in Sunday's 35-14 win over the Browns. Kamara found enough space to take his first handoff 13 yards and had an 18-yard gain on the ground in the fourth quarter but was stopped at or behind the line of scrimmage seven times. It was the first time since Week 7 that he finished short of 100 scrimmage yards and it was his fifth straight week without a touchdown. The four targets were the fewest that Kamara has seen in a game since Week 3. His use in Week 11 was a surprising step back from the norm, considering how thin the Saints are on offense thanks to their recent spate of injuries. Kamara should return to being the focal point of New Orleans' attack after their Week 12 bye and has a favorable schedule for the fantasy playoffs including a matchup against the Raiders in the championship round.

From RotoBaller

Josh Palmer Nov 18 1:40am ET
Josh Palmer

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer made two catches in a Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Palmer was targeted four times, making the two grabs for a total of 23 yards. Palmer has made two or fewer catches for four games in a row and has scored just one touchdown so far. He's playing a fairly important role in the "real life" Chargers offense, but it hasn't translated into any kind of consistent fantasy value and that's unlikely to change. Palmer and the Chargers will play on Monday Night Football in Week 12 against the Baltimore Ravens.

From RotoBaller